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Lv X, Martin J, Hoover H, Joshi B, Wilkens M, Ullisch DA, Leibold T, Juchum JS, Revadkar S, Kalinovska B, Keith J, Truby A, Liu G, Sun E, Haserick J, DeGnore J, Conolly J, Hill AV, Baldoni J, Kensil C, Levey D, Spencer AJ, Gorr G, Findeis M, Tanne A. Chemical and biological characterization of vaccine adjuvant QS-21 produced via plant cell culture. iScience 2024; 27:109006. [PMID: 38361610 PMCID: PMC10867646 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Many vaccines, including those using recombinant antigen subunits, rely on adjuvant(s) to enhance the efficacy of the host immune responses. Among the few adjuvants clinically approved, QS-21, a saponin-based immunomodulatory molecule isolated from the tree bark of Quillaja saponaria (QS) is used in complex formulations in approved effective vaccines. High demand of the QS raw material as well as manufacturing scalability limitation has been barriers here. We report for the first-time successful plant cell culture production of QS-21 having structural, chemical, and biologic, properties similar to the bark extracted product. These data ensure QS-21 and related saponins are broadly available and accessible to drug developers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John S. Juchum
- Phyton Biotech LLC, 1503 Cliveden Avenue, Delta, BC V3M 6P7, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Adam Truby
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Adrian V.S. Hill
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | - Alexandra J. Spencer
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine & Wellbeing; Immune Health Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
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2
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Gamboa Marin OJ, Heis F, Gauthier C. Synthesis of immunostimulatory saponins: A sweet challenge for carbohydrate chemists. Carbohydr Res 2023; 530:108851. [PMID: 37257206 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2023.108851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Saponins are a large family of natural glycosides showing a wide range of biological activities. Current research efforts on saponins as vaccine adjuvants have been mainly focused on the development of synthetic analogs. By mimicking the immunomodulatory saponins from Quillaja saponaria (QS), less complex and readily accessible analogs have been synthesized to improve the industrial applicability and efficacy of saponins as vaccine adjuvants. Through the exploration of several structural modifications on the skeleton of QS saponins, including changes in the sugar and aglycone compositions as well as in the nature and configuration of the glycosidic bonds, structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies developed by Pr. Gin in the early 2010s were taken as a starting point for the development of a new generation of immunomodulatory candidates. In this review, the recent synthetic strategies and SAR studies of mono- and bidesmosidic QS saponins are discussed. Original concepts of vaccination including self-adjuvanticity and the development of saponin-based glycoconjugates are described. The synthesis and semi-synthesis of saponin alternatives to QS, such as Momordica saponin and onjisaponin derivatives, are also discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Javier Gamboa Marin
- Unité mixte de recherche (UMR) INRS-UQAC, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval and Chicoutimi, Canada
| | - Floriane Heis
- Unité mixte de recherche (UMR) INRS-UQAC, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval and Chicoutimi, Canada
| | - Charles Gauthier
- Unité mixte de recherche (UMR) INRS-UQAC, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval and Chicoutimi, Canada.
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3
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Pifferi C, Aguinagalde L, Ruiz-de-Angulo A, Sacristán N, Baschirotto PT, Poveda A, Jiménez-Barbero J, Anguita J, Fernández-Tejada A. Development of synthetic, self-adjuvanting, and self-assembling anticancer vaccines based on a minimal saponin adjuvant and the tumor-associated MUC1 antigen. Chem Sci 2023; 14:3501-3513. [PMID: 37006677 PMCID: PMC10055764 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc05639a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The overexpression of aberrantly glycosylated tumor-associated mucin-1 (TA-MUC1) in human cancers makes it a major target for the development of anticancer vaccines derived from synthetic MUC1-(glyco)peptide antigens. However, glycopeptide-based subunit vaccines are weakly immunogenic, requiring adjuvants and/or additional immunopotentiating approaches to generate optimal immune responses. Among these strategies, unimolecular self-adjuvanting vaccine constructs that do not need coadministration of adjuvants or conjugation to carrier proteins emerge as a promising but still underexploited approach. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, immune-evaluation in mice, and NMR studies of new, self-adjuvanting and self-assembling vaccines based on our QS-21-derived minimal adjuvant platform covalently linked to TA-MUC1-(glyco)peptide antigens and a peptide helper T-cell epitope. We have developed a modular, chemoselective strategy that harnesses two distal attachment points on the saponin adjuvant to conjugate the respective components in unprotected form and high yields via orthogonal ligations. In mice, only tri-component candidates but not unconjugated or di-component combinations induced significant TA-MUC1-specific IgG antibodies able to recognize the TA-MUC1 on cancer cells. NMR studies revealed the formation of self-assembled aggregates, in which the more hydrophilic TA-MUC1 moiety gets exposed to the solvent, favoring B-cell recognition. While dilution of the di-component saponin-(Tn)MUC1 constructs resulted in partial aggregate disruption, this was not observed for the more stably-organized tri-component candidates. This higher structural stability in solution correlates with their increased immunogenicity and suggests a longer half-life of the construct in physiological media, which together with the enhanced antigen multivalent presentation enabled by the particulate self-assembly, points to this self-adjuvanting tri-component vaccine as a promising synthetic candidate for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Pifferi
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) Biscay Technology Park, Building 801A 48160 Derio Spain
| | - Leire Aguinagalde
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) Biscay Technology Park, Building 801A 48160 Derio Spain
| | - Ane Ruiz-de-Angulo
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) Biscay Technology Park, Building 801A 48160 Derio Spain
| | - Nagore Sacristán
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) Biscay Technology Park, Building 801A 48160 Derio Spain
| | - Priscila Tonon Baschirotto
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) Biscay Technology Park, Building 801A 48160 Derio Spain
| | - Ana Poveda
- Chemical Glycobiology Laboratory, CIC BioGUNE, BRTA Spain
| | - Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
- Chemical Glycobiology Laboratory, CIC BioGUNE, BRTA Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science Maria Diaz de Haro 13 48009 Bilbao Spain
- Department of Organic Chemistry II, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country 48940 Leioa Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5 28029 Madrid Spain
| | - Juan Anguita
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science Maria Diaz de Haro 13 48009 Bilbao Spain
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, CIC BioGUNE, BRTA Spain
| | - Alberto Fernández-Tejada
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) Biscay Technology Park, Building 801A 48160 Derio Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science Maria Diaz de Haro 13 48009 Bilbao Spain
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4
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Shivatare SS, Shivatare VS, Wong CH. Glycoconjugates: Synthesis, Functional Studies, and Therapeutic Developments. Chem Rev 2022; 122:15603-15671. [PMID: 36174107 PMCID: PMC9674437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c01032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Glycoconjugates are major constituents of mammalian cells that are formed via covalent conjugation of carbohydrates to other biomolecules like proteins and lipids and often expressed on the cell surfaces. Among the three major classes of glycoconjugates, proteoglycans and glycoproteins contain glycans linked to the protein backbone via amino acid residues such as Asn for N-linked glycans and Ser/Thr for O-linked glycans. In glycolipids, glycans are linked to a lipid component such as glycerol, polyisoprenyl pyrophosphate, fatty acid ester, or sphingolipid. Recently, glycoconjugates have become better structurally defined and biosynthetically understood, especially those associated with human diseases, and are accessible to new drug, diagnostic, and therapeutic developments. This review describes the status and new advances in the biological study and therapeutic applications of natural and synthetic glycoconjugates, including proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycolipids. The scope, limitations, and novel methodologies in the synthesis and clinical development of glycoconjugates including vaccines, glyco-remodeled antibodies, glycan-based adjuvants, glycan-specific receptor-mediated drug delivery platforms, etc., and their future prospectus are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachin S Shivatare
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Vidya S Shivatare
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Chi-Huey Wong
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
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5
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Fuentes R, Aguinagalde L, Pifferi C, Plata A, Sacristán N, Castellana D, Anguita J, Fernández-Tejada A. Novel Oxime-Derivatized Synthetic Triterpene Glycosides as Potent Saponin Vaccine Adjuvants. Front Immunol 2022; 13:865507. [PMID: 35603193 PMCID: PMC9121768 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.865507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccine adjuvants are key for optimal vaccine efficacy, increasing the immunogenicity of the antigen and potentiating the immune response. Saponin adjuvants such as the carbohydrate-based QS-21 natural product are among the most promising candidates in vaccine formulations, but suffer from inherent drawbacks that have hampered their use and approval as stand-alone adjuvants. Despite the recent development of synthetic derivatives with improved properties, their full potential has not yet been reached, allowing the prospect of discovering further optimized saponin variants with higher potency. Herein, we have designed, chemically synthesized, and immunologically evaluated novel oxime-derivatized saponin adjuvants with targeted structural modifications at key triterpene functionalities. The resulting analogues have revealed important findings into saponin structure-activity relationships, including adjuvant mechanistic insights, and have shown superior adjuvant activity in terms of significantly increased antibody response augmentation compared to our previous saponin leads. These newly identified saponin oximes emerge as highly promising synthetic adjuvants for further preclinical development towards potential next generation immunotherapeutics for future vaccine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Fuentes
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | - Leire Aguinagalde
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | - Carlo Pifferi
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | - Adrián Plata
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | - Nagore Sacristán
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | - Donatello Castellana
- Research and Development, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance BRTA, Derio, Spain
| | - Juan Anguita
- Inflammation and Macrophage Plasticity Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance BRTA, Derio, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Alberto Fernández-Tejada
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance BRTA, Derio, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
- *Correspondence: Alberto Fernández-Tejada,
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6
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Sonzogni A, Cabrera G, Lupi G, Gugliotta L, Gonzalez V, Marcipar I, Minari R. Film Forming Nanogels for Needle-free Transdermal Vaccination. Macromol Biosci 2022; 22:e2100515. [PMID: 35388617 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202100515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) provides a valuable alternative approach to conventional vaccination because of the high accessibility and the exceptional immunological characteristics of the skin, but its application is limited by the low permeability of the stratum corneum. Although nanogels (NGs) have proven to enhance skin penetration of macromolecules with minimum damage, their use in TCI remains almost unexplored. In this context, this article evaluates the performance of novel film forming NGs (FF-NGs) as TCI. This TCI platform consists of NGs with multilobular morphology that positively combines the properties of crosslinked poly(N-vinylcaprolactam), like thermoresponsiveness and the ability to load and release a cargo, with the film forming capacity of low Tg lobes. FF-NGs and formed films were characterized at different levels. Formed films show to be able to uniformly load an antigenic protein and release it with a profile depending on the temperature and on their FF-NGs content. In-vivo studies have demonstrated that FF-NGs promote the penetration of not only an antigenic protein but also an adjuvant until the immunocompetent area of skin, generating an adjuvant-dependent specific immune response. Finally, this study provides a successful proof of concept that FF-NGs could be a powerful tool for transcutaneous release of complex formulations. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sonzogni
- Group of Polymers and Polymerization Reactors, INTEC (Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Gabriel Cabrera
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Giuliana Lupi
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Luis Gugliotta
- Group of Polymers and Polymerization Reactors, INTEC (Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina.,Facultad de Ingeniería Química (Universidad Nacional del Litoral), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Verónica Gonzalez
- Group of Polymers and Polymerization Reactors, INTEC (Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina.,Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Iván Marcipar
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Roque Minari
- Group of Polymers and Polymerization Reactors, INTEC (Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina.,Facultad de Ingeniería Química (Universidad Nacional del Litoral), Santa Fe, Argentina
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7
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Wainwright CL, Teixeira MM, Adelson DL, Buenz EJ, David B, Glaser KB, Harata-Lee Y, Howes MJR, Izzo AA, Maffia P, Mayer AM, Mazars C, Newman DJ, Nic Lughadha E, Pimenta AM, Parra JA, Qu Z, Shen H, Spedding M, Wolfender JL. Future Directions for the Discovery of Natural Product-Derived Immunomodulating Drugs. Pharmacol Res 2022; 177:106076. [PMID: 35074524 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Drug discovery from natural sources is going through a renaissance, having spent many decades in the shadow of synthetic molecule drug discovery, despite the fact that natural product-derived compounds occupy a much greater chemical space than those created through synthetic chemistry methods. With this new era comes new possibilities, not least the novel targets that have emerged in recent times and the development of state-of-the-art technologies that can be applied to drug discovery from natural sources. Although progress has been made with some immunomodulating drugs, there remains a pressing need for new agents that can be used to treat the wide variety of conditions that arise from disruption, or over-activation, of the immune system; natural products may therefore be key in filling this gap. Recognising that, at present, there is no authoritative article that details the current state-of-the-art of the immunomodulatory activity of natural products, this in-depth review has arisen from a joint effort between the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) Natural Products and Immunopharmacology, with contributions from a Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation number of world-leading researchers in the field of natural product drug discovery, to provide a "position statement" on what natural products has to offer in the search for new immunomodulatory argents. To this end, we provide a historical look at previous discoveries of naturally occurring immunomodulators, present a picture of the current status of the field and provide insight into the future opportunities and challenges for the discovery of new drugs to treat immune-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherry L Wainwright
- Centre for Natural Products in Health, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK.
| | - Mauro M Teixeira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - David L Adelson
- Molecular & Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Eric J Buenz
- Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, New Zealand.
| | - Bruno David
- Green Mission Pierre Fabre, Pierre Fabre Laboratories, Toulouse, France.
| | - Keith B Glaser
- AbbVie Inc., Integrated Discovery Operations, North Chicago, USA.
| | - Yuka Harata-Lee
- Molecular & Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - Melanie-Jayne R Howes
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK; Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, UK.
| | - Angelo A Izzo
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
| | - Pasquale Maffia
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Italy; Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Alejandro Ms Mayer
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, IL, USA.
| | - Claire Mazars
- Green Mission Pierre Fabre, Pierre Fabre Laboratories, Toulouse, France.
| | | | | | - Adriano Mc Pimenta
- Laboratory of Animal Venoms and Toxins, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - John Aa Parra
- Laboratory of Animal Venoms and Toxins, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Zhipeng Qu
- Molecular & Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - Hanyuan Shen
- Molecular & Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Jean-Luc Wolfender
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
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ISCOM-like Nanoparticles Formulated with Quillaja brasiliensis Saponins Are Promising Adjuvants for Seasonal Influenza Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9111350. [PMID: 34835281 PMCID: PMC8621233 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination is the most effective public health intervention to prevent influenza infections, which are responsible for an important burden of respiratory illnesses and deaths each year. Currently, licensed influenza vaccines are mostly split inactivated, although in order to achieve higher efficacy rates, some influenza vaccines contain adjuvants. Although split-inactivated vaccines induce mostly humoral responses, tailoring mucosal and cellular immune responses is crucial for preventing influenza infections. Quillaja brasiliensis saponin-based adjuvants, including ISCOM-like nanoparticles formulated with the QB-90 saponin fraction (IQB90), have been studied in preclinical models for more than a decade and have been demonstrated to induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses towards several viral antigens. Herein, we demonstrate that a split-inactivated IQB90 adjuvanted influenza vaccine triggered a protective immune response, stronger than that induced by a commercial unadjuvanted vaccine, when applied either by the subcutaneous or the intranasal route. Moreover, we reveal that this novel adjuvant confers up to a ten-fold dose-sparing effect, which could be crucial for pandemic preparedness. Last but not least, we assessed the role of caspase-1/11 in the generation of the immune response triggered by the IQB90 adjuvanted influenza vaccine in a mouse model and found that the cellular-mediated immune response triggered by the IQB90-Flu relies, at least in part, on a mechanism involving the casp-1/11 pathway but not the humoral response elicited by this formulation.
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9
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Fuentes R, Aguinagalde L, Sacristán N, Fernández-Tejada A. Design, synthesis, and initial immunological evaluation of glycoconjugates based on saponin adjuvants and the Tn antigen. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:11382-11385. [PMID: 34647563 PMCID: PMC8552335 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc04459a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We report the first synthesis and immunological evaluation of a new glycoconjugate design based on streamlined saponin adjuvants and the Tn carbohydrate antigen. While the novel synthetic constructs induced moderate antibody responses in mice, the versatile chemical platform is amenable to further structure-activity optimizations for the development of self-adjuvanting glycoconjugate cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Fuentes
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain.
| | - Leire Aguinagalde
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain.
| | - Nagore Sacristán
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain.
| | - Alberto Fernández-Tejada
- Chemical Immunology Laboratory, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain.
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Euskadi Plaza 5, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
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10
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Natural and synthetic carbohydrate-based vaccine adjuvants and their mechanisms of action. Nat Rev Chem 2021; 5:197-216. [PMID: 37117529 PMCID: PMC7829660 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-020-00244-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Modern subunit vaccines based on homogeneous antigens offer more precise targeting and improved safety compared with traditional whole-pathogen vaccines. However, they are also less immunogenic and require an adjuvant to increase the immunogenicity of the antigen and potentiate the immune response. Unfortunately, few adjuvants have sufficient potency and low enough toxicity for clinical use, highlighting the urgent need for new, potent and safe adjuvants. Notably, a number of natural and synthetic carbohydrate structures have been used as adjuvants in clinical trials, and two have recently been approved in human vaccines. However, naturally derived carbohydrate adjuvants are heterogeneous, difficult to obtain and, in some cases, unstable. In addition, their molecular mechanisms of action are generally not fully understood, partly owing to the lack of tools to elucidate their immune-potentiating effects, thus hampering the rational development of optimized adjuvants. To address these challenges, modification of the natural product structure using synthetic chemistry emerges as an attractive approach to develop well-defined, improved carbohydrate-containing adjuvants and chemical probes for mechanistic investigation. This Review describes selected examples of natural and synthetic carbohydrate-based adjuvants and their application in synthetic self-adjuvanting vaccines, while also discussing current understanding of their molecular mechanisms of action.
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11
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Abstract
Personalized cancer vaccines (PCVs) are reinvigorating vaccine strategies in cancer immunotherapy. In contrast to adoptive T-cell therapy and checkpoint blockade, the PCV strategy modulates the innate and adaptive immune systems with broader activation to redeploy antitumor immunity with individualized tumor-specific antigens (neoantigens). Following a sequential scheme of tumor biopsy, mutation analysis, and epitope prediction, the administration of neoantigens with synthetic long peptide (SLP) or mRNA formulations dramatically improves the population and activity of antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Despite the promising prospect of PCVs, there is still great potential for optimizing prevaccination procedures and vaccine potency. In particular, the arduous development of tumor-associated antigen (TAA)-based vaccines provides valuable experience and rational principles for augmenting vaccine potency which is expected to advance PCV through the design of adjuvants, delivery systems, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) reversion since current personalized vaccination simply admixes antigens with adjuvants. Considering the broader application of TAA-based vaccine design, these two strategies complement each other and can lead to both personalized and universal therapeutic methods. Chemical strategies provide vast opportunities for (1) exploring novel adjuvants, including synthetic molecules and materials with optimizable activity, (2) constructing efficient and precise delivery systems to avoid systemic diffusion, improve biosafety, target secondary lymphoid organs, and enhance antigen presentation, and (3) combining bioengineering methods to innovate improvements in conventional vaccination, "smartly" re-educate the TME, and modulate antitumor immunity. As chemical strategies have proven versatility, reliability, and universality in the design of T cell- and B cell-based antitumor vaccines, the union of such numerous chemical methods in vaccine construction is expected to provide new vigor and vitality in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hao Li
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Mei Li
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, 100069 Beijing, China.,Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
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12
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Marques-da-Silva C, Peissig K, Kurup SP. Pre-Erythrocytic Vaccines against Malaria. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030400. [PMID: 32708179 PMCID: PMC7565498 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria, caused by the protozoan Plasmodium, is a devastating disease with over 200 million new cases reported globally every year. Although immunization is arguably the best strategy to eliminate malaria, despite decades of research in this area we do not have an effective, clinically approved antimalarial vaccine. The current impetus in the field is to develop vaccines directed at the pre-erythrocytic developmental stages of Plasmodium, utilizing novel vaccination platforms. We here review the most promising pre-erythrocytic stage antimalarial vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Marques-da-Silva
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (C.M.-d.-S.); (K.P.)
- Department of Cellular Biology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Kristen Peissig
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (C.M.-d.-S.); (K.P.)
- Department of Cellular Biology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Samarchith P. Kurup
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (C.M.-d.-S.); (K.P.)
- Department of Cellular Biology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Correspondence:
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13
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Ghirardello M, Ruiz-de-Angulo A, Sacristan N, Barriales D, Jiménez-Barbero J, Poveda A, Corzana F, Anguita J, Fernández-Tejada A. Exploiting structure-activity relationships of QS-21 in the design and synthesis of streamlined saponin vaccine adjuvants. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:719-722. [PMID: 31833496 DOI: 10.1039/c9cc07781b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We report the design, synthesis, immunological evaluation, and conformational analysis of new saponin variants as promising vaccine adjuvants. These studies have provided expedient synthetic access to streamlined adjuvant-active saponins and yielded molecular-level insights into saponin conformation that correlated with their in vivo adjuvant activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Ghirardello
- Chemical Immunology Lab, Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences, CIC-bioGUNE, 48160 Derio, Biscay, Spain.
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14
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Wang P, Škalamera Đ, Sui X, Zhang P, Michalek SM. Synthesis and Evaluation of QS-7-Based Vaccine Adjuvants. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:974-981. [PMID: 30920199 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
We have designed and synthesized two analogs (5 and 6) of QS-7, a natural saponin compound isolated from Quillaja saponaria (QS) Molina tree bark. The only structural difference between compound 5 and 6 is that 5 is acetylated at the 3- and 4-O positions of the quillaic acid C28 fucosyl unit while 6 is not. However, the two analogs show significantly different immunostimulant profiles. Compound 5 may potentiate a mixed Th1/Th2 (Th, T helper cells) immune response against the specific antigens while compound 6 may only induce a Th2-biased immunity. These results suggest that the 3- and/or 4-O acetyl groups of the fucosyl unit may play an important role in tuning the adjuvanticity of the QS-7 analogs, and compound 5 can serve as a structurally defined synthetic adjuvant when a mixed Th1/Th2 immune responses is desired.
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15
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Fleck JD, Betti AH, da Silva FP, Troian EA, Olivaro C, Ferreira F, Verza SG. Saponins from Quillaja saponaria and Quillaja brasiliensis: Particular Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activities. Molecules 2019; 24:E171. [PMID: 30621160 PMCID: PMC6337100 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24010171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Quillaja saponaria Molina represents the main source of saponins for industrial applications. Q. saponaria triterpenoids have been studied for more than four decades and their relevance is due to their biological activities, especially as a vaccine adjuvant and immunostimulant, which have led to important research in the field of vaccine development. These saponins, alone or incorporated into immunostimulating complexes (ISCOMs), are able to modulate immunity by increasing antigen uptake, stimulating cytotoxic T lymphocyte production (Th1) and cytokines (Th2) in response to different antigens. Furthermore, antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and antitumor activities are also reported as important biological properties of Quillaja triterpenoids. Recently, other saponins from Q. brasiliensis (A. St.-Hill. & Tul.) Mart. were successfully tested and showed similar chemical and biological properties to those of Q. saponaria barks. The aim of this manuscript is to summarize the current advances in phytochemical and pharmacological knowledge of saponins from Quillaja plants, including the particular chemical characteristics of these triterpenoids. The potential applications of Quillaja saponins to stimulate further drug discovery research will be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Deise Fleck
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, Novo Hamburgo 93525-075, RS, Brazil.
| | - Andresa Heemann Betti
- Bioanalysis Laboratory, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, Novo Hamburgo 93525-075, RS, Brazil.
| | - Francini Pereira da Silva
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, Novo Hamburgo 93525-075, RS, Brazil.
| | - Eduardo Artur Troian
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, Novo Hamburgo 93525-075, RS, Brazil.
| | - Cristina Olivaro
- Science and Chemical Technology Department, University Center of Tacuarembó, Udelar, Tacuarembó 45000, Uruguay.
| | - Fernando Ferreira
- Organic Chemistry Department, Carbohydrates and Glycoconjugates Laboratory, Udelar, Mondevideo 11600, Uruguay.
| | - Simone Gasparin Verza
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Health Sciences, Feevale University, Novo Hamburgo 93525-075, RS, Brazil.
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16
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Marciani DJ. Elucidating the Mechanisms of Action of Saponin-Derived Adjuvants. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2018; 39:573-585. [PMID: 29655658 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Numerous triterpenoid saponins are adjuvants that modify the activities of T cells and antigen-presenting cells, like dendritic cells (DCs). Saponins can induce either proinflammatory Th1/Th2 or sole anti-inflammatory Th2 immunities. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) have shown that imine-forming carbonyl groups are needed for T cell activation leading to induction of Th1/Th2 immunities. While saponins having different triterpenoid aglycons and oligosaccharide chains can activate DCs to induce Th1/Th2 immunoresponses, fucopyranosyl residues from their oligosaccharides by binding to the DC-SIGN receptor can bias DCs toward a sole Th2 immunity. Here we discuss the mechanisms of action of these saponins in view of new information, which may serve as a basis to design improved adjuvants and related drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dante J Marciani
- Qantu Therapeutics, Inc., 612 East Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75057, USA.
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17
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Design, synthesis and evaluation of optimized saponin variants derived from the vaccine adjuvant QS-21. PURE APPL CHEM 2017. [DOI: 10.1515/pac-2016-1213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
AbstractThe saponin natural product QS-21 is one of the most potent investigational adjuvants, which are substances added to vaccines to enhance the immunogenicity of the antigen and potentiate the immune response. While QS-21 has been coadministered with vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases in many clinical trials, its inherent liabilities (scarcity, heterogeneity, instability, and dose-limiting toxicity) have limited its widespread clinical use. Furthermore, its molecular mechanisms of action are poorly understood. Structural modification of the natural product using chemical synthesis has become an important strategy to overcome these limitations. This review focuses mainly on research efforts in the group of the late Professor David Y. Gin on the development of optimized synthetic saponin adjuvants derived from QS-21. A number of QS21 variants incorporating stable acyl chain amide linkages, truncated carbohydrate domains, and targeted modifications at the triterpene and central glycosyl ester linkage were designed, chemically synthesized, and immunologically evaluated. These studies delineated key minimal structural requirements for adjuvant activity, established correlations between saponin conformation and activity, and provided improved, synthetically accessible saponin adjuvants. Moreover, leveraging these structure–activity relationships, novel saponin probes with high potency and reduced toxicity were developed and used in biodistribution and fluorescence imaging studies, yielding early insights into their enigmatic mechanisms of action.
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18
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Konishi N, Shirahata T, Yokoyama M, Katsumi T, Ito Y, Hirata N, Nishino T, Makino K, Sato N, Nagai T, Kiyohara H, Yamada H, Kaji E, Kobayashi Y. Synthesis of Bisdesmosidic Oleanolic Acid Saponins via a Glycosylation-Deprotection Sequence under Continuous Microfluidic/Batch Conditions. J Org Chem 2017; 82:6703-6719. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.7b00841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Naruki Konishi
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Shirahata
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Masaki Yokoyama
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Katsumi
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Ito
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Nozomu Hirata
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Takashi Nishino
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Kazuishi Makino
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Noriko Sato
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Takayuki Nagai
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kiyohara
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Haruki Yamada
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Eisuke Kaji
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Kobayashi
- School
of Pharmacy and ‡Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences and Graduate School of Infection
Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
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19
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Shirahata T, Nagai T, Hirata N, Yokoyama M, Katsumi T, Konishi N, Nishino T, Makino K, Yamada H, Kaji E, Kiyohara H, Kobayashi Y. Syntheses and mucosal adjuvant activity of simplified oleanolic acid saponins possessing cinnamoyl ester. Bioorg Med Chem 2017; 25:1747-1755. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2016.09.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Revised: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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20
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Brunner L, Barnier-Quer C, Collin N. QS-21 Adjuvant: Laboratory-Scale Purification Method and Formulation Into Liposomes. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1494:73-86. [PMID: 27718186 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6445-1_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
QS-21, a saponin extracted from the tree Quillaja saponaria Molina, is a vaccine adjuvant which has been shown to elicit robust antibody and cell-mediated immune responses in a variety of preclinical and clinical studies [1]. Its purification from the natural source is a lengthy and difficult process. The commercially available saponin mixture Quil-A® is a fraction of the bark extract containing a variety of saponins, including QS-21. In order to facilitate access to QS-21 at laboratory-scale amounts, we propose here a method of purification of QS-21 starting from Quil-A®. In addition, we describe a protocol to appropriately formulate QS-21 into cholesterol-containing, neutral liposomes which are known to decrease QS-21's hemolytic activity while retaining the adjuvant effect. Methods for the physicochemical characterization of purified QS-21 and of the QS-21/liposome formulations are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Brunner
- Vaccine Formulation Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Chemin des Boveresses 155, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland.
| | - Christophe Barnier-Quer
- Vaccine Formulation Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Chemin des Boveresses 155, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Collin
- Vaccine Formulation Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Chemin des Boveresses 155, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
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21
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Fernández-Tejada A, Walkowicz WE, Tan DS, Gin DY. Semisynthesis of Analogues of the Saponin Immunoadjuvant QS-21. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1494:45-71. [PMID: 27718185 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6445-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Saponins are triterpene glycoside natural products that exhibit many different biological properties, including activation and modulation of the immune system, and have therefore attracted significant interest as immunological adjuvants for use in vaccines. QS-21 is the most widely used and promising saponin adjuvant but suffers from several liabilities, such as scarcity, dose-limiting toxicity, and hydrolytic instability. Chemical synthesis has emerged as a powerful approach to obtain homogeneous, pure samples of QS-21 and to improve its properties and therapeutic profile by providing access to optimized, synthetic saponin variants. Herein, we describe a general method for the semisynthesis of these molecules from QS-21, with detailed synthetic protocols for two saponin variants developed in our recent work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Fernández-Tejada
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA. .,Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road 12, OX1 3TA, Oxford, UK.
| | - William E Walkowicz
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Derek S Tan
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA. .,Tri-Institutional Research Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - David Y Gin
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,Tri-Institutional Research Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
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22
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Fernández-Tejada A, Tan DS, Gin DY. Development of Improved Vaccine Adjuvants Based on the Saponin Natural Product QS-21 through Chemical Synthesis. Acc Chem Res 2016; 49:1741-56. [PMID: 27568877 PMCID: PMC5032057 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.6b00242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Vaccines based on molecular subunit antigens
are increasingly being
investigated due to their improved safety and more precise targeting
compared to classical whole-pathogen vaccines. However, subunit vaccines
are inherently less immunogenic; thus, coadministration of an adjuvant
to increase the immunogenicity of the antigen is often necessary to
elicit a potent immune response. QS-21, an immunostimulatory saponin
natural product, has been used as an adjuvant in conjunction with various
vaccines in numerous clinical trials, but suffers from several inherent
liabilities, including scarcity, chemical instability, and dose-limiting
toxicity. Moreover, little is known about its mechanism of action.
Over a decade-long effort, beginning at the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign and continuing at the Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center (MSKCC), the group of Prof. David Y. Gin accomplished
the total synthesis of QS-21 and developed a practical semisynthetic
approach to novel variants that overcome the liabilities of the natural
product. First, semisynthetic QS-21 variants were designed with stable
amide linkages in the acyl chain domain that exhibited comparable
in vivo adjuvant activity and lower toxicity than the natural product.
Further modifications in the acyl chain domain and truncation of the
linear tetrasaccharide domain led to identification of a trisaccharide
variant with a simple carboxylic acid side chain that retained potent
adjuvant activity, albeit with reemergence of toxicity. Conversely,
an acyl chain analogue terminating in a free amine was inactive but
enabled chemoselective functionalization with radiolabeled and fluorescent
tags, yielding adjuvant-active saponin probes that, unlike inactive
congeners, accumulated in the lymph nodes in vaccinated mice and internalized
into dendritic cells. Subtle variations in length, stereochemistry,
and conformational flexibility around the central glycosidic linkage
provided QS-21 variants with adjuvant activities that correlated with
specific conformations found in molecular dynamics simulations. Notably,
deletion of the entire branched trisaccharide domain afforded potent,
truncated saponin variants with negligible toxicity and improved synthetic
access, facilitating subsequent investigation of the triterpene core.
The triterpene C4-aldehyde substituent, previously proposed to be
important for QS-21 adjuvant activity, proved to be dispensable
in these truncated saponin variants, while the presence of the C16
hydroxyl group enhanced activity. Novel adjuvant conjugates incorporating
the small-molecule immunopotentiator tucaresol at the acyl chain terminus
afforded adjuvant-active variants but without significant synergistic
enhancement of activity. Finally, a new divergent synthetic approach
was developed to provide versatile and streamlined access to additional
linear oligosaccharide domain variants with modified sugars and regiochemistries,
opening the door to the rapid generation of diverse, synthetically
accessible analogues. In this Account, we summarize these multidisciplinary
studies at the interface of chemistry, immunology, and medicine, which
have provided critical information on the structure–activity
relationships (SAR) of this Quillaja saponin class;
access to novel, potent, nontoxic adjuvants for use in subunit vaccines;
and a powerful platform for investigations into the mechanisms of
saponin immunopotentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Fernández-Tejada
- Chemical
Biology Program, and ‡Tri-Institutional Research Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Derek S. Tan
- Chemical
Biology Program, and ‡Tri-Institutional Research Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - David Y. Gin
- Chemical
Biology Program, and ‡Tri-Institutional Research Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
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23
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Greatrex BW, Daines AM, Hook S, Lenz DH, McBurney W, Rades T, Rendle PM. Synthesis, Formulation, and Adjuvanticity of Monodesmosidic Saponins with Olenanolic Acid, Hederagenin and Gypsogenin Aglycones, and some C-28 Ester Derivatives. ChemistryOpen 2015; 4:740-55. [PMID: 27308200 PMCID: PMC4906508 DOI: 10.1002/open.201500149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2015] [Revised: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In an attempt to discover a new synthetic vaccine adjuvant, the glycosylation of hederagenin, gypsogenin, and oleanolic acid acceptors with di- and trisaccharide donors to generate a range of mimics of natural product QS-21 was carried out. The saponins were formulated with phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol, and the structures analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. 3-O-(Manp(1→3)Glcp)hederagenin was found to produce numerous ring-like micelles when formulated, while C-28 choline ester derivatives preferred self-assembly and did not interact with the liposomes. When alone and in the presence of cholesterol and phospholipid, the choline ester derivatives produced nanocrystalline rods or helical micelles. The effects of modifying sugar stereochemistry and the aglycone on the immunostimulatory effects of the saponins was then evaluated using the activation markers MHC class II and CD86 in murine bone marrow dendritic cells. The most active saponin, 3-O-(Manp(1→3)Glcp)hederagenin, was stimulatory at high concentrations in cell culture, but this did not translate to strong responses in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben W. Greatrex
- Ferrier Research InstituteVictoria University of WellingtonGracefield RdLower Hutt5010New Zealand
- School of Science & TechnologyUniversity of New EnglandArmidaleNSW2351Australia
| | - Alison M. Daines
- Ferrier Research InstituteVictoria University of WellingtonGracefield RdLower Hutt5010New Zealand
| | - Sarah Hook
- School of PharmacyUniversity of OtagoDunedin9016New Zealand
| | - Dirk H. Lenz
- Ferrier Research InstituteVictoria University of WellingtonGracefield RdLower Hutt5010New Zealand
| | | | - Thomas Rades
- School of PharmacyUniversity of OtagoDunedin9016New Zealand
| | - Phillip M. Rendle
- Ferrier Research InstituteVictoria University of WellingtonGracefield RdLower Hutt5010New Zealand
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24
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Fernández-Tejada A, Cañada FJ, Jiménez-Barbero J. Recent Developments in Synthetic Carbohydrate-Based Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Therapeutics. Chemistry 2015; 21:10616-28. [PMID: 26095198 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201500831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Glycans are everywhere in biological systems, being involved in many cellular events with important implications for medical purposes. Building upon a detailed understanding of the functional roles of carbohydrates in molecular recognition processes and disease states, glycans are increasingly being considered as key players in pharmacological research. On the basis of the important progress recently made in glycochemistry, glycobiology, and glycomedicine, we provide a complete overview of successful applications and future perspectives of carbohydrates in the biopharmaceutical and medical fields. This review highlights the development of carbohydrate-based diagnostics, exemplified by glycan imaging techniques and microarray platforms, synthetic oligosaccharide vaccines against infectious diseases (e.g., HIV) and cancer, and finally carbohydrate-derived therapeutics, including glycomimetic drugs and glycoproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - F Javier Cañada
- Chemical and Physical Biology, CIB-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid (Spain)
| | - Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
- Infectious Disease Programme, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences, CIC-bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160 Derio (Spain). .,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, María López de Haro 13, 48009 Bilbao (Spain).
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