Workshop 28 – Adjuvants

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview of the workshop focusing on adjuvants. It highlights that many adjuvants such as poly-AU and other polyanions can substitute for the depleted T-cell population of thymectomized or genetically thymus-deficient mice in the restoration of the antibody response. Whether they do this by stimulating low numbers of T cells to act more efficiently or whether the T-cell effect on B cells may be replaced in toto by these adjuvants remains unknown. Adjuvants also stimulate B cells and with certain adjuvants, conversion of memory (B) cells to active immunoglobulin-secreting cells has apparently been achieved. Many adjuvants appear to be membrane-active materials, anionic or polyanionic in nature, but evidence for adjuvant activity of catonic surface- active molecules also exists. Among the effective polyanions are the synthetic polynucleotides. In this group, poly A-poly U was recognized as a stimulator of the enzyme responsible for endogenous cyclic-AMP (cAMP) formation. cAMP and known stimulators of cAMP enhance the immune response, and this effect may explain the activity of other non-depot-forming adjuvants.