Tumors that lack T cell infiltration are less likely to respond to immune checkpoint inhibition and could benefit from cancer vaccination for the initiation of anti-tumor T cell responses. An attractive vaccine strategy is in vivo targeting of dendritic cells (DCs), key initiators of antigen-specific T cell responses. In this study we generated apoptotic tumor cell-derived extracellular vesicles (ApoEVs), which are potentially an abundant source of tumor-specific neo-antigens and other tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), and which can be manipulated to express DC-targeting ligands for efficient antigen delivery. Our data demonstrates that by specifically modifying the glycocalyx of tumor cells, high-mannose glycans can be expressed on their cell surface and on extracellular vesicles derived after the induction of apoptosis. High-mannose glycans are the natural ligands of dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN), a dendritic cell associated C-type lectin receptor (CLR), which has the ability to efficiently internalize its cargo and direct it to both major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I and MHC-II pathways for the induction of CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cell responses, respectively. Compared to unmodified ApoEVs, ApoEVs carrying DC-SIGN ligands are internalized to a higher extent, resulting in enhanced priming of tumor-specific CD8⁺ T cells. This approach thus presents a promising vaccination strategy in support of T cell-based immunotherapy of cancer.

Successful anti-cancer vaccines aim to prime and reinvigorate cytotoxic T cells and should therefore comprise a potent antigen and adjuvant. Antigen targeting to splenic CD169⁺ macrophages was shown to induce robust CD8⁺ T cell responses via antigen transfer to cDC1. Interestingly, CD169⁺ macrophages can also activate type I natural killer T-cells (NKT). NKT activation via ligands such as α-galactosylceramide (αGC) serve as natural adjuvants through dendritic cell activation. Here, we incorporated ganglioside GM3 and αGC in ovalbumin (OVA) protein-containing liposomes to achieve both CD169⁺ targeting and superior DC activation. The systemic delivery of GM3-αGC-OVA liposomes resulted in specific uptake by splenic CD169⁺ macrophages, stimulated strong IFNγ production by NKT and NK cells and coincided with the maturation of cDC1 and significant IL-12 production. Strikingly, superior induction of OVA-specific CD8⁺ T cells was detected after immunization with GM3-αGC-OVA liposomes. CD8⁺ T cell activation, but not B cell activation, was dependent on CD169⁺ macrophages and cDC1, while activation of NKT and NK cells were partially mediated by cDC1. In summary, GM3-αGC antigen-containing liposomes are a potent vaccination platform that promotes the interaction between different immune cell populations, resulting in strong adaptive immunity and therefore emerge as a promising anti-cancer vaccination strategy.

Invasion, immune modulation, and angiogenesis are crucial in melanoma progression. Studies based on animals or two-dimensional cultures poorly recapitulate the tumor-microenvironmental cross-talk found in humans. This highlights a need for more physiological human models to better study melanoma features. Here, six melanoma cell lines (A375, COLO829, G361, MeWo, RPMI-7951, and SK-MEL-28) were used to generate an in vitro three-dimensional human melanoma-in-skin (Mel-RhS) model and were compared in terms of dermal invasion and immune modulatory and pro-angiogenic capabilities. A375 displayed the most invasive phenotype by clearly expanding into the dermal compartment, whereas COLO829, G361, MeWo, and SK-MEL-28 recapitulated to different extent the initial stages of melanoma invasion. No nest formation was observed for RPMI-7951. Notably, the integration of A375 and SK-MEL-28 cells into the model resulted in an increased secretion of immune modulatory factors (e.g., M-CSF, IL-10, and TGFβ) and pro-angiogenic factors (e.g., Flt-1 and VEGF). Mel-RhS-derived supernatants induced endothelial cell sprouting in vitro. In addition, observed A375-RhS tissue contraction was correlated to increased TGFβ release and α-SMA expression, all indicative of differentiation of fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblast-like cells and reminiscent of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, consistent with A375′s most prominent invasive behavior. In conclusion, we successfully generated several Mel-RhS models mimicking different stages of melanoma progression, which can be further tailored for future studies to investigate individual aspects of the disease and serve as three-dimensional models to assess efficacy of therapeutic strategies.

Induction of tumor-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (CTLs) via immunization relies on the presentation of tumor-associated peptides in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules by dendritic cells (DCs). To achieve presentation of exogenous peptides into MHC class I, cytosolic processing and cross-presentation are required. Vaccination strategies aiming to induce tumor-specific CD8+ T cells via this exogenous route therefore pose a challenge. In this study, we describe improved CD8+ T cell induction and in vivo tumor suppression of mono-palmitic acid-modified (C16:0) antigenic peptides, which can be attributed to their unique processing route, efficient receptor-independent integration within lipid bilayers, and continuous intracellular accumulation and presentation through MHC class I. We propose that this membrane-integrating feature of palmitoylated peptides can be exploited as a tool for quick and efficient antigen enrichment and MHC class I loading. Importantly, both DCs and non-professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), similar to tumor cells, facilitate anti-tumor immunity by efficient CTL priming via DCs and effective recognition of tumors through enhanced presentation of antigens.

Cancer vaccines have emerged as a potent strategy to improve cancer immunity, with or without the combination of checkpoint blockade. In our investigation, liposomal formulations containing synthetic long peptides and α-Galactosylceramide, along with a DC-SIGN-targeting ligand, Lewis Y (Le^Y), were studied for their anti-tumor potential. The formulated liposomes boosted with anti-CD40 adjuvant demonstrated robust invariant natural killer (iNKT), CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ T-cell activation in vivo. The incorporation of Le^Y facilitated the targeting of antigen-presenting cells expressing DC-SIGN in vitro and in vivo. Surprisingly, mice vaccinated with Le^Y-modified liposomes exhibited comparable tumor reduction and survival rates to those treated with untargeted counterparts despite a decrease in antigen-specific CD8⁺ T-cell responses. These results suggest that impaired induction of antigen-specific CD8⁺ T-cells via DC-SIGN targeting does not compromise anti-tumor potential, hinting at alternative immune activation routes beyond CD8⁺ T-cell activation.

Human skin is a prime vaccination site containing multiple antigen presenting cells (APC), including Langerhans cells (LC) and dendritic cells (DC). APC deliver antigens to lymph nodes for induction of adaptive immunity through stimulating antigen specific T- and B-cells. Since intradermal (ID) injections require specific training, easy applicable delivery systems like laser microporation are emerging. In mice, combination of laser treatment and allergen injection showed enhanced T-cell responses and skewing of B-cell responses without adjuvants. However, it remains to be elucidated whether laser microporation can alter human skin DC phenotype and function without adjuvants. In an ex-vivo human skin explant model, we compared ID injection and laser microporation as anti-tumor vaccination strategy. A melanoma specific synthetic long peptide and multivalent dendrimer with gp100 antigen were used as vaccine formulation to measure APC phenotype, emigration and ability to stimulate gp100 specific CD8⁺ T-cells. We show that skin APC phenotype and emigration capacity was similar after laser microporation and ID injection. However, laser microporation reduced vaccine uptake by APC, resulting in decreased induction of gp100 specific CD8⁺ T-cell activation. To conclude, in our human skin model ID injection remains the most potent strategy to deliver antigens to skin APC for T-cell induction.Graphical