title: Unequivocal identification of intracellular aluminium adjuvant in a monocytic THP-1 cell line.
abstract: Aluminium-based adjuvants (ABA) are the predominant adjuvants used in human vaccinations. While a consensus is yet to be reached on the aetiology of the biological activities of ABA several studies have identified shape, crystallinity and size as critical factors affecting their adjuvanticity. In spite of recent advances, the fate of ABA following their administration remains unclear. Few if any studies have demonstrated the unequivocal presence of intracellular ABA. Herein we demonstrate for the first time the unequivocal identification of ABA within a monocytic T helper 1 (THP-1) cell line, using lumogallion as a fluorescent molecular probe for aluminium. Use of these new methods revealed that particulate ABA was only found in the cell cytoplasm. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that ABA were contained within vesicle-like structures of approximately 0.5-1 μm in diameter.
authors.affiliation: The Birchall Centre, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mold
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, SE-205 06 Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.affiliation: Glioma Immunotherapy Group, Department of Clinical Sciences, BMC D14, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siesjö
authors.affiliation: Glioma Immunotherapy Group, Department of Clinical Sciences, BMC D14, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darabi
authors.affiliation: The Birchall Centre, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shardlow
authors.affiliation: The Birchall Centre, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Exley
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000737:chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006801:Humans; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; C061331:4-chloro-3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenylazo)-2-hydroxybenzene-1-sulfonic acid; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; C069471:aluminum oxide hydroxide; D000537:Aluminum Oxide