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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment
Published on: September 27, 2017
A potential molecular mechanism for hypersensitivity caused by formalin-inactivated vaccines
Amin Moghaddam1, Wieslawa Olszewska, Belinda Wang
1Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, The University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.
Abstract:
Heat, oxidation and exposure to aldehydes create reactive carbonyl groups on proteins, targeting antigens to scavenger receptors. Formaldehyde is widely used in making vaccines, but has been associated with atypical enhanced disease during subsequent infection with paramyxoviruses. We show that carbonyl groups on formaldehyde-treated vaccine antigens boost T helper type 2 (T(H)2) responses and enhance respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in mice, an effect partially reversible by chemical reduction of carbonyl groups.
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