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Clin. Vaccine Immunol. doi:10.1128/CVI.00448-07
Copyright (c) 2007, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Ginsenoside Rg1 and Aluminum Hydroxide Synergistically Promote Immune Responses to Ovalbumin in BALB/c Mice

Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: Songhua{at}zju.edu.cn.

	Abstract

A combined adjuvant effect of ginsenoside Rg1 and aluminum hydroxide (alum) was investigated on the immune responses to ovalbumin (OVA) in mice. BALB/c mice were subcutaneously (s.c.) inoculated twice with OVA in combination with or without Rg1, alum, or Rg1 plus alum. Samples were collected 2 weeks after the boosting for measurement of anti-OVA IgG isotypes in sera and IFN- and IL-5 produced in sigular splenocyte cultures. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses were measured in mice immunized as described above. After 10 days, mice were injected s.c. with OVA at the footpads. Thereafter the thickness of the footpads was measured once daily for 5 days. Results indicated that alum mainly enhanced Th2 response (IgG1 and IL-5) (P<0.05) while Rg1 enhanced both Th1 (IgG1 and IL-5) and Th2 (G2a, IFN- and DTH) response (P<0.05). The highest immune responses were found in the mice injected with OVA solution containing both alum and Rg1. In addition, the haemolytic activity of Rg1 was much lower than that of Quil A. Therefore, Rg1 deserves further studies in order to tailor a desired immune responses when a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response is needed.