Distinctive adjuvanticity of synthetic analogs of mycobacterial water-soluble components

• Published in: Cellular immunology Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 243 - 249
• Main Authors: Audibert, F., Chédid, L., Lefrancier, P., Choay, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.02.1976
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Immunologic - pharmacology; Animals; Antibody Formation; Freund's Adjuvant; Guinea Pigs; Male; Mice; Mycobacterium - immunology; Ovalbumin - pharmacology; Peptidoglycan - immunology; Rabbits; Serum Albumin, Bovine - pharmacology; Sodium Chloride; Solubility; Tuberculin Test; Tyrosine - pharmacology; Water
• ISSN: 0008-8749; 1090-2163
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-8749(76)90053-8

Synthetic N-acetyl-muramyl- l-alanyl- d-isoglutamine represents the minimal structure capable of duplicating the activity of mycobacteria in Freund's complete adjuvant. In contrast to mycobacterial adjuvant preparations, that function only in the form of water-in-oil emulsions, this compound and a second synthetic analog ( N-acetyl-muramyl- l-alanyl- d-isoglutamic acid) augment the humoral immune responses of mice equally as well as aqueous solutions. Whereas N-acetyl-muramyl- l-alanyl- d-isoglutamic acid administered to guinea pigs in water-in-oil emulsion has no effect, N-acetyl-muramyl- l-alanyl- d-isoglutamine induces delayed hypersensitivity to ovalbumin and azobenezene-arsonate N-acetyl- l-tyrosine and increases the level of antibody against ovalbumin. Under these conditions, challenge with the synthetic adjuvants themselves evokes no skin responses. Moreover, Freund's complete adjuvant sensitizes guinea pigs to tuberculin and to native mycobacterial water-soluble adjuvant but not to the synthetic analogs.