Immunization via hair follicles by topical application of naked DNA to normal skin

• Published in: Nature biotechnology Vol. 17; no. 9; pp. 870 - 872
• Main Authors: Khavari, Paul A, Fan, Hongran, Lin, Qun, Morrissey, Georgiann R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Nature 01-09-1999
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Animals; beta-Galactosidase - genetics; beta-Galactosidase - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Transfer Techniques; Genetic Vectors; Hair Follicle - immunology; Health. Pharmaceutical industry; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - genetics; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - immunology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Plasmids - genetics; Production of active biomolecules; Skin - immunology; Vaccines, DNA - administration & dosage; Vaccins; Plasmid; Hair follicle; Immunization; Genetic vaccine; Topical administration; Genetic transfer
• ISSN: 1087-0156; 1546-1696
• DOI: 10.1038/12856

In order to test the immune response generated to small amounts of foreign protein in skin, we applied naked DNA in aqueous solution to untreated normal skin. Topical application of plasmid expression vectors for lacZ and the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) to intact skin induced antigen-specific immune responses that displayed TH2 features. For HBsAg, specific antibody and cellular responses were induced to the same order of magnitude as those produced by intramuscular injection of the commercially available recombinant HBsAg polypeptide vaccine. Finally, topical gene transfer was dependent on the presence of normal hair follicles.