Efficacy of BCG vaccine in animal models of neurological disorders

Davide Cossu; Stefano Ruberto; Kazumasa Yokoyama; Nobutaka Hattori; Leonardo A Sechi

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.12.005

Efficacy of BCG vaccine in animal models of neurological disorders

Vaccine. 2022 Jan 24;40(3):432-436. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.12.005. Epub 2021 Dec 11.

Authors

Davide Cossu¹, Stefano Ruberto², Kazumasa Yokoyama³, Nobutaka Hattori³, Leonardo A Sechi⁴

Affiliations

¹ University of Sassari, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Microbiology and Virology, Sassari 09100, Italy; Juntendo University, Department of Neurology, Tokyo 113-8431, Japan. Electronic address: davide@juntendo.ac.jp.
² University of Sassari, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Microbiology and Virology, Sassari 09100, Italy.
³ Juntendo University, Department of Neurology, Tokyo 113-8431, Japan.
⁴ University of Sassari, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Microbiology and Virology, Sassari 09100, Italy; SC Microbiologia AOU Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: sechila@uniss.it.

PMID: 34906393
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.12.005

Abstract

The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine can modulate the immune response via antigen-specific immune response, but also it can confer nonspecific protection and therapeutic benefits in several neurological conditions through different heterologous effects of vaccination. However, the precise mechanism of action of BCG remains unclear. In this review, different mechanisms underlying BCG-mediated immunity will be explained in animal models that reflects characteristic feature of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Furthermore, evidence for a beneficial effect of the BCG on neuropsychiatric disorders, will be also discussed.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; BCG; Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; Neurocognition; Neuroprotection; Parkinson’s disease.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
BCG Vaccine
Disease Models, Animal
Mycobacterium bovis*
Nervous System Diseases* / prevention & control
Vaccination

Substances

BCG Vaccine