About this Research Topic
Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that orchestrate adaptive immune responses. Owing to their capacity to selectively instruct antigen-specific T-lymphocytes targeted towards invading pathogens or malignant cells, DCs have great potential to be harnessed for immunotherapy. Thus far, the clinical efficacy of DC-vaccination as a monotherapy in cancer is very low and–despite the major breakthrough of immune-checkpoint inhibitors –only a minority of patients benefit from these therapies.
In the past decade, state-of-the-art techniques have given new insights into the complexity of DC ontogeny, the discovery of previously unknown DC subsets and their functional diversity, as well as new strategies to improve current DC-based immunotherapies. To generate an efficient immune response, multiple factors have to be considered, including the formulation of antigens, type of adjuvants, and the methods of antigen delivery. Antigen loading strategies have a major impact on the priming capacity of the DC both via major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I and II, instructing CD8 and CD4 T-cells, respectively. Exploring new ways to target DC in situ or in vivo, for instance using nanoparticles, antibody-antigen conjugate, or polymer-based ‘synthetic DC’, can further enhance the efficacy of the DC for immunotherapy. At the same time, in vitro generation of DCs including antigen loading or even co-delivery of adjuvant and antigen to DCs, can be used to properly drive antigen-specific immune responses.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Methods, Protocols, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Clinical Trial articles, that describe recent advances in antigen delivery to DC, which will ultimately open the way to new immunotherapy strategies. This Research Topic will focus on platforms including:
• Nanoparticles or nanovaccines
• Antibody-antigen conjugate
• Synthetic DCs
• co-delivery of adjuvant and antigen
• In vitro generation and loading of DCs
In the past decade, state-of-the-art techniques have given new insights into the complexity of DC ontogeny, the discovery of previously unknown DC subsets and their functional diversity, as well as new strategies to improve current DC-based immunotherapies. To generate an efficient immune response, multiple factors have to be considered, including the formulation of antigens, type of adjuvants, and the methods of antigen delivery. Antigen loading strategies have a major impact on the priming capacity of the DC both via major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I and II, instructing CD8 and CD4 T-cells, respectively. Exploring new ways to target DC in situ or in vivo, for instance using nanoparticles, antibody-antigen conjugate, or polymer-based ‘synthetic DC’, can further enhance the efficacy of the DC for immunotherapy. At the same time, in vitro generation of DCs including antigen loading or even co-delivery of adjuvant and antigen to DCs, can be used to properly drive antigen-specific immune responses.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Methods, Protocols, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Clinical Trial articles, that describe recent advances in antigen delivery to DC, which will ultimately open the way to new immunotherapy strategies. This Research Topic will focus on platforms including:
• Nanoparticles or nanovaccines
• Antibody-antigen conjugate
• Synthetic DCs
• co-delivery of adjuvant and antigen
• In vitro generation and loading of DCs
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
