Antibody response in the intestinal tract of mice orally immunized with antigen associated with liposomes.

In order to evaluate the usefulness of liposomes, which are stable in acidic solution, bile and pancreatin solution (stable liposomes), as vehicle for oral vaccines, the intestinal IgA antibody responses of mice to liposome-associated antigen after oral administration were examined. The intestinal IgA antibody responses against ganglioside GM1 were detected after the oral immunization of ganglioside GM1-containing stable liposomes. When monophosphoryl lipid A was incorporated into stable liposomes containing ganglioside GM1, further augmentation of IgA responses to ganglioside GM1 was observed. On the other hand, the oral administration with ganglioside GM1 alone was unable to induce any detectable intestinal anti-ganglioside GM1 IgA antibody response. These results suggest that liposomes which are stable in acidic solution, bile, and pancreatin solution would serve effectively as an oral delivery vehicle for inducing mucosal immune responses.