The controversial relationship between NLRP3, alum, danger signals and the next-generation adjuvants.
Alum has been the only adjuvant licensed for human vaccines for decades and is still widely used, but its mechanism of action remains obscure. Recently, the NLRP3 inflammasome has been linked to the immunostimulatory properties of alum and other particulate adjuvants, although it is disputed to what degree NLRP3 is genuinely essential in vivo. Meanwhile, researchers are testing adjuvants harnessing both the infectious/non-infectious-discriminating TLR and the danger-sensing NLRP3 inflammasome pathways. Could this be the basis of a long-needed rationale in the design of adjuvants?
Spreafico
Roberto
R
Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A STAR), Singapore.
Ricciardi-Castagnoli
Paola
P
Mortellaro
Alessandra
A
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000276:immunology; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000534:Alum Compounds; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; C453881:NLRP3 protein, human; D014612:Vaccines; C041524:aluminum sulfate