PIKA adjuvant induces the immune responses in mouse in vitro and in vivo

To evaluate immune responses of mouse induced by PIKA adjuvant both in vitro and in vivo. Mouse splenocytes were prepared and cultured with different concentrations of PIKA adjuvant.The production of IFN-gamma and IL-12p40 was determined by ELISA,and cell activation and proliferation was evaluated in vitro by FACS. For in vivo studies, mouse was injected(i.p.) with PIKA adjuvant and cytokines such as IFN-gamma, IL-12p40, IL-6, TNF-alpha in serum were assayed by ELISA at different time points after injection. PIKA adjuvant induced production of IFN-gamma and IL-12p40 by mouse splenocytes in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Cellular analysis demonstrated that PIKA elicited the activation and proliferation of B cells and NK cells but not CD4~(+) and CD8~(+) T cells. Following injection, PIKA adjuvant induced the production of IFN-gamma, IL-12p40, IL-6, TNF-alpha in vivo with different kinetics. PIKA adjuvantmay directly enhance immune responses via the induction of cytokine secretion, activation and proliferation of B and NK cells.