Aluminum's role in CNS-immune system interactions leading to neurological disorders

Abstract

Multisystem interactions are well established in neurological disorders, in spite of conventional views that only the central nervous system (CNS) is impacted. We review evidence for mutual interactions between the immune and nervous systems and show how these seem to be implicated in the origin and progression of nervous system disorders. Well-established immune system triggers leading to autoimmune reactions are considered. Of these, aluminum, a known neurotoxicant, may be of particular importance. We have demonstrated elsewhere that aluminum has the potential to induce damage at a range of levels in the CNS leading to neuronal death, circuit malfunction and ultimately, system failure. Aluminum is widely used as an adjuvant in various vaccine formulations and has been implicated in a multisystem disorder termed "autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants" (ASIA). The implications of aluminum-induced ASIA in some disorders of the CNS are considered. We propose a unified theory capturing a progression from a local response to a systemic response initiated by disruption of water-based interfaces of exposed cells. Copyright: © 2013 Shaw CA, et al.