Basidiolipids from Agaricus are novel immune adjuvants

The primary aim of the present study was to compare the immune adjuvanticit y of two different groups of glycolipids, i.e., the newly discovered basidi olipids from Basidiomycete mushrooms (Bl-1, Bl-2, Bl-3, and Bl-4), and sapo nin fractions from Quillaja saponaria. The basidiolipids, though with diffe rential effectiveness of the Bl-components, stimulated the expression of se rum immune globulins in mice that recognized co-injected antigens, bovine s erum albumin (BSA) or a keyhole-limper hemocyanin-ganglioside Gfpt1 conjuga te (KLH-Gfpt1), respectively. The immune adjuvanticity of the basidiolipids was comparable to that of acidic (QAS2, QAS5, QAS10), and novel neutral (Q NS1, QNS2, QNS3) saponin compounds isolated and purified from Quillaja sapo naria bark bulk material. Basidiolipids, as well as, the Q. saponin fractio ns were only marginally antigenic. MPL-A, by contrast, a comparable immune adjuvant, stimulated the expression of specific antibodies that recognized this glycophospholipid. Different from the Q. saponins with restricted toxi city, the basidiolipids displayed no toxic or hemolytic properties.