Similar functional activity of dendritic cells recruited to the mesenteric lymph nodes of newborn and adult mice after the rectal delivery of Mycobacterium bovis BCG.

BCG rectal administration to newborn and adult mice induced protective immune responses against tuberculosis. BCG reaches the sub-epithelial site and the draining mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), and dendritic cells (DC) could be recruited to these sites. Using polarized Caco-2 epithelial cells, we showed that BCG translocates epithelial cells to basolateral compartment.