Adjuvant and antitumour activities of synthetic lipid A analogues

The biological activities of synthetic glycolipids, which were chemically synthesized and based on the structure of lipid A of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli, were examined with special reference to their adjuvant activity on the induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity, activity on the induction of tumour necrotic factor (TNF) and tumour regressive activity on line 10 hepatoma in strain 2 guinea pigs. Among them, a compound structurally corresponding to free E. coli lipid A (compound 506) as well as LPS exhibited potent adjuvant activity in the induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity in guinea pigs and TNF inducing activity in the sera of mice which were presensitized with Propionibacterium acnes. Compound 506 showed potent lethal toxicity in the intravenous administration of BALB/c mice presensitized with P. acnes. The regressive activity on line 10 hepatoma was observed by the multiple intralesional injection of squalane-treated compounds 504 and 505 in strain 2 guinea pigs.