Dendritic
cells (DCs) are highly effective antigen-presenting cells
that shape immune responses. Vaccines that deliver antigen to the
DCs can harness their power. DC surface lectins recognize glycans
not typically present on host tissue to facilitate antigen uptake
and presentation. Vaccines that target these surface lectins should
offer improved antigen delivery, but their efficacy will depend on
how lectin targeting influences the T cell subtypes that result. We
examined how antigen structure influences uptake and signaling from
the C-type lectin DC-SIGN (dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion
molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin or CD209). Virus-like particles (VLPs)
were engineered from bacteriophage Qβ to present an array of
mannoside ligands. The VLPs were taken up by DCs and efficiently trafficked
to endosomes. The signaling that ensued depended on the ligand displayed
on the VLP: only those particles densely functionalized with an aryl
mannoside, Qβ-Man540, elicited DC maturation and
induced the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines characteristic
of a T helper type 1 (TH1)-like immune response. This effect
was traced to differential binding to DC-SIGN at the acidic pH of
the endosome. Mice immunized with a VLP bearing the aryl mannoside,
and a peptide antigen (Qβ-Ova-Man540) had antigen-specific
responses, including the production of CD4+ T cells producing
the activating cytokines interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α.
A TH1 response is critical for intracellular pathogens
(e.g., viruses) and cancer; thus,
our data highlight the value of targeting DC lectins for antigen delivery
and validate the utility of DC-targeted VLPs as vaccine vehicles that
induce cellular immunity.