Research progress on the properties and action mechanism of aluminum adjuvants

Adjuvant is an important component in a variety of human and veterinary vaccines. Adding adjuvant to vaccines can enhance immune response to antigens. Aluminum-containing adjuvant is the earliest developed and most widely used adjuvant. The adsorption of aluminum adjuvants to antigens is affected by many factors such as their physical and chemical properties, solution ionic strength, and antigen concentrations. Aluminum adjuvants enhance the immune response through formation of an antigen depot, stimulation of dendritic cell maturation and T cell differentiation, and promotion of danger signal molecule release. In this paper, the physical and chemical properties, adsorption and action mechanisms of aluminum adjuvants are reviewed based on recent domestic and international researches. Key words: Aluminum compounds; Adjuvant, immunologic; Physical and chemical properties; Adsorption mechanism; Action mechanism