1
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Bhadane P, Roul K, Belemkar S, Kumar D. Immunotherapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease: Exploring active and passive vaccine progress. Brain Res 2024; 1840:149018. [PMID: 38782231 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.149018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegeneration having non-effective treatments. Vaccines or monoclonal antibodies are two typical immunotherapies for AD. Due to Aβ neurotoxicity, most of the treatments target its generation and deposition. However, therapies that specifically target tau protein are also being investigated. UB311 vaccine generates N-terminal anti-Aβ antibodies, that neutralize Aβ toxicity and promote plaque clearance. It is designed to elicit specific B-cell and wide T-cell responses. ACC001 or PF05236806 vaccine has the same Aβ fragment and QS21 as an adjuvant. CAD106 stimulates response against Aβ1-6. However, Nasopharyngitis and injection site erythema are its side effects. AN1792, the first-generation vaccine was formulated in proinflammatory QS21 adjuvant. However, T-cell epitopes are omitted from the developed epitope AD vaccine with Aβ1-42B-cell epitopes. The first-generation vaccine immune response was immensely successful in clearing Aβ, but it was also sufficient to provoke meningoencephalitis. Immunotherapies have been at the forefront of these initiatives in recent years. The review covers the recent updates on active and passive immunotherapy for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanshu Bhadane
- School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS University, Mukesh Patel Technology Park, Shirpur 425405, India
| | - Krishnashish Roul
- School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS University, Mukesh Patel Technology Park, Shirpur 425405, India
| | - Sateesh Belemkar
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS Deemed to be University, Vile Parle (W) Mumbai 400 056, India
| | - Devendra Kumar
- School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS University, Mukesh Patel Technology Park, Shirpur 425405, India.
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2
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Zagorski K, King O, Hovakimyan A, Petrushina I, Antonyan T, Chailyan G, Ghazaryan M, Hyrc KL, Chadarevian JP, Davtyan H, Blurton-Jones M, Cribbs DH, Agadjanyan MG, Ghochikyan A. Novel Vaccine against Pathological Pyroglutamate-Modified Amyloid Beta for Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9797. [PMID: 37372944 PMCID: PMC10298272 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-translationally modified N-terminally truncated amyloid beta peptide with a cyclized form of glutamate at position 3 (pE3Aβ) is a highly pathogenic molecule with increased neurotoxicity and propensity for aggregation. In the brains of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) cases, pE3Aβ represents a major constituent of the amyloid plaque. The data show that pE3Aβ formation is increased at early pre-symptomatic disease stages, while tau phosphorylation and aggregation mostly occur at later stages of the disease. This suggests that pE3Aβ accumulation may be an early event in the disease pathogenesis and can be prophylactically targeted to prevent the onset of AD. The vaccine (AV-1986R/A) was generated by chemically conjugating the pE3Aβ3-11 fragment to our universal immunogenic vaccine platform MultiTEP, then formulated in AdvaxCpG adjuvant. AV-1986R/A showed high immunogenicity and selectivity, with endpoint titers in the range of 105-106 against pE3Aβ and 103-104 against the full-sized peptide in the 5XFAD AD mouse model. The vaccination showed efficient clearance of the pathology, including non-pyroglutamate-modified plaques, from the mice brains. AV-1986R/A is a novel promising candidate for the immunoprevention of AD. It is the first late preclinical candidate which selectively targets a pathology-specific form of amyloid with minimal immunoreactivity against the full-size peptide. Successful translation into clinic may offer a new avenue for the prevention of AD via vaccination of cognitively unimpaired individuals at risk of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Zagorski
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (O.K.); (A.H.); (T.A.); (G.C.); (M.G.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Olga King
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (O.K.); (A.H.); (T.A.); (G.C.); (M.G.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Armine Hovakimyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (O.K.); (A.H.); (T.A.); (G.C.); (M.G.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Irina Petrushina
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (I.P.); (J.P.C.); (H.D.); (M.B.-J.); (D.H.C.)
| | - Tatevik Antonyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (O.K.); (A.H.); (T.A.); (G.C.); (M.G.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Gor Chailyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (O.K.); (A.H.); (T.A.); (G.C.); (M.G.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Manush Ghazaryan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (O.K.); (A.H.); (T.A.); (G.C.); (M.G.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Krzysztof L. Hyrc
- The Hope Center of Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA;
| | - Jean Paul Chadarevian
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (I.P.); (J.P.C.); (H.D.); (M.B.-J.); (D.H.C.)
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Hayk Davtyan
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (I.P.); (J.P.C.); (H.D.); (M.B.-J.); (D.H.C.)
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Mathew Blurton-Jones
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (I.P.); (J.P.C.); (H.D.); (M.B.-J.); (D.H.C.)
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - David H. Cribbs
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (I.P.); (J.P.C.); (H.D.); (M.B.-J.); (D.H.C.)
| | - Michael G. Agadjanyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (O.K.); (A.H.); (T.A.); (G.C.); (M.G.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Anahit Ghochikyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (O.K.); (A.H.); (T.A.); (G.C.); (M.G.); (M.G.A.)
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3
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Immunogenicity of MultiTEP platform technology-based Tau vaccine in non-human primates. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:117. [PMID: 36224191 PMCID: PMC9556597 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00544-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathological forms of Tau protein are directly associated with neurodegeneration and correlate with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) symptoms, progression, and severity. Previously, using various mouse models of Tauopathies and AD, we have demonstrated the immunogenicity and efficacy of the MultiTEP-based adjuvanted vaccine targeting the phosphatase activating domain (PAD) of Tau, AV-1980R/A. Here, we analyzed its immunogenicity in non-human primates (NHP), the closest phylogenic relatives to humans with a similar immune system, to initiate the transition of this vaccine into clinical trials. We have demonstrated that AV-1980R/A is highly immunogenic in these NHPs, activating a broad but unique to each monkey repertoire of MultiTEP-specific T helper (Th) cells that, in turn, activate B cells specific to PAD. The resulting anti-PAD IgG antibodies recognize pathological Tau tangles and Tau-positive neuritis in AD case brain sections with no staining in control non-AD cases. These published data and efficacy results support the AV-1980R/A vaccine progression to first-in-human clinical trials.
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4
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Song C, Shi J, Zhang P, Zhang Y, Xu J, Zhao L, Zhang R, Wang H, Chen H. Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease: targeting β-amyloid and beyond. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:18. [PMID: 35300725 PMCID: PMC8932191 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00292-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly worldwide. However, the complexity of AD pathogenesis leads to discrepancies in the understanding of this disease, and may be the main reason for the failure of AD drug development. Fortunately, many ongoing preclinical and clinical studies will continually open up avenues to unravel disease mechanisms and guide strategies for AD diagnosis and drug development. For example, immunotherapeutic strategies targeting amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau proteins were once deemed almost certainly effective in clinical treatment due to the excellent preclinical results. However, the repeated failures of clinical trials on vaccines and humanized anti-Aβ and anti-tau monoclonal antibodies have resulted in doubts on this strategy. Recently, a new anti-Aβ monoclonal antibody (Aducanumab) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, which brings us back to the realization that immunotherapy strategies targeting Aβ may be still promising. Meanwhile, immunotherapies based on other targets such as tau, microglia and gut-brain axis are also under development. Further research is still needed to clarify the forms and epitopes of targeted proteins to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of immunotherapeutic drugs. In this review, we focus on the immunotherapies based on Aβ, tau and microglia and their mechanisms of action in AD. In addition, we present up-to-date advances and future perspectives on immunotherapeutic strategies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghuan Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Shanghai Universities Collaborative Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jiyun Shi
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Shanghai Universities Collaborative Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Pingao Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Shanghai Universities Collaborative Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yongfang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Shanghai Universities Collaborative Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jianrong Xu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Lanxue Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Shanghai Universities Collaborative Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,Shanghai Universities Collaborative Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Shanghai Universities Collaborative Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Hongzhuan Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Shanghai Universities Collaborative Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. .,Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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5
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Kurkinen M, Tran L. Aduhelm: The Best Hope for Alzheimer's Disease Patients or the Worst Decision the FDA Has Ever Made? J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 84:969-971. [PMID: 34657888 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lloyd Tran
- Biomed Industries, Inc., San Jose, CA, USA
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6
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Palumbo ML, Moroni AD, Quiroga S, Castro MM, Burgueño AL, Genaro AM. Immunomodulation induced by central nervous system-related peptides as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative disorders. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00795. [PMID: 34609083 PMCID: PMC8491457 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) are disorders characterized by the progressive loss of neurons affecting motor, sensory, and/or cognitive functions. The incidence of these diseases is increasing and has a great impact due to their high morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, current therapeutic strategies only temporarily improve the patients' quality of life but are insufficient for completely alleviating the symptoms. An interaction between the immune system and the central nervous system (CNS) is widely associated with neuronal damage in NDD. Usually, immune cell infiltration has been identified with inflammation and is considered harmful to the injured CNS. However, the immune system has a crucial role in the protection and regeneration of the injured CNS. Nowadays, there is a consensus that deregulation of immune homeostasis may represent one of the key initial steps in NDD. Dr. Michal Schwartz originally conceived the concept of "protective autoimmunity" (PA) as a well-controlled peripheral inflammatory reaction after injury, essential for neuroprotection and regeneration. Several studies suggested that immunizing with a weaker version of the neural self-antigen would generate PA without degenerative autoimmunity. The development of CNS-related peptides with immunomodulatory neuroprotective effect led to important research to evaluate their use in chronic and acute NDD. In this review, we refer to the role of PA and the potential applications of active immunization as a therapeutic option for NDD treatment. In particular, we focus on the experimental and clinical promissory findings for CNS-related peptides with beneficial immunomodulatory effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Laura Palumbo
- Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CIT NOBA)‐UNNOBA‐UNsADA‐CONICETJunínArgentina
| | - Alejandro David Moroni
- Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CIT NOBA)‐UNNOBA‐UNsADA‐CONICETJunínArgentina
| | - Sofía Quiroga
- Instituto de Investigaciones BiomédicasConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICETPontificia Universidad Católica ArgentinaBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - María Micaela Castro
- Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CIT NOBA)‐UNNOBA‐UNsADA‐CONICETJunínArgentina
| | - Adriana Laura Burgueño
- Instituto de Investigaciones BiomédicasConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICETPontificia Universidad Católica ArgentinaBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Ana María Genaro
- Instituto de Investigaciones BiomédicasConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICETPontificia Universidad Católica ArgentinaBuenos AiresArgentina
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7
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Zeng F, Peng K, Han L, Yang J. Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapies via NIR-Activated Nanoagents in Combating Alzheimer's Disease. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:3573-3585. [PMID: 34279071 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
It is well established that the polymerization of amyloid-β peptides into fibrils/plaques is a critical step during the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Phototherapy, which includes photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy, is a highly attractive strategy in AD treatment due to its merits of operational flexibility, noninvasiveness, and high spatiotemporal resolution. Distinct from traditional chemotherapies or immunotherapies, phototherapies capitalize on the interaction between photosensitizers or photothermal transduction agents and light to trigger photochemical reactions to generate either reactive oxygen species or heat effects to modulate Aβ aggregation, ultimately restoring nerve damage and ameliorating memory deficits. In this Review, we provide an overview of the recent advances in the development of near-infrared-activated nanoagents for AD phototherapies and discuss the potential challenges of and perspectives on this emerging field with a special focus on how to improve the efficiency and utility of such treatment. We hope that this Review will spur preclinical research and the clinical translation of AD treatment through phototherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fantian Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Kewen Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Ling Han
- Center for Drug Evaluation, National Medical Products Administration, Beijing 100022, China
| | - Jian Yang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
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8
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Reiss AB, Montufar N, DeLeon J, Pinkhasov A, Gomolin IH, Glass AD, Arain HA, Stecker MM. Alzheimer Disease Clinical Trials Targeting Amyloid: Lessons Learned From Success in Mice and Failure in Humans. Neurologist 2021; 26:52-61. [PMID: 33646990 DOI: 10.1097/nrl.0000000000000320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The goal of slowing or halting the development of Alzheimer disease (AD) has resulted in the huge allocation of resources by academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies to the development of new treatments. The etiology of AD is elusive, but the aggregation of amyloid-β and tau peptide and oxidative processes are considered critical pathologic mechanisms. The failure of drugs with multiple mechanisms to meet efficacy outcomes has caused several companies to decide not to pursue further AD studies and has left the field essentially where it has been for the past 15 years. Efforts are underway to develop biomarkers for detection and monitoring of AD using genetic, imaging, and biochemical technology, but this is of minimal use if no intervention can be offered. REVIEW SUMMARY In this review, we consider the natural progression of AD and how it continues despite present attempts to modify the amyloid-related machinery to alter the disease trajectory. We describe the mechanisms and approaches to AD treatment targeting amyloid, including both passive and active immunotherapy as well as inhibitors of enzymes in the amyloidogenic pathway. CONCLUSION Lessons learned from clinical trials of amyloid reduction strategies may prove crucial for the leap forward toward novel therapeutic targets to treat AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison B Reiss
- Department of Medicine, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Natalie Montufar
- Department of Medicine, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Joshua DeLeon
- Department of Medicine, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Aaron Pinkhasov
- Department of Medicine, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Irving H Gomolin
- Department of Medicine, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Amy D Glass
- Department of Medicine, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Hirra A Arain
- Department of Medicine, NYU Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY
| | - Mark M Stecker
- Fresno Center for Medical Education and Research, Department of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, Fresno, CA
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9
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Kabir MT, Uddin MS, Mathew B, Das PK, Perveen A, Ashraf GM. Emerging Promise of Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's Disease: A New Hope for the Development of Alzheimer's Vaccine. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 20:1214-1234. [PMID: 32321405 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200422105156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder and the characteristics of this devastating disorder include the progressive and disabling deficits in the cognitive functions including reasoning, attention, judgment, comprehension, memory, and language. OBJECTIVE In this article, we have focused on the recent progress that has been achieved in the development of an effective AD vaccine. SUMMARY Currently, available treatment options of AD are limited to deliver short-term symptomatic relief only. A number of strategies targeting amyloid-beta (Aβ) have been developed in order to treat or prevent AD. In order to exert an effective immune response, an AD vaccine should contain adjuvants that can induce an effective anti-inflammatory T helper 2 (Th2) immune response. AD vaccines should also possess the immunogens which have the capacity to stimulate a protective immune response against various cytotoxic Aβ conformers. The induction of an effective vaccine's immune response would necessitate the parallel delivery of immunogen to dendritic cells (DCs) and their priming to stimulate a Th2-polarized response. The aforesaid immune response is likely to mediate the generation of neutralizing antibodies against the neurotoxic Aβ oligomers (AβOs) and also anti-inflammatory cytokines, thus preventing the AD-related inflammation. CONCLUSION Since there is an age-related decline in the immune functions, therefore vaccines are more likely to prevent AD instead of providing treatment. AD vaccines might be an effective and convenient approach to avoid the treatment-related huge expense.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Md Sahab Uddin
- Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.,Pharmakon Neuroscience Research Network, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Division of Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Research Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ahalia School of Pharmacy, Palakkad, India
| | | | - Asma Perveen
- Glocal School of Life Sciences, Glocal University, Saharanpur, India
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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10
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Dai M, Feng X, Mo Z, Sun Y, Fu L, Zhang Y, Wu J, Yu B, Zhang H, Yu X, Wu H, Kong W. Stimulation Effects and Mechanisms of Different Adjuvants on a Norovirus P Particle-Based Active Amyloid-β Vaccine. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 77:1717-1732. [PMID: 32925038 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adjuvants are important components of vaccines and effectively enhance the immune response of specific antigens. However, the role of adjuvants or combinations of adjuvants in stimulating immunogenicity of the amyloid-β (Aβ) vaccine, as well as molecular mechanisms underlying such stimulation still remain unclear. A previous study of ours developed a norovirus P particle-based active Aβ epitope vaccine, PP-3copy-Aβ1-6-loop123, which stimulates a high titer of Aβ-specific antibodies in mouse Alzheimer's disease (AD) models. OBJECTIVE The most effective and safe adjuvant that maximizes the immunogenicity of our protein vaccine was determined. METHODS We investigated four adjuvants (CpG, AS02, AS03, and MF59), and combinations of those, for capacity to enhance immunogenicity, and performed transcriptome analysis to explore mechanisms underlying the role of these in AD immunotherapy. RESULTS Addition of the adjuvant, AS02, remarkably improved the immunogenicity of the PP-3copy-Aβ1-6-loop123 vaccine without triggering an Aβ-specific T-cell response. Combinations of adjuvants, particularly CpG + AS02 and CpG + AS03, elicited a significantly elevated and prolonged Aβ-specific antibody response. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses indicated that a combination of two adjuvants was more effective in activating immune-related pathways, thereby enhancing the immunogenicity of PP-3copy-Aβ1-6-loop123. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrated that adjuvants can be used as enhancers in AD protein vaccination, and that a combination of CpG and AS-related adjuvants may be a very effective adjuvant candidate suitable for further clinical trials of the PP-3copy-Aβ1-6-loop123 vaccine. Our studies also revealed potential mechanisms underlying the stimulation of immune response of protein vaccines by adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- MingRui Dai
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - XueJian Feng
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - ZengShuo Mo
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yao Sun
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lu Fu
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, College of Life science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiaxin Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Bin Yu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Haihong Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xianghui Yu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hui Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Kong
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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11
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Pinheiro L, Faustino C. Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Amyloid-β in Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2020; 16:418-452. [PMID: 30907320 DOI: 10.2174/1567205016666190321163438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder linked to protein misfolding and aggregation. AD is pathologically characterized by senile plaques formed by extracellular Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and Intracellular Neurofibrillary Tangles (NFT) formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Extensive synaptic loss and neuronal degeneration are responsible for memory impairment, cognitive decline and behavioral dysfunctions typical of AD. Amyloidosis has been implicated in the depression of acetylcholine synthesis and release, overactivation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and increased intracellular calcium levels that result in excitotoxic neuronal degeneration. Current drugs used in AD treatment are either cholinesterase inhibitors or NMDA receptor antagonists; however, they provide only symptomatic relief and do not alter the progression of the disease. Aβ is the product of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) processing after successive cleavage by β- and γ-secretases while APP proteolysis by α-secretase results in non-amyloidogenic products. According to the amyloid cascade hypothesis, Aβ dyshomeostasis results in the accumulation and aggregation of Aβ into soluble oligomers and insoluble fibrils. The former are synaptotoxic and can induce tau hyperphosphorylation while the latter deposit in senile plaques and elicit proinflammatory responses, contributing to oxidative stress, neuronal degeneration and neuroinflammation. Aβ-protein-targeted therapeutic strategies are thus a promising disease-modifying approach for the treatment and prevention of AD. This review summarizes recent findings on Aβ-protein targeted AD drugs, including β-secretase inhibitors, γ-secretase inhibitors and modulators, α-secretase activators, direct inhibitors of Aβ aggregation and immunotherapy targeting Aβ, focusing mainly on those currently under clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lídia Pinheiro
- iMed.ULisboa - Research Institute for Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Célia Faustino
- iMed.ULisboa - Research Institute for Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
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12
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Oberman K, Gouweleeuw L, Hoogerhout P, Eisel ULM, van Riet E, Schoemaker RG. Vaccination Prevented Short-Term Memory Loss, but Deteriorated Long-Term Spatial Memory in Alzheimer's Disease Mice, Independent of Amyloid-β Pathology. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2020; 4:261-280. [PMID: 32904788 PMCID: PMC7458552 DOI: 10.3233/adr-200213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Soluble oligomeric amyloid-β (Aβ), rather than Aβ plaques, seems to be the culprit in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Accordingly, a new concept vaccine of small cyclic peptide conjugates, selectively targeting oligomeric Aβ, has been developed. Objective: Study the therapeutic potential of this new vaccine in a mouse model for AD. Methods: J20 mice, overexpressing human amyloid precursor protein, were validated for an AD-like phenotype. Then, J20 mice were vaccinated at 2, 3, and 4 months of age and AD phenotype was evaluated at 6, 9, and 12 months of age; or at 9, 10, and 11 months with evaluation at 12 months. Effects on Aβ pathology were studied by plaque load (immunohistochemistry; 6E10) and antibody titers against Aβ (ELISA). AD behavioral phenotype was evaluated by performance in a battery of cognitive tests. Results: J20 mice displayed age-related Aβ plaque development and an AD-like behavioral phenotype. A consistent antibody response to the cyclic peptides was, however, not extended to Aβ, leaving plaque load unaffected. Nevertheless, immunization at young ages prevented working- and short-term spatial memory loss, but deteriorated long-term spatial learning and memory, at 12 months of age. Immunization at later ages did not affect any measured parameter. Conclusion: J20 mice provide a relevant model for AD to study potential anti-Aβ treatment. Early vaccination prevented short-term memory loss at later ages, but deteriorated long-term spatial memory, however without affecting Aβ pathology. Later vaccination had no effects, but optimal timing may require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaske Oberman
- Department of Neurobiology GELIFES, University Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Leonie Gouweleeuw
- Department of Neurobiology GELIFES, University Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ulrich L M Eisel
- Department of Neurobiology GELIFES, University Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Regien G Schoemaker
- Department of Neurobiology GELIFES, University Groningen, The Netherlands.,University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
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13
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Petrushina I, Hovakimyan A, Harahap-Carrillo IS, Davtyan H, Antonyan T, Chailyan G, Kazarian K, Antonenko M, Jullienne A, Hamer MM, Obenaus A, King O, Zagorski K, Blurton-Jones M, Cribbs DH, Lander H, Ghochikyan A, Agadjanyan MG. Characterization and preclinical evaluation of the cGMP grade DNA based vaccine, AV-1959D to enter the first-in-human clinical trials. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 139:104823. [PMID: 32119976 PMCID: PMC8772258 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The DNA vaccine, AV-1959D, targeting N-terminal epitope of Aβ peptide, has been proven immunogenic in mice, rabbits, and non-human primates, while its therapeutic efficacy has been shown in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we report for the first time on IND-enabling biodistribution and safety/toxicology studies of cGMP-grade AV-1959D vaccine in the Tg2576 mouse model of AD. We also tested acute neuropathology safety profiles of AV-1959D in another AD disease model, Tg-SwDI mice with established vascular and parenchymal Aβ pathology in a pre-clinical translational study. Biodistribution studies two days after the injection demonstrated high copy numbers of AV-1959D plasmid after single immunization of Tg2576 mice at the injection sites but not in the tissues of distant organs. Plasmids persisted at the injection sites of some mice 60 days after vaccination. In Tg2576 mice with established amyloid pathology, we did not observe short- or long-term toxicities after multiple immunizations with three doses of AV-1959D. Assessment of the repeated dose acute safety of AV-1959D in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) prone Tg-SwDI mice did not reveal any immunotherapy-induced vasogenic edema detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or increased microhemorrhages. Multiple immunizations of Tg-SwDI mice with AV-1959D did not induce T and B cell infiltration, glial activation, vascular deposition of Aβ, or neuronal degeneration (necrosis and apoptosis) greater than that in the control group determined by immunohistochemistry of brain tissues. Taken together, the safety data from two different mouse models of AD substantiate a favorable safety profile of the cGMP grade AV-1959D vaccine supporting its progression to first-in-human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Petrushina
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Armine Hovakimyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | | | - Hayk Davtyan
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA; Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Tatevik Antonyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | - Gor Chailyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | - Konstantin Kazarian
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | - Maxim Antonenko
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | - Amandine Jullienne
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Mary M Hamer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Andre Obenaus
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Preclinical and Translational Imaging Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Olga King
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | - Karen Zagorski
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | - Mathew Blurton-Jones
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - David H Cribbs
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Harry Lander
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | - Anahit Ghochikyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA.
| | - Michael G Agadjanyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA.
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14
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Davtyan H, Hovakimyan A, Kiani Shabestari S, Antonyan T, Coburn MA, Zagorski K, Chailyan G, Petrushina I, Svystun O, Danhash E, Petrovsky N, Cribbs DH, Agadjanyan MG, Blurton-Jones M, Ghochikyan A. Testing a MultiTEP-based combination vaccine to reduce Aβ and tau pathology in Tau22/5xFAD bigenic mice. Alzheimers Res Ther 2019; 11:107. [PMID: 31847886 PMCID: PMC6918571 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-019-0556-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau, which together lead to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Current therapeutic approaches have primarily aimed to reduce pathological aggregates of either Aβ or tau, yet phase 3 clinical trials of these approaches have thus far failed to delay disease progression in humans. Strong preclinical evidence indicates that these two abnormally aggregated proteins interact synergistically to drive downstream neurodegeneration. Therefore, combinatorial therapies that concurrently target both Aβ and tau might be needed for effective disease modification. METHODS A combinatorial vaccination approach was designed to concurrently target both Aβ and tau pathologies. Tau22/5xFAD (T5x) bigenic mice that develop both pathological Aβ and tau aggregates were injected intramuscularly with a mixture of two MultiTEP epitope vaccines: AV-1959R and AV-1980R, targeting Aβ and tau, respectively, and formulated in AdvaxCpG, a potent polysaccharide adjuvant. Antibody responses of vaccinated animals were measured by ELISA, and neuropathological changes were determined in brain homogenates of vaccinated and control mice using ELISA and Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) multiplex assays. RESULTS T5x mice immunized with a mixture of Aβ- and tau-targeting vaccines generated high Aβ- and tau-specific antibody titers that recognized senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles/neuropil threads in human AD brain sections. Production of these antibodies in turn led to significant reductions in the levels of soluble and insoluble total tau, and hyperphosphorylated tau as well as insoluble Aβ42, within the brains of bigenic T5x mice. CONCLUSIONS AV-1959R and AV-1980R formulated with AdvaxCpG adjuvant are immunogenic and therapeutically potent vaccines that in combination can effectively reduce both of the hallmark pathologies of AD in bigenic mice. Taken together, these findings warrant further development of this vaccine technology for ultimate testing in human AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayk Davtyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Armine Hovakimyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA USA
| | | | - Tatevik Antonyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA USA
| | - Morgan A. Coburn
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Karen Zagorski
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA USA
- Current address: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
| | - Gor Chailyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA USA
| | - Irina Petrushina
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Olga Svystun
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA USA
| | - Emma Danhash
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | | | - David H. Cribbs
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Michael G. Agadjanyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA USA
| | - Mathew Blurton-Jones
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Anahit Ghochikyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA USA
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15
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Lardenoije R, van den Hove DL, Jung SE, Havermans M, Blackburn P, Liu B, Rutten BP, Lemere CA. Active Amyloid-β Vaccination Results in Epigenetic Changes in the Hippocampus of an Alzheimer’s Disease-Like Mouse Model. Curr Alzheimer Res 2019; 16:861-870. [DOI: 10.2174/1567205016666190827122009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background:
While evidence accumulates for a role of epigenetic modifications in the
pathophysiological cascade of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyloid-β (Aβ)-targeted active immunotherapy
approaches are under investigation to prevent or slow the progression of AD. The impact of Aβ active
vaccines on epigenetic markers has not been studied thus far.
Objective:
The current study aims to establish the relationship between active immunotherapy with a
MER5101-based vaccine (consisting of Aβ1-15 copies conjugated with a 7 aa spacer to the diphtheria
toxoid carrier protein, formulated in a Th2-biased adjuvant) and epigenetic DNA modifications in the
hippocampus of APPswe/PS1dE9 mice.
Methods:
As we previously reported, immunotherapy started when the mice were 10 months of age and
behavioral testing occurred at 14 months of age, after which the mice were sacrificed for further analysis
of their brains. In this add-on study, global levels of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation, and
DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) were determined using quantitative immunohistochemistry, and
compared to our previously analyzed immunization-induced changes in AD-related neuropathology and
cognition.
Results:
Active immunization did not affect global DNA methylation levels but instead, resulted in decreased
DNA hydroxymethylation and DNMT3A levels. Independent of immunization, inverse correlations
with behavioral performance were observed for levels of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation,
as well as DNMT3A, while Aβ pathology and synaptic markers did not correlate with DNA methylation
levels but did positively correlate with DNA hydroxymethylation and levels of DNMT3A.
Conclusion:
Our results indicate that active Aβ vaccination has significant effects on the epigenome in
the hippocampus of APPswe/PS1dE9 mice, and suggest that DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation
may be involved in cognitive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Lardenoije
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Daniël L.A. van den Hove
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200MD, Netherlands
| | - Sophie E. Jung
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200MD, Netherlands
| | - Monique Havermans
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200MD, Netherlands
| | | | - Bin Liu
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Bart P.F. Rutten
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200MD, Netherlands
| | - Cynthia A. Lemere
- Department of Neurology, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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16
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Joly-Amado A, Davtyan H, Serraneau K, Jules P, Zitnyar A, Pressman E, Zagorski K, Antonyan T, Hovakimyan A, Paek HJ, Gordon MN, Cribbs DH, Petrovsky N, Agadjanyan MG, Ghochikyan A, Morgan D. Active immunization with tau epitope in a mouse model of tauopathy induced strong antibody response together with improvement in short memory and pSer396-tau pathology. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 134:104636. [PMID: 31629891 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation and its aggregation into neurofibrillary tangles are a hallmark of tauopathies, neurodegenerative disorders that include Alzheimer's disease (AD). Active and passive Tau-immunotherapy has been proposed as a therapeutic approach to AD with mixed results. One of the limitations of active immunotherapy may be associated with the mediocre immunogenicity of vaccines that are not inducing therapeutically potent titers of antibodies. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of an anti-tau vaccine, AV-1980R/A composed of N terminal peptide of this molecule fused with an immunogenic MultiTEP platform and formulated in a strong adjuvant, AdvaxCpG in a Tg4510 mouse model of tauopathy. Experimental mice were immunized with AV-1980R/A and a control group of mice were injected with adjuvant only. Nontransgenic and tetracycline transactivator (tTA) transgenic littermates were included as baseline controls to contrast with the tau phenotype. Active immunization with AV-1980R/A induced very strong anti-tau humoral immune responses in both nontransgenic and transgenic mice with evidence of IgG in brains of AV-1980R/A vaccinated mice. These experimental animals displayed an improvement in short-term memory during a novel object recognition test. However, impairments in other behavioral tasks were not prevented by AV-1980R/A vaccinations. At the same time, high titers of anti-tau antibodies reduced hyperphosphorylated pSer396 tau but did not lower the level of other phosphorylated tau species in the brains of AV-1980R/A vaccinated mice. These data indicate that active immunotherapy with an N-terminal Tau epitope was only partially effective in improving cognition and reducing pathology in the stringent Tg4510 mouse model of tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Joly-Amado
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, Tampa, FL 33613, USA.
| | - H Davtyan
- The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - K Serraneau
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, Tampa, FL 33613, USA
| | - P Jules
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, Tampa, FL 33613, USA
| | - A Zitnyar
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, Tampa, FL 33613, USA
| | - E Pressman
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, Tampa, FL 33613, USA
| | - K Zagorski
- The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA
| | - T Antonyan
- The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA
| | - A Hovakimyan
- The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA
| | - H J Paek
- Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - M N Gordon
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, Tampa, FL 33613, USA
| | - D H Cribbs
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - N Petrovsky
- Flinders Med. Ctr., Bedford Park, Adelaide 5042, Australia
| | - M G Agadjanyan
- The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA
| | - A Ghochikyan
- The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA
| | - D Morgan
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, Tampa, FL 33613, USA
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Sun D, Qiao Y, Jiang X, Li P, Kuai Z, Gong X, Liu D, Fu Q, Sun L, Li H, Ding J, Shi Y, Kong W, Shan Y. Multiple Antigenic Peptide System Coupled with Amyloid Beta Protein Epitopes As An Immunization Approach to Treat Alzheimer's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:2794-2800. [PMID: 31042358 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Latest studies suggest that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the "four big killers" that threaten the health of the elderly. AD affects about 46 million people across the world, and there is a critical need for research on new therapies for treating AD. The purpose of the present study was to develop and evaluate immunogens to elicit antibodies against the formation of amyloid beta protein (Aβ), a pathological hallmark of AD, as a therapeutic strategy in AD. In this study, serial potential immunogenic epitopes were screened according to the Aβ sequence. The screened linear epitopes on the Aβ C-terminal fragment were coupled with either the carrier protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) or the synthesized 4-branch peptide (MAP4). MAP4 immunogens could effectively elicit immunogenicity against Aβ1-42 monomer and fiber in Balb/C mice. Furthermore, MAP4 sera could also effectively inhibit the formation of the Aβ1-42 fiber. Interestingly, one of the MAP4 sera was able to depolymerize the Aβ1-42 fibers that had aggregated. The monoclonal antibody, 1H7, was shown to inhibit the formation of Aβ1-42 fiber. MAP4 carrier may provide benefits over current immunization strategies, as it does not induce inflammation. In conclusion, the MAP4-Aβ conjugates offer a promising approach for the development of a safe and effective AD vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diya Sun
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Yongbo Qiao
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Xiaoyu Jiang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Pengju Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Ziyu Kuai
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Xin Gong
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Dongni Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Qiang Fu
- Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning 116001, China
| | - Liyan Sun
- Dalian University Affiliated Xinhua Hospital, Dalian, Liaoning 116021, China
| | - He Li
- Affiliated Dalian Friendship Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116100, China
| | - Jun Ding
- China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130033, China
| | - Yuhua Shi
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Wei Kong
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Yaming Shan
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
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18
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Liu D, Li W, Jiang X, Bai S, Liu J, Liu X, Shi Y, Kuai Z, Kong W, Gao R, Shan Y. Using near-infrared enhanced thermozyme and scFv dual-conjugated Au nanorods for detection and targeted photothermal treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Theranostics 2019; 9:2268-2281. [PMID: 31149043 PMCID: PMC6531298 DOI: 10.7150/thno.30649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigation of targeting inhibitors of Aβ aggregation, heme-Aβ peroxidase-like activity and efficient detectors of Aβ aggregation, are of therapeutic value and diagnostics significance for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Due to the complex pathogenesis of AD, theranostics treatment with multiple functions are necessary. Herein we constructed the NIR absorption property of gold nanorods (GNRs) loaded with single chain variable fragment (scFv) 12B4 and thermophilic acylpeptide hydrolase (APH) ST0779 as a smart theranostic complex (GNRs-APH-scFv, GAS), which possesses both rapid detection of Aβ aggregates and NIR photothermal treatment that effectively disassembles Aβ aggregates and inhibits Aβ-mediated toxicity. Methods: We screened targeting anti-Aβ scFv 12B4 and thermophilic acylpeptide hydrolase as amyloid-degrading enzyme, synthesized GAS gold nanorods complex. The GAS was evalued by Aβ inhibition and disaggregation assays, Aβ detection assays, Aβ mediated toxicity assays in vitro. In vivo, delaying Aβ-induced paralysis in AD model of Caenorhabditis elegans was also tested by GAS. Results: In vitro, GAS has a synergistic effect to inhibit and disassociate Aβ aggregates, in addition to decrease heme-Aβ peroxidase-like activity. In cultured cells, treatment with GAS reduces Aβ-induced cytotoxicity, while also delaying Aβ-mediated paralysis in CL4176 C.elegans model of AD. Furthermore, the photothermal effect of the GAS upon NIR laser irradiation not only helps disassociate the Aβ aggregates but also boosts APH activity to clear Aβ. The GAS, as a targeting detector and inhibitor, allows real-time detection of Aβ aggregates. Conclusion: These results firstly highlight the combination of scFv, APH and nanoparticles to be theranostic AD drugs. Taken together, our strategy provides a new thought into the design of smart compounds for use as efficiently therapeutic and preventive agents against AD. Moreover, our design provides broad prospects of biomedical strategy for further theranostics application in those diseases caused by abnormal protein.
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19
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Jadhav S, Avila J, Schöll M, Kovacs GG, Kövari E, Skrabana R, Evans LD, Kontsekova E, Malawska B, de Silva R, Buee L, Zilka N. A walk through tau therapeutic strategies. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:22. [PMID: 30767766 PMCID: PMC6376692 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0664-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau neuronal and glial pathologies drive the clinical presentation of Alzheimer's disease and related human tauopathies. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that pathological tau species can travel from cell to cell and spread the pathology through the brain. Throughout the last decade, physiological and pathological tau have become attractive targets for AD therapies. Several therapeutic approaches have been proposed, including the inhibition of protein kinases or protein-3-O-(N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl)-L-serine/threonine Nacetylglucosaminyl hydrolase, the inhibition of tau aggregation, active and passive immunotherapies, and tau silencing by antisense oligonucleotides. New tau therapeutics, across the board, have demonstrated the ability to prevent or reduce tau lesions and improve either cognitive or motor impairment in a variety of animal models developing neurofibrillary pathology. The most advanced strategy for the treatment of human tauopathies remains immunotherapy, which has already reached the clinical stage of drug development. Tau vaccines or humanised antibodies target a variety of tau species either in the intracellular or extracellular spaces. Some of them recognise the amino-terminus or carboxy-terminus, while others display binding abilities to the proline-rich area or microtubule binding domains. The main therapeutic foci in existing clinical trials are on Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and non-fluent primary progressive aphasia. Tau therapy offers a new hope for the treatment of many fatal brain disorders. First efficacy data from clinical trials will be available by the end of this decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Jadhav
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska 9, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jesus Avila
- Centro de Biologia Molecular "Severo Ochoa", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones, Cientificas, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, C/ Nicolas Cabrera, 1. Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative, Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Michael Schöll
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of, Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Dementia Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, AKH 4J, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1097, Vienna, Austria
| | - Enikö Kövari
- Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Rostislav Skrabana
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lewis D Evans
- Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Eva Kontsekova
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbara Malawska
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Cracow, Poland
| | - Rohan de Silva
- Reta Lila Weston Institute and Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 1 Wakefield Street, London, WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Luc Buee
- Universite of Lille, Inserm, CHU-Lille, UMRS1172, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, Place de Verdun, 59045, Lille cedex, France.
| | - Norbert Zilka
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Novak P, Kontsekova E, Zilka N, Novak M. Ten Years of Tau-Targeted Immunotherapy: The Path Walked and the Roads Ahead. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:798. [PMID: 30450030 PMCID: PMC6224648 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibrillary pathology comprised of pathological tau protein is closely tied to a range of neurodegenerative disorders, the most common of which is Alzheimer's disease. While they are individually rarer, a range of other disorders, the tauopathies (including Pick's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, primary progressive aphasia, and ∼50% of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia cases) display pronounced underlying tau pathology. In all cases, the distribution and amount of tau pathology closely correlates with the severity and phenotype of cognitive impairment, and with the pattern and degree of brain atrophy. Successfully counteracting tau pathology is likely to halt or slow the progression of these debilitating disorders. This makes tau a target of prime importance, yet an elusive one. The diversity of the tau proteome and post-translational modifications, as well as pathophysiology of tau are reviewed. Beginning 2013, a range of tau-targeted immunotherapies have entered clinical development; these therapies, and their common themes and differences are reviewed. The manuscript provides an extensive discussion on epitope selection for immunotherapies against tau pathology, on immunological mechanisms involved in their action, and challenges such as immune senescence, vaccine design, or evolution of epitopes. Furthermore, we provide methodological recommendations for the characterization of active vaccines and antibodies, animal models, and the target itself - the diseased tau proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience CRM Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Eva Kontsekova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Norbert Zilka
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience SE, Larnaca, Cyprus
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Novak P, Schmidt R, Kontsekova E, Kovacech B, Smolek T, Katina S, Fialova L, Prcina M, Parrak V, Dal-Bianco P, Brunner M, Staffen W, Rainer M, Ondrus M, Ropele S, Smisek M, Sivak R, Zilka N, Winblad B, Novak M. FUNDAMANT: an interventional 72-week phase 1 follow-up study of AADvac1, an active immunotherapy against tau protein pathology in Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2018; 10:108. [PMID: 30355322 PMCID: PMC6201586 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-018-0436-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Neurofibrillary pathology composed of tau protein is closely correlated with severity and phenotype of cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and non-Alzheimer’s tauopathies. Targeting pathological tau proteins via immunotherapy is a promising strategy for disease-modifying treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Previously, we reported a 24-week phase 1 trial on the active vaccine AADvac1 against pathological tau protein; here, we present the results of a further 72 weeks of follow-up on those patients. Methods We did a phase 1, 72-week, open-label study of AADvac1 in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease who had completed the preceding phase 1 study. Patients who were previously treated with six doses of AADvac1 at monthly intervals received two booster doses at 24-week intervals. Patients who were previously treated with only three doses received another three doses at monthly intervals, and subsequently two boosters at 24-week intervals. The primary objective was the assessment of long-term safety of AADvac1 treatment. Secondary objectives included assessment of antibody titres, antibody isotype profile, capacity of the antibodies to bind to AD tau and AADvac1, development of titres of AADvac1-induced antibodies over time, and effect of booster doses; cognitive assessment via 11-item Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale cognitive assessment (ADAS-Cog), Category Fluency Test and Controlled Oral Word Association Test; assessment of brain atrophy via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetry; and assessment of lymphocyte populations via flow cytometry. Results The study was conducted between 18 March 2014 and 10 August 2016. Twenty-six patients who completed the previous study were enrolled. Five patients withdrew because of adverse events. One patient was withdrawn owing to noncompliance. The most common adverse events were injection site reactions (reported in 13 [50%] of vaccinated patients). No cases of meningoencephalitis or vasogenic oedema were observed. New micro-haemorrhages were observed only in one ApoE4 homozygote. All responders retained an immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response against the tau peptide component of AADvac1 over 6 months without administration, with titres regressing to a median 15.8% of titres attained after the initial six-dose vaccination regimen. Booster doses restored previous IgG levels. Hippocampal atrophy rate was lower in patients with high IgG levels; a similar relationship was observed in cognitive assessment. Conclusions AADvac1 displayed a benign safety profile. The evolution of IgG titres over vaccination-free periods warrants a more frequent booster dose regimen. The tendency towards slower atrophy in MRI evaluation and less of a decline in cognitive assessment in patients with high titres is encouraging. Further trials are required to expand the safety database and to establish proof of clinical efficacy of AADvac1. Trial registration The studies are registered with the EU Clinical Trials Register and ClinicalTrials.gov: the preceding first-in-human study under EudraCT 2012-003916-29 and NCT01850238 (registered on 9 May 2013) and the follow-up study under EudraCT 2013-004499-36 and NCT02031198 (registered 9 Jan 2014), respectively. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13195-018-0436-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Novak
- Axon Neuroscience CRM Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 11, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Reinhold Schmidt
- Clinical Division of Neurogeriatrics and Division of General Neurology, Department of Neurology, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 2, 8036, Graz, Austria
| | - Eva Kontsekova
- Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Branislav Kovacech
- Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Tomas Smolek
- Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Stanislav Katina
- Axon Neuroscience CRM Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 11, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lubica Fialova
- Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Prcina
- Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Vojtech Parrak
- Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Dal-Bianco
- University Clinic of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Brunner
- University Clinic of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Staffen
- University Clinic of Neurology, Christian-Doppler-Clinic, Ignaz-Harrer-Straße 79, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Michael Rainer
- Social and Medical Centre East, Danube Hospital, Karl Landsteiner Institute for Memory and Alzheimer Research, Langobardenstraße 122, 1220, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matej Ondrus
- Axon Neuroscience CRM Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 11, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Stefan Ropele
- Clinical Division of Neurogeriatrics and Division of General Neurology, Department of Neurology, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 2, 8036, Graz, Austria
| | - Miroslav Smisek
- Axon Neuroscience CRM Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 11, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Roman Sivak
- Axon Neuroscience CRM Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 11, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Norbert Zilka
- Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvorakovo nabrezie 10, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Bengt Winblad
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department NVS Clinical Trial Unit, Karolinska Institute Alzheimer Disease Research Centre, Geriatric Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, Hälsovägen 7, S-14157, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Michal Novak
- Axon Neuroscience SE, 4, Arch. Makariou & Kalogreon, Nicolaides Sea View City, 5th floor, office 506, 6016, Larnaca, Cyprus
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Fu L, Guo Y, Sun Y, Dong Y, Wu J, Yu B, Zhang H, Yu X, Wu H, Kong W. A novel Aβ epitope vaccine based on bacterium-like particle against Alzheimer’s disease. Mol Immunol 2018; 101:259-267. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2018.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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A Closer Look into the Role of Protein Tau in the Identification of Promising Therapeutic Targets for Alzheimer's Disease. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8090162. [PMID: 30149687 PMCID: PMC6162660 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8090162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most commonly known chronic neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's disease (AD), manifests the common type of dementia in 60⁻80% of cases. From a clinical standpoint, a patent cognitive decline and a severe change in personality, as caused by a loss of neurons, is usually evident in AD with about 50 million people affected in 2016. The disease progression in patients is distinguished by a gradual plummet in cognitive functions, eliciting symptoms such as memory loss, and eventually requiring full-time medical care. From a histopathological standpoint, the defining characteristics are intracellular aggregations of hyper-phosphorylated tau protein, known as neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), and depositions of amyloid β-peptides (Aβ) in the brain. The abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein is attributed to a wide gamut of neurological disorders known as tauopathies. In addition to the hyperphosphorylated tau lesions, neuroinflammatory processes could occur in a sustained manner through astro-glial activation, resulting in the disease progression. Recent findings have suggested a strong interplay between the mechanism of Tau phosphorylation, disruption of microtubules, and synaptic loss and pathology of AD. The mechanisms underlying these interactions along with their respective consequences in Tau pathology are still ill-defined. Thus, in this review: (1) we highlight the interplays existing between Tau pathology and AD; and (2) take a closer look into its role while identifying some promising therapeutic advances including state of the art imaging techniques.
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Feng G, Zheng C, Hui J. Early Aβ-HBc virus-like particles immunization had better effects on preventing the deficit of learning and memory abilities and reducing cerebral Aβ load in PDAPP mice. Vaccine 2018; 36:5258-5264. [PMID: 30055971 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.07.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
For nearly two decades, immunization against the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) has been investigated as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite some disappointing results in clinic trials, greater significance has been attached by some researchers to exploring the immune effects on pathological and cognitive changes in AD or producing new vaccines of AD. In the previous study, we have made a virus-like particles (Aβ-HBc VLPs) as Aβ vaccine candidate. Aβ-HBc VLPs could ameliorate the learning and memory abilities and reduce cerebral Aβ deposit in the old PDAPP mice. In the present study, to observe the preventive effect and the proper time of immunization, 3, 6 and 9-month old PDAPP mice were immunized with Aβ-HBc VLPs for 3 months. All mice generated high titer of anti-Aβ antibody after Aβ-HBc VLPs immunizations. When the mice were 15-month old, Morris Water Maze was used to test their learning and memory abilities. The escape latencies of Aβ-HBc VLPs immunized mice were shorter than that of control mice. These immunized mice entered platform region frequently and spent more time on the platform region and quadrant. 3 m and 6 m Aβ-HBc VLPs immunized groups performed better than the 9 m group. In immunohistochemistry tests, all the Aβ-HBc VLPs immunized mice had less amyloid deposit in cortex and hippocampus. ELISA results showed that soluble Aβ was reduced in the brain homogenates of the Aβ-HBc VLPs immunized mice, and 3- and 6-month groups had less soluble Aβ than the 9-month group. In conclusion, our study showed that Aβ-HBc VLPs immunization could elicit a strong immune response in adult APP mice, and early immunization had better effects on preventing learning and memory deficits, lowering Aβ burden in PDAPP mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaifeng Feng
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76# West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Ministry of Education of China, 76# West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
| | - Caifeng Zheng
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76# West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Department of Emergency Surgery, Ankang City Central Hospital, 85# Jinzhou Street, Ankang, Shaanxi 725000, China
| | - Jianjun Hui
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76# West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Department of Emergency Surgery, Ankang City Central Hospital, 85# Jinzhou Street, Ankang, Shaanxi 725000, China
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Improved synaptic and cognitive function in aged 3 × Tg-AD mice with reduced amyloid-β after immunotherapy with a novel recombinant 6Aβ15-TF chimeric vaccine. Clin Immunol 2018; 193:12-23. [PMID: 29803820 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder impairing memory and cognition. In this study, we describe the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the novel recombinant 6Aβ15-TF chimeric antigen as a subunit protein vaccine for AD. Recombinant 6Aβ15-TF chimeric vaccine induced strong Aβ-specific humoral immune responses without Aβ-specific T cell immunity in C57/BL6 and 3 × Tg-AD mice at different ages. As an early immunotherapy model for AD, this vaccine induced high titers of long-lasting anti-Aβ42 antibodies in aged 3 × Tg-AD mice, which led to improve behavioral performance and markedly reduced the levels of insoluble and soluble Aβ and Aβ oligomers. In agreement with these findings, immunotherapy with 6Aβ15-TF prevented the Aβ-induced decrease of presynaptic and postsynaptic proteins in aged 3 × Tg-AD mice. Our results suggest that this novel and highly immunogenic recombinant 6Aβ15-TF chimeric vaccine provides neuroprotection in AD mice and can be considered an effective AD candidate vaccine.
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Hull M, Sadowsky C, Arai H, Le Prince Leterme G, Holstein A, Booth K, Peng Y, Yoshiyama T, Suzuki H, Ketter N, Liu E, Ryan JM. Long-Term Extensions of Randomized Vaccination Trials of ACC-001 and QS-21 in Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2018; 14:696-708. [PMID: 28124589 PMCID: PMC5543567 DOI: 10.2174/1567205014666170117101537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Revised: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Long-term safety and tolerability of ACC-001 (vanutide cridificar), an antiamyloid- beta therapeutic vaccine, was evaluated in subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. DESIGN Phase 2a extension studies of randomized parent trials were conducted in the United States, European Union, and Japan. METHODS Four immunizations of ACC-001 were administered at the same 3 dose levels (3, 10, and 30 μg) to subjects randomized in the parent studies; ACC-001 was administered with QS-21 adjuvant. Safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity were assessed during active treatment and 6-month follow-up. RESULTS ACC-001 + QS-21 was well tolerated in the United States (N=110) and European Union (N=50), and Japan (N=53) extension studies; safety profile was similar to that observed in the parent studies, and no new safety signals were identified. Overall, injection site reactions were the most common adverse event in these studies. Anti-amyloid antibody titers were elicited in all groups, with the highest titers observed in subjects who received ACC-001 + QS-21 in both the parent and extension studies. CONCLUSIONS Long-term exposure to ACC-001 + QS-21 was well tolerated in subjects with Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that side effects do not pose a principal limitation for anti-amyloid active immunotherapy. The highest anti-amyloid-beta IgG titers are elicited during long-term therapy with ACC-001 + QS-21 compared with other regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hull
- Clinic for Geriatric Psychiatry, Center for Psychiatry Emmendingen, Neubronnstraße 25, D-79312 Emmendingen. Germany
| | - Carl Sadowsky
- Premiere Research Institute, Palm Beach Neurology, Nova SE University, 4631 North Congress Ave., Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33407, United States
| | - Heii Arai
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | | | - Ann Holstein
- Pfizer Inc., 500 Arcola Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, United States
| | - Kevin Booth
- Pfizer Inc., 500 Arcola Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, United States
| | - Yahong Peng
- Pfizer Inc., 500 Arcola Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, United States
| | - Tamotsu Yoshiyama
- Pfizer Japan Inc., 3-22-7 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151- 8589, Japan
| | - Hideo Suzuki
- Pfizer Japan Inc., 3-22-7 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151- 8589, Japan
| | - Nzeera Ketter
- Janssen Research and Development, 3210 Merryfield Row, San Diego, CA 92121, United States
| | - Enchi Liu
- Janssen Research and Development, 3210 Merryfield Row, San Diego, CA 92121, United States
| | - J Michael Ryan
- Pfizer Inc., 500 Arcola Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, United States
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Tau and neuroinflammation: What impact for Alzheimer's Disease and Tauopathies? Biomed J 2018; 41:21-33. [PMID: 29673549 PMCID: PMC6138617 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder and the most common type of dementia (60–80% of cases). In 2016, nearly 44 million people were affected by AD or related dementia. AD is characterized by progressive neuronal damages leading to subtle and latter obvious decline in cognitive functions including symptoms such as memory loss or confusion, which ultimately require full-time medical care. Its neuropathology is defined by the extracellular accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide into amyloid plaques, and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) consisting of aggregated hyper- and abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein. The latter, identified also as Tau pathology, is observed in a broad spectrum of neurological diseases commonly referred to as “Tauopathies”. Besides these lesions, sustained neuroinflammatory processes occur, involving notably micro- and astro-glial activation, which contribute to disease progression. Recent findings from genome wide association studies further support an instrumental role of neuroinflammation. While the interconnections existing between this innate immune response and the amyloid pathogenesis are widely characterized and described as complex, elaborated and evolving, only few studies focused on Tau pathology. An adaptive immune response takes place conjointly during the disease course, as indicated by the presence of vascular and parenchymal T-cell in AD patients' brain. The underlying mechanisms of this infiltration and its consequences with regards to Tau pathology remain understudied so far. In the present review, we highlight the interplays existing between Tau pathology and the innate/adaptive immune responses.
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Lacosta AM, Pascual-Lucas M, Pesini P, Casabona D, Pérez-Grijalba V, Marcos-Campos I, Sarasa L, Canudas J, Badi H, Monleón I, San-José I, Munuera J, Rodríguez-Gómez O, Abdelnour C, Lafuente A, Buendía M, Boada M, Tárraga L, Ruiz A, Sarasa M. Safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of an active anti-Aβ 40 vaccine (ABvac40) in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase I trial. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2018; 10:12. [PMID: 29378651 PMCID: PMC5789644 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-018-0340-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Immunotherapy targeting the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is a promising strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, none of the active or passive vaccines tested have been demonstrated to be effective to date. We have developed the first active vaccine against the C-terminal end of Aβ40, ABvac40, and assessed its safety and tolerability in a phase I clinical trial. Methods A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase I study of ABvac40 was conducted with patients aged 50–85 years with mild to moderate AD. Participants were entered into three separate groups according to time of study entry and were randomly allocated to receive ABvac40 or placebo (overall ratio 2:1). The first group received two half-doses of ABvac40 or placebo, whereas the second and third groups received two and three full doses, respectively. All treatments were administered subcutaneously at 4-week intervals. Patients, carers and investigators were blind to treatment allocation throughout the study. The primary objective was to assess the safety and tolerability of ABvac40 by registering all adverse events (AEs). All patients who received at least one dose of treatment were included in the safety analysis. The secondary objective was to evaluate the immunogenicity of ABvac40 by titration of specific anti-Aβ40 antibodies in plasma. Results Twenty-four patients were randomly allocated: 16 patients to the ABvac40 group and 8 patients to the placebo group. All randomised patients completed the study, therefore the intention-to-treat and safety populations were identical. Overall, 71 AEs affecting 18 patients were recorded: 11 (69%) in the ABvac40 group and 7 (88%) in the placebo group (p = 0.6214). Neither incident vasogenic oedema nor sulcal effusion (amyloid-related imaging abnormalities corresponding to vasogenic oedema and sulcal effusions) nor microhaemorrhages (amyloid-related imaging abnormalities corresponding to microhaemorrhages and hemosiderin deposits) were detected throughout the study period in the ABvac40-treated patients. Eleven of 12 (~92%) individuals receiving three injections of ABvac40 developed specific anti-Aβ40 antibodies. Conclusions ABvac40 showed a favourable safety and tolerability profile while eliciting a consistent and specific immune response. An ongoing phase II clinical trial is needed to confirm these results and to explore the clinical efficacy of ABvac40. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03113812. Retrospectively registered on 14 April 2017. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13195-018-0340-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pedro Pesini
- Araclon Biotech, Vía Hispanidad 21, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Diego Casabona
- Araclon Biotech, Vía Hispanidad 21, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | | | - Leticia Sarasa
- Araclon Biotech, Vía Hispanidad 21, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jesus Canudas
- Araclon Biotech, Vía Hispanidad 21, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Hassnae Badi
- Araclon Biotech, Vía Hispanidad 21, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | | | - Josep Munuera
- Institut de Diagnòstic per la Imatge, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Octavio Rodríguez-Gómez
- Memory Clinic and Research Centre, Fundació ACE Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carla Abdelnour
- Memory Clinic and Research Centre, Fundació ACE Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Asunción Lafuente
- Memory Clinic and Research Centre, Fundació ACE Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mar Buendía
- Memory Clinic and Research Centre, Fundació ACE Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercè Boada
- Memory Clinic and Research Centre, Fundació ACE Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lluis Tárraga
- Memory Clinic and Research Centre, Fundació ACE Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Agustín Ruiz
- Memory Clinic and Research Centre, Fundació ACE Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Sarasa
- Araclon Biotech, Vía Hispanidad 21, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
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Wu XL, Piña-Crespo J, Zhang YW, Chen XC, Xu HX. Tau-mediated Neurodegeneration and Potential Implications in Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Chin Med J (Engl) 2017; 130:2978-2990. [PMID: 29237931 PMCID: PMC5742926 DOI: 10.4103/0366-6999.220313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To review recent research advances on tau, a major player in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, a biomarker for AD onset, and potential target for AD therapy. DATA SOURCES This review was based on a comprehensive search using online literature databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. STUDY SELECTION Literature search was based on the following keywords: Alzheimer's disease, tau protein, biomarker, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), therapeutics, plasma, imaging, propagation, spreading, seeding, prion, conformational templating, and posttranslational modification. Relevant articles were carefully reviewed, with no exclusions applied to study design and publication type. RESULTS Amyloid plaques enriched with extracellular amyloid beta (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles comprised of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins are the two main pathological hallmarks of AD. Although the Aβ hypothesis has dominated AD research for many years, clinical Aβ-targeting strategies have consistently failed to effectively treat AD or prevent AD onset. The research focus in AD has recently shifted to the role of tau in AD. In addition to phosphorylation, tau is acetylated and proteolytically cleaved, which also contribute to its physiological and pathological functions. Emerging evidence characterizing pathological tau propagation and spreading provides new avenues for research into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis. Techniques to detect tau at minute levels in CSF and blood have been developed, and improved tracers have facilitated tau imaging in the brain. These advances have potential to accurately determine tau levels at early diagnostic stages in AD. Given that tau is a potential therapeutic target, anti-tau immunotherapy may potentially be a viable treatment strategy in AD intervention. CONCLUSION Detecting changes in tau and targeting tau pathology represent a promising lead in the diagnosis and treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Lin Wu
- Neuroscience Initiative, Neuroscience and Aging Research Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China
| | - Juan Piña-Crespo
- Neuroscience Initiative, Neuroscience and Aging Research Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Yun-Wu Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xiao-Chun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China
| | - Hua-Xi Xu
- Neuroscience Initiative, Neuroscience and Aging Research Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
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Guidelines to improve animal study design and reproducibility for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: For funders and researchers. Alzheimers Dement 2017; 12:1177-1185. [PMID: 27836053 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The reproducibility of laboratory experiments is fundamental to the scientific process. There have been increasing reports regarding challenges in reproducing and translating preclinical experiments in animal models. In Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, there have been similar reports and growing interest from funding organizations, researchers, and the broader scientific community to set parameters around experimental design, statistical power, and reporting requirements. A number of efforts in recent years have attempted to develop standard guidelines; however, these have not yet been widely implemented by researchers or by funding agencies. A workgroup of the International Alzheimer's disease Research Funder Consortium, a group of over 30 research funding agencies from around the world, worked to compile the best practices identified in these prior efforts for preclinical biomedical research. This article represents a consensus of this work group's review and includes recommendations for researchers and funding agencies on designing, performing, reviewing, and funding preclinical research studies.
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Mulder CK, Dong Y, Brugghe HF, Timmermans HAM, Tilstra W, Westdijk J, van Riet E, van Steeg H, Hoogerhout P, Eisel ULM. Immunization with Small Amyloid-β-derived Cyclopeptide Conjugates Diminishes Amyloid-β-Induced Neurodegeneration in Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2017; 52:1111-23. [PMID: 27060957 PMCID: PMC4927839 DOI: 10.3233/jad-151136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background: Soluble oligomeric (misfolded) species of amyloid-β (Aβ) are the main mediators of toxicity in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These oligomers subsequently form aggregates of insoluble fibrils that precipitate as extracellular and perivascular plaques in the brain. Active immunization against Aβ is a promising disease modifying strategy. However, eliciting an immune response against Aβ in general may interfere with its biological function and was shown to cause unwanted side-effects. Therefore, we have developed a novel experimental vaccine based on conformational neo-epitopes that are exposed in the misfolded oligomeric Aβ, inducing a specific antibody response. Objective: Here we investigate the protective effects of the experimental vaccine against oligomeric Aβ1-42-induced neuronal fiber loss in vivo. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were immunized or mock-immunized. Antibody responses were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Next, mice received a stereotactic injection of oligomeric Aβ1-42 into the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) on one side of the brain (lesion side), and scrambled Aβ1-42 peptide in the contralateral NBM (control side). The densities of choline acetyltransferase-stained cholinergic fibers origination from the NBM were measured in the parietal neocortex postmortem. The percentage of fiber loss in the lesion side was determined relative to the control side of the brain. Results: Immunized responders (79%) showed 23% less cholinergic fiber loss (p = 0.01) relative to mock-immunized mice. Moreover, fiber loss in immunized responders correlated negatively with the measured antibody responses (R2 = 0.29, p = 0.02). Conclusion: These results may provide a lead towards a (prophylactic) vaccine to prevent or at least attenuate (early onset) AD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelis K Mulder
- University of Groningen, Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Yun Dong
- University of Groningen, Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Humphrey F Brugghe
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology (Intravacc), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Hans A M Timmermans
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology (Intravacc), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Wichard Tilstra
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology (Intravacc), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Janny Westdijk
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology (Intravacc), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Elly van Riet
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology (Intravacc), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Harry van Steeg
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Hoogerhout
- Institute for Translational Vaccinology (Intravacc), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ulrich L M Eisel
- University of Groningen, Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Agadjanyan MG, Zagorski K, Petrushina I, Davtyan H, Kazarian K, Antonenko M, Davis J, Bon C, Blurton-Jones M, Cribbs DH, Ghochikyan A. Humanized monoclonal antibody armanezumab specific to N-terminus of pathological tau: characterization and therapeutic potency. Mol Neurodegener 2017; 12:33. [PMID: 28472993 PMCID: PMC5418694 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-017-0172-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The experience from clinical trials indicates that anti-Aβ immunotherapy could be effective in early/pre-clinical stages of AD, whereas at the late stages promoting the clearing of Aβ alone may be insufficient to halt the disease progression. At the same time, pathological tau correlates much better with the degree of dementia than Aβ deposition. Therefore, targeting pathological tau may provide a more promising approach for the treatment of advanced stages of AD. Recent data demonstrates that the N-terminal region of tau spanning aa 2–18 termed “phosphatase activation domain” that is normally hidden in the native protein in ‘paperclip’-like conformation, becomes exposed in pathological tau and plays an essential role in the inhibition of fast axonal transport and in aggregation of tau. Hence, we hypothesized that anti-Tau2–18 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) may recognize pathological, but not normal tau at very early stages of tauopathy and prevent or decrease the aggregation of this molecule. Methods Mouse mAbs were generated using standard hybridoma methodology. CDR grafting was used for humanization of mouse mAb. Humanized mAb (Armanezumab) was characterized and tested in vitro/ex vivo/in vivo using biochemical and immunological methods (HPLC, Biacore, ELISA, IHC, FRET, etc.). Stable DG44 cell line expressing Armanezumab was generated by clone selection with increased concentrations of methotrexate (MTX). Results A panel of mouse mAbs was generated, clone 1C9 was selected based on binding to pathological human tau with high affinity and humanized. Fine epitope mapping revealed conservation of the epitope of human tau recognized by the parent murine mAb and Armanezumab. Importantly, Armanezumab (i) bound to tau with high affinity as determined by Biacore; (ii) bound pathological tau in brains from AD, FTD and Pick’s disease cases; (iii) inhibited seeding effect of aggregated tau from brain lysate of P301S Tg mice; (iv) inhibited cytotoxic effect of tau oligomers; (v) reduced total tau (HT7) and AT100, PHF1, AT8, AT180, p212, p214-positive tau species in brains of tau transgenic mice after intracranial injection. A stable CHO cell line producing >1.5 g/l humanized mAb, Armanezumab was generated. Conclusion These findings suggest that Armanezumab could be therapeutic in clinical studies for treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Agadjanyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, 16371 Gothard St, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, USA. .,The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Karen Zagorski
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, 16371 Gothard St, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6025, USA
| | - Irina Petrushina
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Hayk Davtyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, 16371 Gothard St, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, USA
| | - Konstantin Kazarian
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, 16371 Gothard St, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, USA
| | - Maxim Antonenko
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, 16371 Gothard St, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, USA
| | - Joy Davis
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | | | - Mathew Blurton-Jones
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.,Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - David H Cribbs
- The Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Anahit Ghochikyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, 16371 Gothard St, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, USA.
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UB-311, a novel UBITh ® amyloid β peptide vaccine for mild Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA-TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS 2017; 3:262-272. [PMID: 29067332 PMCID: PMC5651432 DOI: 10.1016/j.trci.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Introduction A novel amyloid β (Aβ) synthetic peptide vaccine (UB-311) has been evaluated in a first-in-human trial with patients of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. We describe translational research covering vaccine design, preclinical characterization, and phase-I clinical trial with supportive outcome that advances UB-311 into an ongoing phase-II trial. Methods UB-311 is constructed with two synthetic Aβ1–14–targeting peptides (B-cell epitope), each linked to different helper T-cell peptide epitopes (UBITh®) and formulated in a Th2-biased delivery system. The hAPP751 transgenic mouse model was used to perform the proof-of-concept study. Baboons and macaques were used for preclinical safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity evaluation. Patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) were immunized by intramuscular route with 3 doses of UB-311 at weeks 0, 4, and 12, and monitored until week 48. Safety and immunogenicity were assessed per protocol, and preliminary efficacy was analyzed by Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog), Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study–Clinician's Global Impression of Change (ADCS-CGIC). Results UB-311 covers a diverse genetic background and facilitates strong immune response with high responder rate. UB-311 reduced the levels of Aβ1–42 oligomers, protofibrils, and plaque load in hAPP751 transgenic mice. Safe and well-tolerated UB-311 generated considerable site-specific (Aβ1–10) antibodies across all animal species examined. In AD patients, UB-311 induced a 100% responder rate; injection site swelling and agitation were the most common adverse events (4/19 each). A slower rate of increase in ADAS-Cog from baseline to week 48 was observed in the subgroup of mild AD patients (MMSE ≥ 20) compared with the moderate AD subgroup, suggesting that UB-311 may have a potential of cognition improvement in patients with early stage of Alzheimer's dementia. Discussion The UBITh® platform can generate a high-precision molecular vaccine with high responder rate, strong on-target immunogenicity, and a potential of cognition improvement, which support UB-311 for active immunotherapy in early-to-mild AD patients currently enrolled in a phase-II trial (NCT02551809).
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MultiTEP platform-based DNA epitope vaccine targeting N-terminus of tau induces strong immune responses and reduces tau pathology in THY-Tau22 mice. Vaccine 2017; 35:2015-2024. [PMID: 28320590 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND By the time clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) manifest in patients there is already substantial tau pathology in the brain. Recent evidence also suggests that tau pathology can become self-propagating, further accelerating disease progression. Over the last decade several groups have tested the efficacy of protein-based anti-tau immunotherapeutics in various animal models of tauopathy. Here we report on the immunological and therapeutic potency of the first anti-tau DNA vaccine based on the MultiTEP platform, AV-1980D, in THY-Tau22 transgenic mice. METHODS Starting at 3months of age, mice were immunized intramuscularly with AV-1980D vaccine targeting a tau B cell epitope spanning aa2-18 followed by electroporation (EP). Humoral and cellular immune responses in vaccinated animals were analyzed by ELISA and ELISpot, respectively. Neuropathological changes in the brains of experimental and control mice were then analyzed by biochemical (WB and ELISA) and immunohistochemical (IHC) methods at 9months of age. RESULTS EP-mediated AV-1980D vaccinations of THY-Tau22 mice induced activation of Th cells specific to the MultiTEP vaccine platform and triggered robust humoral immunity response specific to tau. Importantly, no activation of potentially harmful autoreactive Th cell responses specific to endogenous tau species was detected. The maximum titers of anti-tau antibodies were reached after two immunizations and remained slightly lower, but steady during five subsequent monthly immunizations. Vaccinations with AV-1980D followed by EP significantly reduced total tau and pS199 and AT180 phosphorylated tau levels in the brains extracts of vaccinated mice, but produced on subtle non-significant effects on other phosphorylated tau species. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that MultiTEP-based DNA epitope vaccination targeting the N-terminus of tau is highly immunogenic and therapeutically potent in the THY-Tau22 mouse model of tauopathy and indicate that EP-mediated DNA immunization is an attractive alternative to protein-based adjuvanted vaccines for inducing high concentrations of anti-tau antibodies.
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35
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Zuo Z, Qi F, Yang J, Wang X, Wu Y, Wen Y, Yuan Q, Zou J, Guo K, Yao ZB. Immunization with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) alleviates neuroinflammation and cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice via the recruitment of inflammation-resolving monocytes to the brain. Neurobiol Dis 2017; 101:27-39. [PMID: 28189498 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2016] [Revised: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system plays a crucial role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, immune-dependent cascade induced by systemic immune activation has been verified to play a beneficial role in AD mouse models. Here, we tested whether Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunization alters AD pathology and cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS1 AD mouse model, and with 4Aβ1-15 vaccination as positive control. It was found that BCG treatment reversed the cognitive decline to the extent observed in 4Aβ1-15 group, but did not reduce the β-amyloid (Aβ) burden in the brain. Then, we demonstrated the enhanced recruitment of inflammation-resolving monocytes across the choroid plexus and perivascular spaces to cerebral sites of plaque pathology in APP/PS1 mice immunized with BCG. Furthermore, elevated splenocyte Foxp3+ regulatory T cell levels in the control APP/PS1 mice were down-regulated back to the wild-type (WT) levels by BCG treatment but not 4Aβ1-15 vaccination. In addition, BCG treatment induced the production of more circulating interferon (IFN)-γ than the controls and 4Aβ1-15 vaccination. Though the similar reductions in brain levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were observed in the BCG and 4Aβ1-15 groups compared to the controls, only BCG had the great effect in upregulating cerebral anti-inflammatory cytokine levels as well as elevating the expression of neurotrophic factors in the brain of APP/PS1 mice. Thus, it is suggested that BCG exerts a beneficial immunomodulatory effect in APP/PS1 mice through mitigation of systemic immune suppression, induction of IFN-γ response and alleviation of the neuroinflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zejie Zuo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Fangfang Qi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Junhua Yang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yingying Wu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yaru Wen
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qunfang Yuan
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Juntao Zou
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Kaihua Guo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zhi Bin Yao
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, #74, Zhongshan No. 2 Road, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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Immune Regulation of Antibody Access to Neuronal Tissues. Trends Mol Med 2017; 23:227-245. [PMID: 28185790 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
This review highlights recent advances in how the innate and adaptive immune systems control the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-nerve barrier (BNB). Interferons and TAM receptors play key roles in innate immune control of the BBB. Cells of the adaptive immune system, particularly CD4+ T cells, take distinct routes to enter neural tissues and mediate immune surveillance. Furthermore, T cell-mediated opening of the BBB and the BNB is crucial to allow antibody access and thereby block the replication of neurotropic viruses. Such novel insights gained from basic research provide key foundations for future design of therapeutic strategies - enabling antibody access to the brain may be key to cancer immunotherapy and to the use of vaccines against neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
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Fu L, Li Y, Hu Y, Zheng Y, Yu B, Zhang H, Wu J, Wu H, Yu X, Kong W. Norovirus P particle-based active Aβ immunotherapy elicits sufficient immunogenicity and improves cognitive capacity in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41041. [PMID: 28106117 PMCID: PMC5247735 DOI: 10.1038/srep41041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease-modifying immunotherapies focusing on reducing amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition are the main treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, none of the Aβ immunotherapies has produced clinically meaningful results to date. The main reason for this lack of efficacy is that the vaccine induces insufficiently high antibody titers, as it contains small B-cell epitope of Aβ to avoid Aβ42-specific T-cell activation. With the aim of generating a potent AD vaccine, we designed the protein PP-3copy-Aβ1-6-loop123, comprising three copies of Aβ1-6 inserted into three loops of a novel vaccine platform, the norovirus P particle, which could present Aβ at its surface and remarkably enhance the immunogenicity of the vaccine. We demonstrated that PP-3copy-Aβ1-6-loop123 was able to elicit high antibody titers against Aβ42, without causing T-cell activation, in AD mice regardless of their age. Importantly, PP-3copy-Aβ1-6-loop123 treatment successfully reduced amyloid deposition, rescued memory loss, and repaired hippocampus damage in AD mice. The Aβ antibodies induced by this active immunotherapy reacted with and disrupted aggregated Aβ, reducing its cellular toxicity. In addition, our results suggested PP-3copy-Aβ1-6-loop123 immunization could restore Aβ42 homeostasis in both the serum and brain. Thus, the P particle-based Aβ epitope vaccine is a sufficiently immunogenic and safe immunotherapeutic intervention for Alzheimer’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Fu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Yingnan Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Yue Hu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Yayuan Zheng
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Bin Yu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Haihong Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Jiaxin Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Hui Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Xianghui Yu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Wei Kong
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
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Comparison of Efficacy of Preventive and Therapeutic Vaccines Targeting the N Terminus of β-Amyloid in an Animal Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Ther 2017; 25:153-164. [PMID: 28129111 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we reported that Alzheimer's disease (AD) epitope vaccines (EVs) composed of N-terminal β-amyloid (Aβ42) B cell epitope fused with universal foreign T helper (Th) epitope(s) were immunogenic, potent, and safe in different amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice with early AD-like pathology. However, developing an effective therapeutic vaccine is much more challenging, especially when a self-antigen such as Aβ42 is a target. Here, we directly compare the efficacy of anti-Aβ42 antibodies in Tg2576 mice with low or high levels of AD-like pathology at the start of immunizations: 6-6.5 months for preventive vaccinations and 16-19 months for therapeutic vaccinations. EV in a preventive setting induced high levels of anti-Aβ antibodies, significantly reducing pathologic forms of Aβ in the brains of Tg2576 mice. When used therapeutically for immunesenescent Tg2576 mice, EV induced low levels of antibodies not sufficient for clearing of AD-like pathology. Separately, we demonstrated that EV was also not effective in 11-11.5-month-old Tg2576 mice with moderate AD-like pathology. However, we augmented the titers of anti-Aβ antibodies in transgenic (Tg) mice of the same age possessing the pre-existing memory Th cells and detected a significant decrease in diffuse and core plaques in cortical regions compared to control animals along with improved novel object recognition performance.
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Heuer E, Jacobs J, Du R, Wang S, Kiefer OP, Cintron AF, Dooyema J, Meng Y, Zhang X, Walker LC. Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities in an Aged Squirrel Monkey with Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy. J Alzheimers Dis 2017; 57:519-530. [PMID: 28269776 PMCID: PMC5624788 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) in magnetic resonance imaging scans have emerged as indicators of potentially serious side effects in clinical trials of therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease. These anomalies include an edematous type (ARIA-E) that appears as hyperintense (bright) regions by T2-weighted MRI, and a type characterized by the deposition of hemosiderin (ARIA-H) that elicits a hypointense signal, especially in T2* susceptibility weighted images. ARIA in general has been linked to the presence of amyloid-β (Aβ)-type cerebral amyloid angiopathy, an accumulation of misfolded Aβ protein in the vascular wall that impairs the integrity of brain blood vessels. However, the pathobiology of ARIA remains poorly understood, in part due to the absence of an animal model of the disorder that would enable a contemporaneous analysis of tissue integrity in the affected region. Here we describe both ARIA-E and ARIA-H in an aged squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), a nonhuman primate model of naturally occurring cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Histopathologic examination of the anomalous region revealed reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis, infiltration of systemic inflammatory/immune cells, damage to axons and myelin, and hemosiderin deposition. The disruption of axons in particular suggests that ARIA-E could have functional consequences for affected regions. The squirrel monkey model can be useful for studying the pathogenesis and long-term effects of ARIA, and for testing the safety and efficacy of emerging therapies for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Heuer
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI 96783 USA
| | - Jessica Jacobs
- Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI 96783 USA
| | - Rebecca Du
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Silun Wang
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Orion P. Kiefer
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Amarallys F. Cintron
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Jeromy Dooyema
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Yuguang Meng
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Lary C. Walker
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322
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40
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Harrison-Brown M, Liu GJ, Banati R. Checkpoints to the Brain: Directing Myeloid Cell Migration to the Central Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:E2030. [PMID: 27918464 PMCID: PMC5187830 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17122030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid cells are a unique subset of leukocytes with a diverse array of functions within the central nervous system during health and disease. Advances in understanding of the unique properties of these cells have inspired interest in their use as delivery vehicles for therapeutic genes, proteins, and drugs, or as "assistants" in the clean-up of aggregated proteins and other molecules when existing drainage systems are no longer adequate. The trafficking of myeloid cells from the periphery to the central nervous system is subject to complex cellular and molecular controls with several 'checkpoints' from the blood to their destination in the brain parenchyma. As important components of the neurovascular unit, the functional state changes associated with lineage heterogeneity of myeloid cells are increasingly recognized as important for disease progression. In this review, we discuss some of the cellular elements associated with formation and function of the neurovascular unit, and present an update on the impact of myeloid cells on central nervous system (CNS) diseases in the laboratory and the clinic. We then discuss emerging strategies for harnessing the potential of site-directed myeloid cell homing to the CNS, and identify promising avenues for future research, with particular emphasis on the importance of untangling the functional heterogeneity within existing myeloid subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith Harrison-Brown
- Discipline of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2141, Australia.
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, NSW 2234, Australia.
| | - Guo-Jun Liu
- Discipline of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2141, Australia.
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, NSW 2234, Australia.
| | - Richard Banati
- Discipline of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2141, Australia.
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Sydney, NSW 2234, Australia.
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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Sterner RM, Takahashi PY, Yu Ballard AC. Active Vaccines for Alzheimer Disease Treatment. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2016; 17:862.e11-5. [PMID: 27461865 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2016.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vaccination against peptides specific to Alzheimer disease may generate an immune response that could help inhibit disease and symptom progression. METHODS PubMed and Scopus were searched for clinical trial articles, review articles, and preclinical studies relevant to the field of active Alzheimer disease vaccines and raw searches yielded articles ranging from 2016 to 1973. ClinicalTrials.gov was searched for active Alzheimer disease vaccine trials. Manual research and cross-referencing from reviews and original articles was performed. RESULTS First generation Aβ42 phase 2a trial in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease resulted in cases of meningoencephalitis in 6% of patients, so next generation vaccines are working to target more specific epitopes to induce a more controlled immune response. Difficulty in developing these vaccines resides in striking a balance between providing a vaccine that induces enough of an immune response to actually clear protein sustainably but not so much of a response that results in excess immune activation and possibly adverse effects such as meningoencephalitis. CONCLUSIONS Although much work still needs to be done in the field to make this a practical possibility, the enticing allure of being able to treat or even prevent the extraordinarily impactful disease that is Alzheimer disease makes the idea of active vaccination for Alzheimer disease very appealing and something worth striving toward.
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Yu YZ, Xu Q. Prophylactic immunotherapy of Alzheimer's disease using recombinant amyloid-β B-cell epitope chimeric protein as subunit vaccine. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 12:2801-2804. [PMID: 27379885 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2016.1197456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that impairs memory and cognition. The neuropathological features of the disease include senile plaques (SPs), neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and neuronal loss in affected brain regions. The amyloid cascade hypothesis suggests that production and accumulation of excessive amyloid-β (Aβ) may be the main cause in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Active and passive immunotherapy targeting Aβ may be the most promising strategy to prevent or treat AD. This commentary focuses on the prophylactic immunotherapy of Alzheimer's disease using recombinant Aβ B-cell epitope chimeric protein as subunit vaccine targeting amyloid-β. We discuss the efficiency and perspective of this type of recombinant subunit protein vaccine and suggest a novel direction on the path to a successful AD immunotherapy. This novel chimeric protein immunogen as subunit vaccine of AD may be designed to mimic the assembly states of Aβ42 or oligomers using multivalent foldable Aβ1-15 (B cell epitopes of Aβ42) and foreign T helper (Th) epitopes (as the T cell epitopes of Aβ42) constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Zhou Yu
- a Beijing Institute of Biotechnology , Beijing , China
| | - Qing Xu
- b Institute of Life Science and Biotechnology, Beijing Jiaotong University , Beijing , China
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Alzheimer's disease Advax(CpG)- adjuvanted MultiTEP-based dual and single vaccines induce high-titer antibodies against various forms of tau and Aβ pathological molecules. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28912. [PMID: 27363809 PMCID: PMC4929459 DOI: 10.1038/srep28912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although β-amyloid (Aβ) may be the primary driver of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, accumulation of pathological tau correlates with dementia in AD patients. Thus, the prevention/inhibition of AD may require vaccine/s targeting Aβ and tau simultaneously or sequentially. Since high antibody titers are required for AD vaccine efficacy, we have decided to generate vaccines, targeting Aβ (AV-1959R), Tau (AV-1980R) or Aβ/tau (AV-1953R) B cell epitopes, based on immunogenic MultiTEP platform and evaluate the immunogenicity of these vaccines formulated with Advax(CpG), delta inulin, Alhydrogel(®), Montanide-ISA51, Montanide-ISA720, MPLA-SM pharmaceutical grade adjuvants. Formulation of AV-1959R in Advax(CpG) induced the highest cellular and humoral immune responses in mice. The dual-epitope vaccine, AV-1953R, or the combination of AV-1959R and AV-1980R vaccines formulated with Advax(CpG) induced robust antibody responses against various forms of both, Aβ and tau pathological molecules. While anti-Aβ antibody titers after AV-1953R immunization were similar to that in mice vaccinated with AV-1959R or AV-1959R/AV-1980R combination, anti-tau titers were significantly lower after AV-1953R injection when compared to the AV-1980R or AV-1959R/AV-1980R. In silico 3D-modeling provided insight into the differences in immunogenicity of these vaccine constructs. In sum, AV-1959R and AV-1980R formulated with Advax(CpG) adjuvant were identified as promising immunogenic vaccines for ongoing pre-clinical assessment and future human clinical trials.
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Marciani DJ. A retrospective analysis of the Alzheimer's disease vaccine progress - The critical need for new development strategies. J Neurochem 2016; 137:687-700. [PMID: 26990863 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The promising results obtained with aducanumab and solanezumab against Alzheimer's disease (AD) strengthen the vaccine approach to prevent AD, despite of the many clinical setbacks. It has been problematic to use conjugated peptides with Th1/Th2 adjuvants to induce immune responses against conformational epitopes formed by Aβ oligomers, which is critical to induce protective antibodies. Hence, vaccination should mimic natural immunity by using whole or if possible conjugated antigens, but biasing the response to Th2 with anti-inflammatory adjuvants. Also, selection of the carrier and cross-linking agents is important to prevent suppression of the immune response against the antigen. That certain compounds having phosphorylcholine or fucose induce a sole Th2 immunity would allow antigens with T-cell epitopes without inflammatory autoimmune reactions to be used. Another immunization method is DNA vaccines combined with antigenic ones, which favors the clonal selection and expansion of high affinity antibodies needed for immune protection, but this also requires Th2 immunity. Since AD transgenic mouse models have limited value for immunogen selection as shown by the clinical studies, screening may require the use of validated antibodies and biophysical methods to identify the antigens that would be most likely recognized by the human immune system and thus capable to stimulate a protective antibody response. To induce an anti-Alzheimer's disease protective immunity and prevent possible damage triggered by antigens having B-cell epitopes-only, whole antigens might be used; while inducing Th2 immunity with sole anti-inflammatory fucose-based adjuvants. This approach would avert a damaging systemic inflammatory immunity and the suppression of immunoresponse against the antigen because of carrier and cross-linkers; immune requirements that extend to DNA vaccines.
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45
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Peripherally administered sera antibodies recognizing amyloid-β oligomers mitigate Alzheimer's disease-like pathology and cognitive decline in aged 3× Tg-AD mice. Vaccine 2016; 34:1758-66. [PMID: 26945100 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.02.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Active and passive immunotherapy targeting amyloid-β (Aβ) may be the most promising strategy to prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previously, immunization with the recombinant 6Aβ15-T antigen generated robust anti-Aβ serum antibodies that strongly recognized Aβ42 oligomers in different mice, markedly reduced the amyloid burden, and improved behavioral performance of immunized older AD mice. Here, we further determined that these anti-6Aβ15-T serum antibodies from different strains of mice displayed anti-Aβ antibody responses against the same epitopes in the Aβ1-15 region. Peripheral administration of anti-6Aβ15-T serum antibodies was also effective to mitigate AD-like pathology and cognitive decline in aged 3× Tg-AD mice. Specifically, the levels of Aβ and tau in the brains of 3× Tg-AD mice were significantly reduced after passive immunotherapy, which seemed necessary or beneficial to ameliorate memory impairment. In addition, our results showed that this immunotherapy also prevented presynaptic dynamin 1 degradation, which might help to further protect synaptic functions and allow functional recovery of cognition. Moreover, immunization with 6Aβ15-T in rabbits induced a similar antibody response as that in mice, and the rabbit serum antibodies reacted strongly with Aβ42 oligomers and inhibited oligomer-mediated neurotoxicity. We concluded that passive immunization with Aβ42 oligomer conformation-sensitive anti-6Aβ15-T serum antibodies is effective in providing potentially therapeutic effects in aged 3× Tg-AD mice by reducing Aβ and tau.
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Schroeder SK, Joly-Amado A, Gordon MN, Morgan D. Tau-Directed Immunotherapy: A Promising Strategy for Treating Alzheimer's Disease and Other Tauopathies. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2016; 11:9-25. [PMID: 26538351 PMCID: PMC4746105 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-015-9637-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy directed against tau is a promising treatment strategy for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and tauopathies. We review initial studies on tau-directed immunotherapy, and present data from our laboratory testing antibodies using the rTg4510 mouse model, which deposits tau in forebrain neurons. Numerous antibodies have been tested for their efficacy in treating both pathology and cognitive function, in different mouse models, by different routes of administration, and at different ages or durations. We report, here, that the conformation-specific antibody MC-1 produces some degree of improvement to both cognition and pathology in rTg4510. Pathological improvements as measured by Gallyas staining for fully formed tangles and phosphorylated tau appeared 4 days after intracranial injection into the hippocampus. We also examined markers for microglial activation, which did not appear impacted from treatment. Behavioral effects were noted after continuous infusion of antibodies into the lateral ventricle for approximately 2 weeks. We examined basic motor skills, which were not impacted by treatment, but did note cognitive improvements with both novel object and radial arm water maze testing. Our results support earlier reports in the initial review presented here, and collectively show promise for this strategy of treatment. The general absence of extracellular tau deposits may avoid the opsonization and phagocytosis mechanisms activated by antibodies against amyloid, and make anti tau approaches a safer method of immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sulana K Schroeder
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA
| | - Aurelie Joly-Amado
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA
| | - Marcia N Gordon
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA
| | - Dave Morgan
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA.
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Wisniewski T, Drummond E. Developing therapeutic vaccines against Alzheimer's disease. Expert Rev Vaccines 2015; 15:401-15. [PMID: 26577574 PMCID: PMC4940858 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2016.1121815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia worldwide. It is characterized by an imbalance between the production and clearance of amyloid β (Aβ) and tau proteins. In AD these normal proteins accumulate, leading to aggregation and a conformational change forming oligomeric and fibrillary species with a high β-sheet content. Active and passive immunotherapeutic approaches result in dramatic reduction of Aβ pathology in AD animal models. However, there is much more limited evidence in human studies of significant clinical benefits from these strategies and it is becoming apparent that they may only be effective very early in AD. Vaccination targeting only tau pathology has shown benefits in some mouse studies but human studies are limited. Greater therapeutic efficacy for the next generation of vaccine approaches will likely benefit from specifically targeting the most toxic species of Aβ and tau, ideally simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Wisniewski
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, Alexandria ERSP, 450 East 29 Street, New York, NY 10016
- Department of Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, Alexandria ERSP, 450 East 29 Street, New York, NY 10016
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, Alexandria ERSP, 450 East 29 Street, New York, NY 10016
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, Alexandria ERSP, 450 East 29 Street, New York, NY 10016
| | - Eleanor Drummond
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, Alexandria ERSP, 450 East 29 Street, New York, NY 10016
- Department of Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, Alexandria ERSP, 450 East 29 Street, New York, NY 10016
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