Do microRNAs play a role in the activity of plant-based vaccines?

ABSTRACT

Introduction: An important trend in vaccinology is the development of oral vaccines based on genetically modified plants.

Areas covered: Several studies have suggested that dietary microRNAs from plants and other organisms are bioavailable upon oral ingestion exerting biological events in the host such as the modulation of gene expression in several cell types. Since oral plant-based vaccines rely on whole cells as vaccine delivery vehicles, miRNAs could play a role in the immunogenic activity of this type of vaccine. In the present report, this hypothesis is discussed under the light of recent evidence on the immunomodulatory activity exerted by miRNAs using in vitro and in vivo evaluations.

Expert commentary: The ways to generate new knowledge and exploit the potential of miRNAs in the development of oral vaccines are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Non-coding RNA
• cytokines
• oral vaccine
• adjuvant
• food-grade vaccines
• NFκB
• NFAT
• dendritic cell
• immunomodulation

Declaration of interest

S.R Mendoza was supported by CONACYT/Mexico CONACYT (grant INFR-2016-271182 and CB-256063). J.A Salazar-González was supported by CONACYT (fellowship number 353300). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript was funded by CONACYT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología).