Antigen-presenting cells can capture antigens that are deposited in the skin, including vaccines given subcutaneously. These include different dendritic cells (DC) such as epidermal Langerhans cells (LC), dermal DC and dermal langerin+ DC. To evaluate access of dermal antigens to skin DC, we used mAb to two C-type lectin endocytic receptors, DEC-205/CD205 and langerin/CD207. When applied to murine and human skin explant cultures, these mAb were efficiently taken up by epidermal LC. Additionally, anti-DEC-205 targeted langerin+ CD103+ and langerin− CD103− mouse dermal DC. Unexpectedly, intradermal injection of either mAb, but not isotype control, resulted in strong and rapid labelling of LC in situ, implying that large molecules can diffuse through the basement membrane into the epidermis. Epidermal LC targeted in vivo by ovalbumin-coupled anti-DEC-205 potently presented antigen to CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Thus, epidermal LC play a major role in uptake of lectin-binding ligands under standard vaccination conditions.

Langerhans cells are a subset of dendritic cells residing in the epidermis of the human skin. As such, they are key mediators of immune regulation and have emerged as prime targets for novel transcutaneous cancer vaccines. Importantly, the induction of protective T cell immunity by these vaccines requires the efficient and specific delivery of both tumor-associated antigens and adjuvants. Langerhans cells uniquely express Langerin (CD207), an endocytic C-type lectin receptor. Here, we report the discovery of a specific, glycomimetic Langerin ligand employing a heparin-inspired design strategy and structural characterization by NMR spectroscopy and molecular docking. The conjugation of this glycomimetic to liposomes enabled the specific and efficient targeting of Langerhans cells in the human skin. We further demonstrate the doxorubicin-mediated killing of a Langerin + monocyte cell line, highlighting its therapeutic and diagnostic potential in Langerhans cell histiocytosis, caused by the abnormal proliferation of Langerin + myeloid progenitor cells. Overall, our delivery platform provides superior versatility over antibody-based approaches and novel modalities to overcome current limitations of dendritic cell-targeted immuno- and chemotherapy.

Skin dendritic cells (DC) express C-type lectin receptors for the recognition of pathogens. Langerhans cells (LC) express the receptor Langerin/CD207, whereas DEC-205/CD205 is mainly expressed by dermal DC, but can also be detected at low levels on LC. In this study, we tested an ex vivo approach for targeting DC in situ with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against Langerin and DEC-205. The targeting mAb was injected intradermally into human skin biopsies or added to the medium during skin explant culture. Corresponding to the expression patterns of these lectin receptors on skin DC, Langerin mAb was detected merely in LC in the epidermis and DEC-205 mainly in dermal DC in human skin explants, regardless of the application route. Migratory skin DC bound and carried targeting mAb from skin explants according to their lectin receptor expression profiles. In contrast to the very selective transport of Langerin mAb by LC, DEC-205 mAb was more widely distributed on all CD1a+ skin DC subsets but almost absent in CD14+ dermal DC. As effective vaccination requires the addition of adjuvant, we co-administered the toll-like receptor (TLR)-3 ligand poly I:C with the mAb. This adjuvant enhanced binding of DEC-205 mAb to all skin DC subsets, whereas Langerin targeting efficacy remained unchanged. Our findings demonstrate that LC can be preferentially targeted by Langerin mAb. In contrast, DEC-205 mAb can be bound by all CD1a+ skin DC subsets. The efficacy of DEC-205 mAb targeting strategy can be boosted by addition of poly I:C underlining the potential of this combination for immunotherapeutical interventions.