In situ targeting of dendritic cells by antigen-loaded red blood cells: A novel approach to cancer immunotherapy

Red blood cells (RBCs) were shown to be efficient antigen carriers to target dendritic cells (DCs) and induce cytotoxic T-cell responses. Mouse RBCs were loaded with ovalbumin (RBC-OVA) and injected with Poly (I:C) into mice. Phagocytosis of RBC-OVA by macrophages and DCs was demonstrated to induce OVA-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation. Moreover, these CD8+ T cells produced IFN-γ and were able to induce OVA-specific cell lysis. Finally, T-cell response was demonstrated to be dependent on the dose-amount of antigen entrapped and this response could be maintained for up to 30 days.