Saponin and Other Haemolysins (Vitamin A, Aliphatic Amines, Polyene Antibiotics) as Adjuvants for SRBC in the Mouse

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Abstract
The hypothesis that the adjuvant and the hemolytic activities of saponin depend on binding to cholesterol in cell membranes is supported. It is shown that cholesterol absorbs adjuvant activity and inhibits immunopotentiation in vivo when added to the injection mixture. From a range of hemolytic substances, chosen for their known properties as adjuvants or for cholesterol binding, the only materials which displayed a comparable activity to saponin were the polyene antibiotics, Nystatin and Amphotericin B; the binding of these antibodies to membrane cholesterol causes similar morphological changes to that of saponin. [The saponins studied were derived from Quillaja saponaria and tea seed. Other substances studied include digitonin, dimethyldioctadecyl ammonium bromide and Arquad 18].