Saponin-based adjuvants induce cross-presentation in dendritic cells by intracellular lipid body formation

Martijn H den Brok, Christian Büll, Melissa Wassink, Annemarie M de Graaf, Jori A Wagenaars, Marthe Minderman, Mayank Thakur, Sebastian Amigorena, Eric O Rijke, Carla C Schrier, Gosse J Adema

48 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Saponin-based adjuvants (SBAs) are being used in animal and human (cancer) vaccines, as they induce protective cellular immunity. Their adjuvant potency is a factor of inflammasome activation and enhanced antigen cross-presentation by dendritic cells (DCs), but how antigen cross-presentation is induced is not clear. Here we show that SBAs uniquely induce intracellular lipid bodies (LBs) in the CD11b+ DC subset in vitro and in vivo. Using genetic and pharmacological interference in models for vaccination and in situ tumour ablation, we demonstrate that LB induction is causally related to the saponin-dependent increase in cross-presentation and T-cell activation. These findings link adjuvant activity to LB formation, aid the application of SBAs as a cancer vaccine component, and will stimulate development of new adjuvants enhancing T-cell-mediated immunity.

Original languageEnglish
Article number13324
JournalNature Communications
Volume7
ISSN2041-1723
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Nov 2016
Externally publishedYes

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