T-cell adjuvancy involves the use of agents to stimulate preferentiall
y delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH). Traditional adjuvants like Alum
, Freunds, muramyl peptides, and endotoxins are not selective. Natural
infection (e.g. vaccinia) may yield selective DTH. Low dose cyclophos
phamide (CY) with mycobacteria was the first experimental T-cell adjuv
ant. New adjuvant formulations (ISCOMS, MAPS, etc.) with synthetic T-c
ell epitopes offer improved formulations. Upregulation of TH-1 helper
cells and their actions with interleukins like IL-2, IL-12, and gamma
IFN or antibodies to IL-4 and IL-10 may augment potently pathogen and
tumor resistance. Similarly, transfection of tumor target cells with g
enes for IL-2, IL-12, gamma IFN, etc., offers novel vaccine treatment
approaches. Finally, ''thymomimetic'' peptides like thymosin a, or dru
gs like levamisole or isoprinosine alone or in conjunction with interl
eukins may augment TH-I and DTH responses. These approaches are seeing
increasing emphasis in new treatment strategies for cancer and infect
ions like HIV.