mRNA vaccines have played a critical role in controlling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and are being actively studied for use in other diseases. There is a growing interest in applying mRNA vaccines at mucosal surfaces as it enables access to a unique immune reservoir in a less-invasive manner. However, mucosal surfaces present several barriers to mRNA uptake, including degrading enzymes, mucus, and clearance mechanisms. In this mini-review, we discuss our understanding of the immune response to mucosal mRNA vaccines as it compares to systemic mRNA vaccines. We also highlight physical and chemical methods for enhancing mRNA uptake across mucosal tissues. Mucosal mRNA vaccination is a nascent field of research, which will greatly benefit from fundamental investigations into the mechanisms of immune activation and the development of technologies for improved delivery.

mRNA 疫苗在控制 SARS-CoV-2 大流行中发挥了关键作用，并且正在积极研究将其用于其他疾病。人们对在粘膜表面应用 mRNA 疫苗越来越感兴趣，因为它能够以侵入性较小的方式进入独特的免疫库。然而，粘膜表面对 mRNA 的摄取存在一些障碍，包括降解酶、粘液和清除机制。在这篇小综述中，我们讨论了对粘膜 mRNA 疫苗与全身 mRNA 疫苗相比的免疫反应的理解。我们还重点介绍了增强粘膜组织 mRNA 摄取的物理和化学方法。粘膜 mRNA 疫苗接种是一个新兴的研究领域，它将极大地受益于对免疫激活机制的基础研究和改进递送技术的开发。