Novel aggregate structure adjuvants modulate lymphocyte proliferation and Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles in ovalbumin immunized mice

Cytokines are important mediators of effector lymphoid cell function during an immune response. The principal cytokine producers are the T helper (Th) cells and macrophages. Vaccine strategies need to take into account the ba lance of Th (Th1/Th2) cytokines they induce. Adjuvants are compounds that, when combined with an antigen, potentiate an immune response in an immunize d species. The use of adjuvants has been shown to activate differentially T h1 and Th2 subsets. In this study we describe the immunopotentiating proper ties of three novel molecular aggregate formulations based on tomatine (RAM I), a glycosylamide lipid (RAM2) and a fifth generation dendrimeric polymer (RAM3) respectively. These formulations were evaluated for their ability t o augment Th1 or Th2 cytokine responses when administered with a soluble pr otein antigen. Of the three formulations. RAM1 was found to induce predomin antly Th1 cytokines; the levels of which were substantially higher than tho se induced by reference control adjuvants. It was also found that at a late post-vaccinated period, RAMI can stimulate Th2 responses. In contrast, RAM 2 and RAM3 induced cytokine profiles typically associated with Th2 response s. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.