title: Gulf war syndrome: could it be triggered by biological warfare-vaccines using pertussis as an adjuvant?
abstract: Several recent epidemiological studies have shown that vaccinations against biological warfare using pertussis as an adjuvant were associated with the Gulf war syndrome. If such epidemiological findings are confirmed, we propose that the use of pertussis as an adjuvant could trigger neurodegeneration through induction of interleukin-1beta secretion in the brain. In turn, neuronal lesions may be sustained by stress or neurotoxic chemical combinations. Particular susceptibility for IL-1beta secretion and potential distant neuronal damage could provide an explanation for the diversity of the symptoms observed on veterans.
authors.affiliation: Département de biologie des agents transmissibles, CRSSA, La Tronche, France. j.tournier@eudoramail.com
authors.forename: J-N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Tournier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jouan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drouet
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D018923:Persian Gulf Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007375:Interleukin-1; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases