Targeting Human Dendritic Cells with Lewis X Modified Liposomes

Abstract

In this short report, we demonstrate that liposomes bearing the Lewis X trisaccharide on the surface (“Awesosomes”) efficiently target human dendritic cells. We chose a glycolipid with Lewis X trisaccharide headgroup to facilitate the targeted liposome uptake via the DC-SIGN internalization pathway. While no uptake of Awesosomes was detected with wild-type human HEK293 cells, HEK293 cells transfected with human DC-SIGN internalized Awesosomes extensively. In samples of human blood-derived leukocytes, the extent of uptake of Awesosomes correlated with the expression of DC-SIGN, which is a dendritic cells marker. There was a marked difference in the uptake of Awesosomes and plain liposomes by DC-SIGN expressing dendritic cells. There was no difference in uptake of Awesosomes and plain liposomes by wt HEK293 cells or macrophages. These results indicate that Lewis X trisaccharide can “sweet-talk” dendritic cells into internalizing a delivery vehicle, and that Awesosomes are promising as “magic bullets” for specific delivery of drugs, antigens, or immunostimulatory molecules to human dendritic cells without influencing other cell types.