Selective tumor antigen vaccine delivery to human CD169+ antigen-presenting cells using ganglioside-liposomes

Priming of CD8(+) T cells by dendritic cells (DCs) is crucial for the generation of effective antitumor immune responses. Here, we describe a liposomal vaccine carrier that delivers tumor antigens to human CD169/Siglec-1(+) antigen-presenting cells using gangliosides as targeting ligands. Ganglioside-liposomes specifically bound to CD169 and were internalized by in vitro-generated monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) and macrophages and by ex vivo-isolated splenic macrophages in a CD169-dependent manner. In blood, high-dimensional reduction analysis revealed that ganglioside-liposomes specifically targeted CD14(+) CD169(+) monocytes and Axl(+) CD169(+) DCs. Liposomal codelivery of tumor antigen and Toll-like receptor ligand to CD169(+) moDCs and Axl(+) CD169(+) DCs led to cytokine production and robust cross-presentation and activation of tumor antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells. Finally, Axl(+) CD169(+) DCs were present in cancer patients and efficiently captured ganglioside-liposomes. Our findings demonstrate a nanovaccine platform targeting CD169(+) DCs to drive antitumor T cell responses.