title: Saponins from the Spanish saffron Crocus sativus are efficient adjuvants for protein-based vaccines.
abstract: Protein and peptide-based vaccines provide rigorously formulated antigens. However, these purified products are only weakly immunogenic by themselves and therefore require the addition of immunostimulatory components or adjuvants in the vaccine formulation. Various compounds derived from pathogens, minerals or plants, possess pro-inflammatory properties which allow them to act as adjuvants and contribute to the induction of an effective immune response. The results presented here demonstrate the adjuvant properties of novel saponins derived from the Spanish saffron Crocus sativus. In vivo immunization studies and tumor protection experiments unambiguously establish the value of saffron saponins as candidate adjuvants. These saponins were indeed able to increase both humoral and cellular immune responses to protein-based vaccines, ultimately providing a significant degree of protection against tumor challenge when administered in combination with a tumor antigen. This preclinical study provides an in depth immunological characterization of a new saponin as a vaccine adjuvant, and encourages its further development for use in vaccine formulations.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Group, Institute for Regional Development (IDR), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: Nathaly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Castro-Díaz
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salaun
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perret
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sierro
authors.forename: Jackeline F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Jose-Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rubio-Moraga
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romero
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012503:Saponins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D012503:Saponins; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit