Local immune responses to influenza antigen are synergistically enhanced by the adjuvant ISCOMATRIX((R))

The peripheral (draining) lymph node. as the primary site of immune inducti on, determines the course of systemic responses to an injected antigen. Lym phatic duct cannulation procedures in sheep were used to investigate local immunoreactivity to human influenza virus antigen (Flu ag) admixed with the adjuvant ISCOMATRIX (R) (IMX). Compared to Flu ag or IMX alone. the co-adm inistration of Flu ag and IMX (Flu ag + IMX) synergistically enhanced a num ber of immunological responses (lymphocyte and blast migration from the nod e. antigen-specific antibody levels and IL6 output in efferent lymph, and a ntigen-induced proliferation in cultured efferent lymph cells). Together, t hese results demonstrate that IMX is an immune modulator, and that lymphati c duct cannulation procedures may be used to evaluate antigen/adjuvant comb inations for vaccine development. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.