Cytokines as immunological adjuvants

Various cytokines have been shown to be effective immunological adjuvants in a variety of model systems, enhancing protection induced by viral, bacterial and parasitic vaccines, and increasing parameters of immunity in tumour immunization models and in clinical trials. While in most cases cytokine adjuvanticity is not as powerful as that shown by the best experimental adjuvants, such as saponin and Freund's, it can rival that of the adjuvants presently allowed for human use and there are many possible routes to improvement. The use of cytokines may allow for a choice of which immune parameters are enhanced in order to further enhance protective effects and decrease the negative effects of vaccines.