title: Platycodin D2 improves specific cellular and humoral responses to hepatitis B surface antigen in mice.
abstract: Platycodin D2 (1), a less hemolytic saponin from the root of Platycodon grandiflorum than platycodin D (2), was evaluated for the potential to enhance specific cellular and humoral immune responses to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in mice. It significantly increased the concanavalin A (Con A)-, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-, and HBsAg-induced splenocyte proliferation in HBsAg-immunized mice (P<0.05, P<0.01, and P<0.001, resp.). HBsAg-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibody titers in the serum were also markedly enhanced by 1 compared to the HBsAg control group (P<0.01 or P<0.001). Moreover, 1 significantly promoted the production of Th1 (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines from splenocytes in the HBsAg-immunized mice (P<0.001). The adjuvant potential of 1 on splenocyte proliferation, serum HBsAg-specific IgG2a and IgG2b antibody response, as well as Th1-cytokine secretion from splenocytes in the HBsAg-immunized mice was higher than that of Alum. The results suggest that 1 could improve both cellular and humoral immune responses to HBsAg in mice. Hence, 1 might be a promising adjuvant for hepatitis B vaccine with dual Th1- and Th2-potentiating activity.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemic Etiology & Immunological Prevention of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, P R China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Shu-Wang
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Hong-Xiang
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Duo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D031238:Platycodon / Q000737:chemistry*; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes; C548432:platycodigenin 3-O-(glucopyranosyl-(1-3)-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(apiofuranosyl-(1-3)-xylopyranosyl-(1-4)-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)-arabinopyranoside); C108953:platycodin D