VACCINE

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics • June 2014
Thimerosal compromises human dendritic cell
maturation, IL-12 production, chemokine release,
and T-helper polarization
by Emily Loison & Marie-Lise Gougeon
Abstract
In conclusion, our study indicates that ex-vivo exposure of human immature dendritic
cells to very low nontoxic concentrations of thimerosal alters the LPS-induced
maturation process and dampens their proinflammatory response, in particular the
production of the T-helper polarizing cytokine IL-12. Moreover, thimerosal exposure
of DCs corrupts their interaction with naïve CD4+ T cells, leading to a decreased production
of IFN-γ IP10 and GM-CSF and increased levels of IL-8, IL-9, and MIP-1α.
Today, except for some flu vaccines in multi-dose vials, no recommended childhood
vaccines contain thimerosal as a preservative. It must be stressed that the toxicity and
immunomodulatory effects of thimerosal that we report ex-vivo on human monocytederived
DCs may occur in vivo and induce an alteration of the immune response to
the vaccine. These observations highlight the need to use this preservative with caution
and avoid it if possible.
“These observations
highlight the need to use
this preservative with caution
and avoid it if possible.”
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