GLYCOLIPIDS AS IMMUNOMODULATORS - SYNTHESES AND PROPERTIES

Although the most successful vaccines still consist of attenuated or killed pathogens, it is evident that genetic engineering will eventually provide pure antigens in sufficient quantities. To achieve a protective effect, however, the immune response to these structures, which are only weakly immunogenic, must be activated by adjuvants. The discovery of chemically defined, well-tolerated, synthetic adjuvants is therefore especially important in effective immunoprophylaxis. A very promising class of compounds in this respect are synthetic glycosylamides, with two long alkyl chains consisting of alkylamines and fatty acids. Unlike natural glycolipids, which exert an immunosuppressive effect, the new glycolipid analogues described here show marked immunostimulation. In vaccination experiments with various antigens they provide efficient protection. Their mode of action, which differs from that of known adjuvants, makes glycolipid analogues particularly interesting for immunization of patients with defective T lymphocyte function, for example AIDS patients.