People with skin trouble beware of vaccinations.

[Guest guest]

Research Suggests Therapy Against Serious Side Effects Of Smallpox Vaccine

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/03/060322184135.htm

Smallpox is considered a potential terrorist weapon, but millions of people in

the United States are currently advised not to get a vaccine to the disease

because they are susceptible to developing a severe adverse reaction.

Researchers at National Jewish Medical and Research Center report in the March

issue of Immunity that a deficiency in the innate immune response may

pre-dispose patients with atopic dermatitis, or eczema, to developing the skin

condition eczema vaccinatum after vaccination. The findings suggest potential

therapeutic targets, which may reduce the risk of this devastating side effect.

" I believe these findings could have a significant impact on our ability to

vaccinate individuals with eczema and better protect them against potential

bio-terrorist attacks involving smallpox, " said Michael Howell, Ph.D., first

author of the report and Instructor of Pediatrics at National Jewish Medical and

Research Center. " We identify potential therapies, which should be further

tested to determine if they can effectively and safely protect susceptible

patients against eczema vaccinatum. "

Eczema vaccinatum occurs when the vaccinia virus, which is currently used for

the smallpox vaccine, replicates uncontrollably and circulates through the

entire body. Eczema vaccinatum kills 1 to 6 percent of those affected. Up to 30

percent of children younger than 2 years of age with the disease die. It is also

possible that atopic dermatitis patients can develop eczema vaccinatum even if

they don't get the vaccine, but come into close personal contact with people who

recently received the vaccine.

Approximately 17 percent of children in the United States are diagnosed with

atopic dermatitis, suggesting that close to 50 million people in the United

States face an increased risk of eczema vaccinatum following the smallpox

vaccine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control currently recommends that

individuals with atopic dermatitis, and those who come into close contact with

them, do not receive the live vaccine due to potential adverse reactions. This

accounts for approximately 50% of the population in the United States. In case

of an actual smallpox outbreak, they would likely receive the vaccine and face

the increased risk of developing eczema vaccinatum.

The National Jewish research team, led by Donald Leung, M.D., Ph.D., Edelstein

Family Chair of Pediatric Allergy-Immunology, had previously reported that

atopic dermatitis patients have lower levels of disease-fighting antimicrobial

peptides in their skin than people without the disease. They also reported that

one particular antimicrobial peptide, called LL-37, could kill vaccinia virus

when it is grown in cell culture.

In their current report, the researchers found that lower levels of LL-37 in

the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis did indeed allow the uncontrolled

growth of vaccinia virus. Skin cells from atopic dermatitis patients failed to

increase LL-37 production in response to the vaccinia virus infection, while

skin cells from healthy controls and patients with the skin disease psoriasis

samples did ramp up LL-37 production. When the researchers added LL-37 to the

infected atopic dermatitis skin cells, vaccinia virus growth slowed

significantly.

" It is becoming increasingly clear how important antimicrobial peptides are in

immune defense, " said Dr. Leung. " They are part of the fast-acting, innate

immune response. Because atopic dermatitis patients fail to mount a vigorous

innate response with antimicrobial peptides, vaccinia virus infection gets well

established and the slower adaptive immune response cannot eradicate it. "

Atopic dermatitis patients have high levels of signaling molecules

interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) in their skin. The researchers

found that IL-4 and IL-13 inhibited the production of LL-37 in atopic dermatitis

patients. When they added antibodies to neutralize the two interleukins, levels

of LL-37 rose in atopic dermatitis patients, and the vaccinia virus infection

was controlled.

" Antibodies or other drugs that neutralize IL-4 and IL-13 are currently being

developed, " said Dr. Howell. " We think they should be evaluated as potential

therapies that could be given at the same time as the smallpox vaccine as

protection against potentially fatal side effects. "

###

The research was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious

Diseases and is part of the ongoing work of the Atopic Dermatitis and Vaccinia

Network.

 

 

 

" Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest

of life by the power of the spirit. " - Aurobindo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messenger with Voice. PC-to-Phone calls for ridiculously low rates.