Are there Negative CNS Impacts of Aluminum Adjuvants Used in Vaccines and Immunotherapy?

Abstract

In spite of a common view that aluminum (Al) salts are inert and therefore harmless as vaccine adjuvants or in immunotherapy, the reality is quite different. In the following article we briefly review the literature on Al neurotoxicity and the use of Al salts as vaccine adjuvants and consider not only direct toxic actions on the nervous system, but also the potential impact for triggering autoimmunity. Autoimmune and inflammatory responses affecting the CNS appear to underlie some forms of neurological disease, including developmental disorders. Al has been demonstrated to impact the CNS at every level, including by changing gene expression. These outcomes should raise concerns about the increasing use of Al salts as vaccine adjuvants and for the application as more general immune stimulants.

Keywords::

• adjuvant
• aluminum
• autoimmunity
• CNS
• neurodegeneration
• toxicity

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The present work was supported by the Dwoskin Family Foundation, the Kaitlyn Fox Foundation and the estate of Luther Allyn Shourds Dean. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The present work was supported by the Dwoskin Family Foundation, the Kaitlyn Fox Foundation and the estate of Luther Allyn Shourds Dean. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.