Vaccine and Adjuvant-Induced Autoimmune Responses: Mechanisms and Evidence

Vaccinations are one of the most important preventive tools against infectious diseases. The efficacy of a vaccine depends not only on the antigen components but also on adjuvants that are often used in order to stimulate the immune system in a more effective way. Human beings, in a normal immune homeostatic state, immune cells like macrophages, natural killer cells, iNKT, MAIT, g delta T cells and conventional B as well as conventional T cells, in one way or other recognise the host body components as self via the immune surveillance mechanisms. Though when there was a shift in immune homeostasis due to chronic induction by environmental stimulus, interplay of predisposing genetic elements, family history, bystander pathologic inflammatory system, innate and adaptive immune dysregulation, change in proteomic signature, as well as microbial interactions in a unified collective theme “Unified autoimmunity theme”. Immune cells become prone to recognise the self or self as a non-self with subsequent induction of autoimmune diseases. Vaccines and adjuvants associated with autoimmunity are currently being reported all over the world. The present chapter was aimed at vaccine and adjuvant-mediated autoimmune diseases. Different human-approved vaccines induce different autoimmune diseases; more than one vaccine may induce the same autoimmune disease. Shoenfeld Syndrome encompasses adjuvant-induced autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome, including Postvaccination reactions with an adjuvanted vaccine, macrophagic myofasciitis, sick building disease condition, Gulf War disease condition and siliconosis. A protocol for the practical evaluation of these diseases was suggested. Understanding the unified autoimmune theme and Shoenfeld Syndrome is crucial for producing vaccines with a safer side effect profile. Clinicians and researchers can use this knowledge to monitor, prevent, and manage vaccine-related autoimmune reactions more effectively.