Modification of lipopolysaccharide non-responder cells in low cell density culture

Immunoregulatory effects of transforming growth factor-beta in a prolonged period of culture

It is well known that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) strikingly inhibits numerous immune functions in short-term cultures. In this study we investigated the effects of TGF-beta on the immune responses of murine spleen cells in a prolonged period of culture. The addition of exogenous TGF-beta (0.1 ng/ml) inhibited the proliferation of Con A- or LPS-stimulated spleen cells, polyclonal IgM and IgG antibody production, and NK cell activity during 4 days of the initial culture and subsequently enhanced their responses on Day 10. The augmented polyclonal IgM and IgG responses in murine spleen cells induced by LPS and TGF-beta on Day 10 were suppressed by the secondary addition of TGF-beta on Day 6. These results suggest that TGF-beta acts as an immunoregulator in prolonged period responses by immunoactivators.

Oral adjuvants for viral vaccines in humans

The availability of various viral vaccines prompted extensive studies on oral adjuvants. In this study, parotid protein (parotin), taurine and lithium were chosen as safe and potent oral adjuvants for rubella and influenza virus vaccines. The anti-rubella virus antibody titres in persons administered orally with parotin were significantly higher than those of persons with the non-adjuvanted vaccines. The combinations of oral adjuvants were used for vaccination with trivalent influenza vaccines. Each group, receiving taurine, taurine + lithium, taurine + parotin or taurine + parotin + lithium, was higher in the magnitude of increased influenza virus antibody titres than the non-adjuvant control group. Although taurine was shown to be an effective adjuvant in taurine responders but not in taurine non-responders, the combination of taurine, lithium and/or parotin gave higher increased rate of influenza antibody titres than with taurine alone. These results have shown to be a valuable approach to the clinical use of oral adjuvants.