ABSTRACT
The synthetic lipomannan (LM) α(1,6)mannans, already equipped with an amine linker on the reducing end, are rapidly synthesized in a size-, regio-, and stereocontrolled reaction. The size of the mannans is regulated through the concentration of the linker, applied during the controlled ring-opening polymerization reaction. The versatile amine linker enables a variety of glycan conjugations. The synthetic α(1,6)mannans exert adjuvant activities for a real vaccine antigen, tetanus toxoid (TT) in vitro, as demonstrated by the increased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 from the treated macrophages. A conjugation of synthetic α(1,6)mannan with TT can also enhance immune response to TT in vivo after immunization as shown by an increase in TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2 production in splenocytes.
