Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2011 Apr;10(4):463-70.
doi: 10.1586/erv.11.18.

Natural and synthetic saponin adjuvant QS-21 for vaccines against cancer

Govind Ragupathi  1 , Jeffrey R Gardner, Philip O Livingston, David Y Gin
Affiliations
Review

Natural and synthetic saponin adjuvant QS-21 for vaccines against cancer

Govind Ragupathi et al. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2011 Apr.

Abstract

One of the most widely used and potent immunological adjuvants is a mixture of soluble triterpene glycosides purified from the soap bark tree (Quillaja saponaria). Despite challenges in production, quality control, stability and toxicity, the QS-21 fraction from this extract has exhibited exceptional adjuvant properties for a range of antigens. It possesses an ability to augment clinically significant antibody and T-cell responses to vaccine antigens against a variety of infectious diseases, degenerative disorders and cancers. The recent synthesis of active molecules of QS-21 has provided a robust method to produce this leading vaccine adjuvant in high purity as well as to produce novel synthetic QS-21 congeners designed to induce increased immune responsiveness and decreased toxicity.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The principal molecular constituents of QS-21.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Novel, stable, non-natural, potent synthetic saponin adjuvants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Matzinger P. The danger model: a renewed sense of self. Science. 2002;296(5566):301–305. - PubMed
    1. Medzhitov R, Janeway C., Jr Innate immune recognition: mechanisms and pathways. Immunol. Rev. 2000;173:89–97. - PubMed
    1. Ramon G. Sur L'augmentation anormale de L'antitoxine chez les chevaux producteurs de serum antidiphtherique. Bull. Soc. Centr. Med. Vet. 1925;101:227–234.
    1. Warshakoon HJ, Hood JD, Kimbrell MR, et al. Potential adjuvantic properties of innate immune stimuli. Hum. Vaccin. 2009;5(6):381–394. - PubMed
    1. Richou R, Jensen R, Belin C. Research on saponin, an adjuvant substance which stimulates immunity. I. Rev. Immunol. Ther. Antimicrob. 1964;28:49–62. - PubMed

Websites

    1. Vaccination of Follicular Lymphomas With Tumor-Derived Immunoglobulin Idiotype. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00001572.
    1. Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00 004052?term=NCT00004052&rank=1.
    1. A Phase II Study of EC17 (Folate-hapten Conjugate) in Patients With Progressive Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00 485563?term=NCT00485563&rank=1.

Publication types

MeSH terms