A small jab - a big effect: nonspecific immunomodulation by vaccines.

Abstract

Recent epidemiological studies have shown that, in addition to disease-specific effects, vaccines against infectious diseases have nonspecific effects on the ability of the immune system to handle other pathogens. For instance, in randomized trials tuberculosis and measles vaccines are associated with a substantial reduction in overall child mortality, which cannot be explained by prevention of the target disease. New research suggests that the nonspecific effects of vaccines are related to cross-reactivity of the adaptive immune system with unrelated pathogens, and to training of the innate immune system through epigenetic reprogramming. Hence, epidemiological findings are backed by immunological data. This generates a new understanding of the immune system and about how it can be modulated by vaccines to impact the general resistance to disease.

• Authors: Christine S Benn, Mihai G Netea, Liisa K Selin, Peter Aaby
• Journal: Trends in immunology (Trends Immunol) Vol. 34 Issue 9 Pg. 431-9 (Sep 2013) ISSN: 1471-4981 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23680130 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Vaccines

Topics

• Animals
• Communicable Disease Control (methods)
• Communicable Diseases (immunology)
• Humans
• Immune System (immunology)
• Vaccines (adverse effects, immunology)