PubMed · 8641937
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C L Chase, D J Hurley. 1996-05-15. Concern about vaccine study.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8641937/
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Echinacea, also known as the purple coneflower, is an herbal medicine that has been used for centuries, customarily as a treatment for the common cold, coughs, bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, and some inflammatory conditions. Research on echinacea, including clinical trials, is limited and largely in German. More information is needed before a definitive statement about the efficacy of echinacea can be made. Future work needs to clearly identify the species of echinacea and distinguish between the efficacy of the different plant parts (roots versus upper plant parts). Although many of the active compounds of echinacea have been identified, the mechanism of action is not known, nor is the bioavailability, relative potency, or synergistic effects of the active compounds known. Interpretation of existing literature suggests that echinacea should be used as a treatment for illness, not as a means for prevention of illness. The consensus of the studies reviewed in this article is that echinacea is indeed effective in reducing the duration and severity of symptoms, but that this effect is noted only with certain preparations of echinacea. Studies show that the plant and its active components affect the phagocytic immune system, but not the specifically acquired immune system.
RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted), a CC chemokine, appears to play a role in the pathogenesis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS), enhancing the inflammatory response within the nervous system. We have demonstrated that RANTES production is increased in RR-MS compared to controls. Interferon-beta-1b (IFN-beta-1b) treatment reduces RANTES production in sera and peripheral blood adherent mononuclear cell (PBAM) supernatants both in relapse and remission. IFN-beta-1b also reduces RANTES expression in PBAM. Our results suggest that RANTES modulation might represent one of the mechanisms of action of IFN-beta-1b in RR-MS.
Microparticles with entrapped antigens have recently been shown to possess significant potential as vaccine delivery systems and adjuvants. However, the potential of microparticles as adjuvants has been seriously limited by the common problem of degradation and denaturation of antigens following encapsulation and release. To overcome these problems, we have developed a novel way to use microparticles as adjuvants, by the adsorption of proteins onto their surface. Anionic microparticles were prepared through the inclusion of an anionic detergent, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), in the microparticle preparation process. The anionic microparticles were capable of the efficient and reproducible adsorption of recombinant p55 gag protein from HIV-1. Microparticles with adsorbed p55 were capable of inducing potent cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in mice following intramuscular immunization. In addition, the microparticles also exhibited a potent adjuvant effect for antibody induction against p55.