Biomaterial Database

Mechanism of action of licensed vaccine adjuvants. 2009

Elaine Tritto, and Flaviana Mosca, and Ennio De Gregorio

Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Via Fiorentina, 1 - 53100 Siena, Italy.

Despite the fact that alum and oil-in-water emulsions have been used for decades as human vaccine adjuvants in a large number of individuals, their mechanism of action is not completely understood. It has been reported that these particulate adjuvants act by increasing antigen availability and uptake by immune cells. However, recent work on alum and on the squalene-based emulsion MF59, has demonstrated that besides antigen delivery functions, these classes of adjuvants can also activate innate immunity pathways in vivo, generating an immunocompetent environment at injection site. Interestingly, it has been demonstrated that alum adjuvanticity depends on the activation of a protein complex called NLPR3/inflammasome, which is required for the correct processing of a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL1beta. More work needs to be performed to investigate if the inflammasome is also required for the activity of MF59 and of other particulate vaccine adjuvants.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007113	Immunity, Innate	The capacity of a normal organism to remain unaffected by microorganisms and their toxins. It results from the presence of naturally occurring ANTI-INFECTIVE AGENTS, constitutional factors such as BODY TEMPERATURE and immediate acting immune cells such as NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Immunity, Native,Immunity, Natural,Immunity, Non-Specific,Resistance, Natural,Innate Immune Response,Innate Immunity,Immune Response, Innate,Immune Responses, Innate,Immunity, Non Specific,Innate Immune Responses,Native Immunity,Natural Immunity,Natural Resistance,Non-Specific Immunity
D011136	Polysorbates	Sorbitan mono-9-octadecanoate poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) derivatives; complex mixtures of polyoxyethylene ethers used as emulsifiers or dispersing agents in pharmaceuticals.	Polysorbate,Polysorbate 20,Polysorbate 80,Sorbitan Derivatives,Tween,Tweens,PSML,Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate,Tween 20,Tween 60,Tween 80,Tween 81,Tween 85,20s, Polysorbate,20s, Tween,60s, Tween,80s, Polysorbate,80s, Tween,81s, Tween,85s, Tween,Derivative, Sorbitan,Derivatives, Sorbitan,Monolaurate, Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan,Monolaurates, Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan,PSMLs,Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurates,Polysorbate 20s,Polysorbate 80s,Sorbitan Derivative,Sorbitan Monolaurate, Polyoxyethylene,Sorbitan Monolaurates, Polyoxyethylene,Tween 20s,Tween 60s,Tween 80s,Tween 81s,Tween 85s
D002352	Carrier Proteins	Proteins that bind or transport specific substances in the blood, within the cell, or across cell membranes.	Binding Proteins,Carrier Protein,Transport Protein,Transport Proteins,Binding Protein,Protein, Carrier,Proteins, Carrier
D003713	Dendritic Cells	Specialized cells of the hematopoietic system that have branch-like extensions. They are found throughout the lymphatic system, and in non-lymphoid tissues such as SKIN and the epithelia of the intestinal, respiratory, and reproductive tracts. They trap and process ANTIGENS, and present them to T-CELLS, thereby stimulating CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY. They are different from the non-hematopoietic FOLLICULAR DENDRITIC CELLS, which have a similar morphology and immune system function, but with respect to humoral immunity (ANTIBODY PRODUCTION).	Dendritic Cells, Interdigitating,Interdigitating Cells,Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells,Veiled Cells,Dendritic Cells, Interstitial,Dendritic Cells, Plasmacytoid,Interdigitating Dendritic Cells,Interstitial Dendritic Cells,Cell, Dendritic,Cell, Interdigitating,Cell, Interdigitating Dendritic,Cell, Interstitial Dendritic,Cell, Plasmacytoid Dendritic,Cell, Veiled,Cells, Dendritic,Cells, Interdigitating,Cells, Interdigitating Dendritic,Cells, Interstitial Dendritic,Cells, Plasmacytoid Dendritic,Cells, Veiled,Dendritic Cell,Dendritic Cell, Interdigitating,Dendritic Cell, Interstitial,Dendritic Cell, Plasmacytoid,Interdigitating Cell,Interdigitating Dendritic Cell,Interstitial Dendritic Cell,Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell,Veiled Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000071199	NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein	An NLR protein that contains an N-terminal PYRIN DOMAIN and ATP-binding site and 9 C-terminal LEUCINE-rich repeats; it is expressed primarily by MACROPHAGES. It is a core component of the INFLAMMASOME and directs its assembly in response to pathogen infection and damage-associated stimuli. Mutations in the NLRP3 gene are associated with FAMILIAL COLD AUTOINFLAMMATORY SYNDROME.	Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome 1 Protein,NACHT, LRR and PYD Domains-Containing Protein 3,NLRP3 Protein,NACHT, LRR and PYD Domains Containing Protein 3,NLR Family, Pyrin Domain Containing 3 Protein
D000276	Adjuvants, Immunologic	Substances that augment, stimulate, activate, potentiate, or modulate the immune response at either the cellular or humoral level. The classical agents (Freund's adjuvant, BCG, Corynebacterium parvum, et al.) contain bacterial antigens. Some are endogenous (e.g., histamine, interferon, transfer factor, tuftsin, interleukin-1). Their mode of action is either non-specific, resulting in increased immune responsiveness to a wide variety of antigens, or antigen-specific, i.e., affecting a restricted type of immune response to a narrow group of antigens. The therapeutic efficacy of many biological response modifiers is related to their antigen-specific immunoadjuvanticity.	Immunoactivators,Immunoadjuvant,Immunoadjuvants,Immunologic Adjuvant,Immunopotentiator,Immunopotentiators,Immunostimulant,Immunostimulants,Adjuvant, Immunologic,Adjuvants, Immunological,Immunologic Adjuvants,Immunological Adjuvant,Adjuvant, Immunological,Immunological Adjuvants
D000534	Alum Compounds	Aluminum metal sulfate compounds used medically as astringents and for many industrial purposes. They are used in veterinary medicine for the treatment of ulcerative stomatitis, leukorrhea, conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, metritis, and minor wounds.	Compounds, Alum
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013185	Squalene	A natural 30-carbon triterpene.