AEGiS-05CROI: QS21 is superior to alum as an adjuvant with low dose, recombinant MN gp120 for immunization of HIV-1 uninfected volunteers: cellular and humoral responses.

5th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections


Chicago, IL - February 1-5, 1998



QS21 is superior to alum as an adjuvant with low dose, recombinant MN gp120 for immunization of HIV-1 uninfected volunteers: cellular and humoral responses.

Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 1998 Feb 1-5; 5th:95 (abstract no. 88)

Kallas KG, Evans TG, Gorse G, McElrath MJ, Mulligan M, Matthews T, McNamara J, Wolff M, Francis D; University of Rochester, NY.

The saponin adjuvant QS21 has resulted in improved humoral and cellular responses to vaccines in a number of animal models. To test this concept low dose recombinant HIV-1 MN gp120 (VaxGen), 3 micrograms (n=20) or 30 micrograms (n=10), or placebo (n=6) was administered on a 0, 1, 6 month schedule with either alum or QS21 (100 micrograms). Binding antibody (BA), neutralizing antibody (NA, using a MN multiple dose assay), and fusion inhibition antibody (FIA) responses were measured two weeks after the 2nd and 3rd immunization. When QS21 groups were compared to alum at each dose level, NA and FIA responses were superior in the 30 micrograms QS21 group (p less than 0.05), and BA, NA, and FIA were all superior in the 3 micrograms QS21 group. Lymphocyte proliferation assays on cryopreserved PBMCs obtained 2 wk after the first dose revealed a positive, but non-specific QS21 effect, with candida, tetanus, PHA, and gp120 stimulation index (SI) all increased 2 to 3-fold compared to alum. However, 2 wk after 2 doses, the gp120 SI was 8-fold higher than alum (38.8 vs. 4.9), with candida, tetanus, and PHA SI not different between groups. Intracellular determination of cytokines 2 wks after one and two immunizations showed an overall increase in HIV-specific gamma interferon and IL4 compared to prevaccination levels (adjuvant unblinding in progress), with no significant change in the tetanus control. DTH skin testing with the rgp120 will be performed at one year follow-up (beginning 11/96). QS21 with a low doses of recombinant gp120 (3-30 micrograms) resulted in both humoral and cellular responses that were significantly higher than with the use of alum adjuvant.

Keywords: AEGIS, Alum Compounds, HIV-1, Adjuvants, Immunologic, Immunization, Saponins, Aluminum Hydroxide, Manganese, Interferon Type II, Cytokines, aluminum sulfate, QS 21, AIDSKWDaegis,alumcompounds,hiv-1,adjuvants,immunologic,immunization,saponins,aluminumhydroxide,manganese,interferontypeii,cytokines,aluminumsulfate,qs21,aids

1998-02-01
88

Copyright © 1998 - Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health. Licensed from National Library of Medicine.