Adjuvant properties of AcF1, an immunostimulant fraction of Alchornea cordifolia extract

Immunol Invest. 2010 Jan;39(2):132-58. doi: 10.3109/08820130903496793.

Abstract

As a result of strong experimental data supporting effectiveness and safety, herb-based immunomodulators are paving way as alternative sources of potent adjuvants for vaccines. In this study, the immunostimulatory and adjuvant properties of AcF1, a flavonoids-rich fraction of Alchornea cordifolia extract, was evaluated. In vitro, AcF1 was shown to activate total splenocytes, CD4+ T cells, and B cells, inducing remarkable increases in CD69 expression, profound proliferation, and increased IL-4 and IFN-gamma expression by the naïve splenic cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Lympho-activation and proliferation induced by AcF1 was partially inhibited by U0126, a selective mitogen activated protein kinase kinase (MKK) inhibitor. Additionally, AcF1 was shown to induce structural and functional maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs) and their specific-antigen presentation functions. Used as an adjuvant in a homologous prime-boost OVA immunisation in C57BL/6 mice, AcF1 significantly (P<0.05) increased the level of OVA-specific antibody titres in the sera of immunised mice, compared to the control group immunised with OVA alone. The results of this study show AcF1 as a potent immunostimulant and a potential adjuvant for further study in combination with other vaccine antigens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic* / isolation & purification
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic* / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation / drug effects
  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Euphorbiaceae* / chemistry
  • Euphorbiaceae* / immunology
  • Female
  • Flavonoids / immunology
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
  • Lectins, C-Type / biosynthesis
  • Lectins, C-Type / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Plant Extracts* / immunology
  • Plant Extracts* / pharmacology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / metabolism

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • CD69 antigen
  • Flavonoids
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Plant Extracts
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Ovalbumin
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases