Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Chemical Conjugation of a Purified DEC-205-Directed Antibody with Full-Length Protein for Targeting Mouse Dendritic Cells In Vitro and In Vivo
10:35

Chemical Conjugation of a Purified DEC-205-Directed Antibody with Full-Length Protein for Targeting Mouse Dendritic Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Published on: February 5, 2021

DNA vaccines targeting the encoded antigens to dendritic cells induce potent antitumor immunity in mice

Jun Cao1, Yiqi Jin, Wei Li

  • 1Interventional Oncology, Dahua Hospital, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200237, China.

BMC Immunology
|August 15, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Targeting dendritic cells (DC) with DNA vaccines enhances anti-tumor immunity. Combining DC-targeted DNA vaccines with regulatory T cell (Treg) depletion effectively treats established breast cancer in mice.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Vaccine Development

Background:

  • DNA vaccines show promise for cancer immunotherapy but often fail to induce durable anti-tumor immunity.
  • Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial for antigen processing and presentation in initiating immune responses.
  • Targeting DCs can potentially enhance the efficacy of cancer vaccines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate a DC-targeted DNA vaccine for HER2/neu-positive breast cancer.
  • To investigate the anti-tumor efficacy and underlying mechanisms of this targeted vaccine in mouse models.
  • To assess the combination therapy of DC-targeted DNA vaccine with regulatory T cell (Treg) depletion.

Main Methods:

  • Constructed a DC-targeting DNA vaccine by fusing HER2/neu antigen to a single-chain antibody fragment (scFvNLDC-145) targeting DEC-205 on DCs.
  • Administered the vaccine in mouse breast cancer models (D2F2/E2 and BALB-neuT).
  • Evaluated immune responses (cellular and humoral), tumor protection, and tumor regression, with and without Treg depletion using cyclophosphamide.

Main Results:

  • The scFvNLDC-145 targeted DNA vaccine successfully delivered antigens to DCs in vivo.
  • Vaccination significantly enhanced HER2/neu-specific cellular and humoral immune responses, inducing long-lasting immune memory.
  • The targeted vaccine provided protection against HER2/neu-positive tumors and, when combined with Treg depletion, induced regression of established tumors and retarded spontaneous tumor development.

Conclusions:

  • DC-targeted DNA vaccines can induce potent antigen-specific immune responses.
  • Combining DC-targeted DNA vaccines with Treg depletion offers significant therapeutic anti-tumor activity.
  • This approach provides a strong rationale for developing targeted DNA vaccines for cancer treatment.

More Related Videos

Preparation of Tumor Antigen-loaded Mature Dendritic Cells for Immunotherapy08:40

Preparation of Tumor Antigen-loaded Mature Dendritic Cells for Immunotherapy

Published on: August 1, 2013

Generation of a Novel Dendritic-cell Vaccine Using Melanoma and Squamous Cancer Stem Cells12:43

Generation of a Novel Dendritic-cell Vaccine Using Melanoma and Squamous Cancer Stem Cells

Published on: January 6, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
Vaccines01:21

Vaccines

Vaccines are among the most effective tools in preventive medicine, designed to prepare the immune system to recognize and combat infectious agents. By introducing antigens—substances that the immune system identifies as foreign—vaccines stimulate an adaptive immune response that leads to immunological memory. This immunological memory enables the body to mount a faster and more effective response upon future exposures to the actual pathogen.Vaccines can be categorized based on the type of...
Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Mouse Models of Cancer Study02:43

Mouse Models of Cancer Study

Mice have long served as models for studying human biology and pathology because of their phylogenetic and physiological similarity with humans. They are also easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory, and hence, many inbred strains are now available for research. Studies on mice have contributed immeasurably to our understanding of cancer biology.
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...