Vaccines, adjuvants and autoimmunity

Abstract

Vaccines and autoimmunity are linked fields. Vaccine efficacy is based on whether host immune response against an antigen can elicit a memory T-cell response over time. Although the described side effects thus far have been mostly transient and acute, vaccines are able to elicit the immune system towards an autoimmune reaction. The diagnosis of a definite autoimmune disease and the occurrence of fatal outcome post-vaccination have been less frequently reported. Since vaccines are given to previously healthy hosts, who may have never developed the disease had they not been immunized, adverse events should be carefully accessed and evaluated even if they represent a limited number of occurrences. In this review of the literature, there is evidence of vaccine-induced autoimmunity and adjuvant-induced autoimmunity in both experimental models as well as human patients. Adjuvants and infectious agents may exert their immune-enhancing effects through various functional activities, encompassed by the adjuvant effect. These mechanisms are shared by different conditions triggered by adjuvants leading to the autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA syndrome). In conclusion, there are several case reports of autoimmune diseases following vaccines, however, due to the limited number of cases, the different classifications of symptoms and the long latency period of the diseases, every attempt for an epidemiological study has so far failed to deliver a connection. Despite this, efforts to unveil the connection between the triggering of the immune system by adjuvants and the development of autoimmune conditions should be undertaken. Vaccinomics is a field that may bring to light novel customized, personalized treatment approaches in the future.

Current state in the development of candidate therapeutic HPV vaccines

“…Co-administration of antigen with adjuvant can enhance the antigen-specific immune response based on these immune functional activities: 1) Translocation of antigens to lymph nodes to be recognized by T cells, 2) protection of antigen to enable longer antigen exposure, 3) enhancement of local reaction at injection site, 4) induction of proinflammatory cytokines secretion, and 5) interaction with pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-Like Receptors [76]. In general, adjuvants help activate APCs to up-regulate molecules essential for antigen presentation, including MHC molecules, costimulatory molecules, and cytokines.…”

Vaccine-associated inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system

“…An effective vaccine should generate protective immunity while avoiding deleterious molecular mimicry and bystander activation. However, the medical literature is full of claims and counter claims with respect to the risk of autoimmune disease as a consequence of vaccination [15,16]. Herein, we review our current knowledge on the postvaccination inflammatory diseases of the CNS.…”

HCG Found in WHO Tetanus Vaccine in Kenya Raises Concern in the Developing World

“…The copyright to the original figure is held by the World Health Organization but according to their published notice the containing document "may, however, be freely reviewed, abstracted, reproduced and translated, in part or in whole." according to the standard CDC doctrine which is contrary to dose-response theory and research in every other area of medicine [85] [86], and one of the main explanations for the pervasiveness of auto-immune disorders associated with vaccines [87] [88] [89] [90] [91]-one-size "fits-all" dose produced by manufacturers for all recipients at least four weeks apart, followed by booster doses at 18 months, 5 years, 10 years and 16 years and then every 10 years" [57] thereafter. The TT schedule for adolescents and adults, and the one for neonates, require the full basic course of 7 doses of vaccine as shown in Table 1 [57] and as spelled out in the top part of Figure 3 where the intervals between doses are indicated on the horizontal time line.…”