1: Pharm Res.  2004 Jan;21(1):127-35.  

Local and systemic immune responses to intratracheal instillation of antigen and
DNA vaccines in mice.

Lombry C, Marteleur A, Arras M, Lison D, Louahed J, Renauld JC, Preat V,
Vanbever R.

Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Universite
catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the immunization efficacy of
antigen and DNA vaccines after delivery to the lung, to assess the integrity of
the pulmonary tissue after vaccination, and to elucidate mechanisms involved in
the induction of immunity. METHODS: Ovalbumin, the plasmid encoding ovalbumin,
the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), or plasmid encoding HBsAg were
intratracheally instilled or injected in quadriceps in mice. The immune response
and its Th polarization were analyzed over time. Markers of inflammation were
measured in bronchoalveolar lavage, and lung histology was performed. The fate
of ovalbumin following intratracheal instillation was studied. RESULTS:
According to the vaccine, the pulmonary route produced stronger or equivalent
humoral and cellular responses systemically and locally in the lung as compared
to injection. The IgG subclasses and cytokine pattern indicate that the immunity
was preferentially polarized toward the Th2 and Th1 type for antigen and DNA
immunization, respectively. Ovalbumin penetrated the respiratory tissue and
blood poorly after intratracheal instillation, suggesting that the immune
response was triggered at airway surfaces. Overall, vaccines delivered to the
lung did not induce any local sign of inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary
administration of vaccines might be a promising alternative to conventional
vaccination by injection.

PMID: 14984267 [PubMed - in process]