AQUEOUS-BASED MICROCAPSULES ARE DETECTED PRIMARILY IN GUT-ASSOCIATED DENDRITIC CELLS AFTER ORAL INOCULATION OF MICE

We previously found that aqueous-based microencapsulation enhanced vir us-specific humoral immune responses after oral inoculation of mice, H owever the mechanism by which microencapsulation enhances immunogenici ty remains unclear: We found that spermine-alginate microcapsules were detected primarily in gut-associated dendritic cells (i.e. CD11c/CD18 (+) Ia(+), CD11b(-), CD45R(-)) after oral inoculation of adult mice, M icroencapsulation may enhance immunogenicity by involving antigen pres enting cells which are more efficient than those recruited during natu ral infection. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.