Adjuvant and immunosuppressive effects of retinol and Tween 80 on IgG production in mice.

The effect of retinol emulsified in Tween 80, alone or in combination with Al(OH)3, on the adjuvant-independent and dependent IgG responses to ovalbumin (OA) were examined by passive hemagglutination and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, respectively. High antibody levels were detected after a second injection of OA on day 30, however, primary IgG antibodies were either partially (adjuvant independent) or totally (adjuvant dependent) suppressed. Animals treated with saline:Tween 80 prior to immunization with OA in saline as a control produced no detectable antibody response after either antigen injection. Additional control animals pretreated with saline:Tween 80 and then immunized with OA absorbed to Al(OH)3 [OA:Al(OH)3] showed suppressed primary responses and a significant increase in antibody levels after a second injection of OA:Al(OH)3. These results indicate that although th retinol component of retinol:Tween 80 caused an immunopotentiation, the Tween 80 component effected a temporary suppression.