title: Effect of a novel saponin adjuvant derived from Quillaja saponaria on the immune response to recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen.
abstract: Adjuvant activity of saponins extracted from the South American tree Quillaja saponaria has been demonstrated with many antigens. Recently, four saponin fractions (designated as QS-7, QS-17, QS-18, and QS-21) with adjuvant activity were purified by reverse phase chromatography. In particular, efficacy of the less toxic QS-21 fraction has been demonstrated with several recombinant viral antigens including HIV gp120. Here, we report a novel saponin fraction (designated as QS-L1) derived from Quillaja saponaria. Unlike previously identified saponins, QS-L1 had a different chemical structure and showed adjuvant activity only when administered in the presence of alum-precipitated antigen. Interestingly, the QS-L1 greatly increased not only a humoral immune response but also cellular immune response to recombinant hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg). Furthermore, QS-L1 showed lower toxicity in vivo and in vitro than the previously identified saponin fraction, QS-21. Finally, we examined the chemical structure of the QS-L1 using mass spectroscopic analysis, carbohydrate composition analysis and NMR spectroscopic analysis. Thus, our results indicated that this novel QS-L1 saponin fraction had several desirable properties required for an effective adjuvant.
authors.affiliation: Biotech Research Institute, LG Chemical Limited/Research Park, Taejon, Korea.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007114:Immunization; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012503:Saponins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012503:Saponins