Iscoms with different quillaja saponin components differ in their immunomodulating activities

Vaccine. 1999 Jul 16;17(22):2894-900. doi: 10.1016/s0264-410x(99)00128-0.

Abstract

In this study we demonstrate that iscoms made with different defined fractions of quillaja saponins (fractions A and C) exhibit strikingly different immunomodulatory activities. Fraction A has a potent immunomodulatory activity by enhancing antigen specific proliferation and production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, interestingly, this is not reflected by increased levels of IgG2a. The C-fraction on the other hand strongly enhance antibody production and has the ability to modulate the IgG subclass pattern towards IgG2a, in spite of the fact that C-iscoms induce only low levels of IFN-gamma. Iscoms containing both fractions A and C (Iscoprep703) induced higher serum antibody responses than iscoms made of either of the fractions alone and showed an enhanced ability to modulate the serum subclass pattern towards IgG2a compared to C-iscoms.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic*
  • Animals
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Female
  • ISCOMs / immunology*
  • ISCOMs / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Plant Extracts / immunology
  • Saponins / immunology*
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Cytokines
  • ISCOMs
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Plant Extracts
  • Saponins