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Wu S, Chang HY, Chowdhury EA, Huang HW, Shah DK. Investigation of Antibody Pharmacokinetics in the Brain Following Intra-CNS Administration and Development of PBPK Model to Characterize the Data. AAPS J 2024; 26:29. [PMID: 38443635 DOI: 10.1208/s12248-024-00898-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the promising potential of direct central nervous system (CNS) antibody administration to enhance brain exposure, there remains a significant gap in understanding the disposition of antibodies following different intra-CNS injection routes. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study quantitatively investigated the brain pharmacokinetics (PK) of antibodies following intra-CNS administration. The microdialysis samples from the striatum (ST), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples through cisterna magna (CM) puncture, plasma, and brain homogenate samples were collected to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) profiles of a non-targeting antibody, trastuzumab, following intracerebroventricular (ICV), intracisternal (ICM), and intrastriatal (IST) administration. For a comprehensive analysis, these intra-CNS injection datasets were juxtaposed against our previously acquired intravenous (IV) injection data obtained under analogous experimental conditions. Our findings highlighted that direct CSF injections, either through ICV or ICM, resulted in ~ 5-6-fold higher interstitial fluid (ISF) drug exposure than IV administration. Additionally, the low bioavailability observed following IST administration indicates the existence of a local degradation process for antibody elimination in the brain ISF along with the ISF bulk flow. The study further refined a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model based on new observations by adding the perivascular compartments, oscillated CSF flow, and the nonspecific uptake and degradation of antibodies by brain parenchymal cells. The updated model can well characterize the antibody PK following systemic and intra-CNS administration. Thus, our research offers quantitative insight into antibody brain disposition pathways and paves the way for determining optimal dosing and administration strategies for antibodies targeting CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjia Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Hsueh-Yuan Chang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Ekram Ahmed Chowdhury
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Hsien Wei Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Dhaval K Shah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
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2
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Altendorfer-Kroath T, Hummer J, Kollmann D, Boulgaropoulos B, Raml R, Birngruber T. Quantification of the Therapeutic Antibody Ocrelizumab in Mouse Brain Interstitial Fluid Using Cerebral Open Flow Microperfusion and Simultaneous Monitoring of the Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1880. [PMID: 37514066 PMCID: PMC10383368 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071880] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing relevance of improved therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to treat neurodegenerative diseases has strengthened the need to reliably measure their brain pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles. The aim of this study was, therefore, to absolutely quantify the therapeutic antibody ocrelizumab (OCR) as a model antibody in mouse brain interstitial fluid (ISF), and to record its PK profile by using cerebral open flow microperfusion (cOFM). Further, to monitor the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity using an endogenous antibody with a similar molecular size as OCR. The study was conducted on 13 male mice. Direct and absolute OCR quantification was performed with cOFM in combination with zero flow rate, and subsequent bioanalysis of the obtained cerebral ISF samples. For PK profile recording, cerebral ISF samples were collected bi-hourly, and brain tissue and plasma were collected once at the end of the sampling period. The BBB integrity was monitored during the entire PK profile recording by using endogenous mouse immunoglobulin G1. We directly and absolutely quantified OCR and recorded its brain PK profile over 96 h. The BBB remained intact during the PK profile recording. The resulting data provide the basis for reliable PK assessment of therapeutic antibodies in the brain thus favoring the further development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Altendorfer-Kroath
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Technologies (HEALTH), Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft m.b.H, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Joanna Hummer
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Technologies (HEALTH), Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft m.b.H, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Denise Kollmann
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Technologies (HEALTH), Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft m.b.H, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Beate Boulgaropoulos
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Technologies (HEALTH), Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft m.b.H, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Reingard Raml
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Technologies (HEALTH), Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft m.b.H, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Thomas Birngruber
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Technologies (HEALTH), Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft m.b.H, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
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3
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Saleki K, Mohamadi MH, Banazadeh M, Alijanizadeh P, Javanmehr N, Pourahmad R, Nouri HR. In silico design of a TLR4-mediating multiepitope chimeric vaccine against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis via advanced immunoinformatics. J Leukoc Biol 2022; 112:1191-1207. [PMID: 35707959 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.6ma0721-376rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most prevalent motor neuron disorder worldwide. In ALS, progressing disease can result from misfolding and aggregation of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) or TAR DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP43). An efficient immunotherapy for ALS should spare intact SOD1 while eliminating its dysfunctional variant. We utilized advanced immunoinformatics to suggest a potential vaccine candidate against ALS by proposing a model of dynamic TLR4 mediation and induction of a specific Th2-biased shift against mutant SOD1, TDP43, and TRAF6, a protein that specifically interacts with dysfunctional SOD1. SOD1, TDP43, and TRAF6 were retrieved in FASTA. Immune Epitopes Database and CTLpred suggested T/B-cell epitopes from disease-specific regions of selected antigens. A TLR4-mediating adjuvant, RS01, was used. Sequences were assembled via suitable linkers. Tertiary structure of the protein was calculated. Refined protein structure and physicochemical features of the 3D structure were verified in silico. Differential immune induction was assessed via C-ImmSim. GROningen MAchine for Chemical Simulation was used to assess evolution of the docked vaccine-TLR4 complex in blood. Our protein showed high structural quality and was nonallergenic and immune inducing. Also, the vaccine-TLR4 complex stability was verified by RMSD, RMSF, gyration, and visual analyses of the molecular dynamic trajectory. Contact residues in the vaccine-TLR4 complex showed favorable binding energies. Immune stimulation analyses of the proposed candidate demonstrated a sustained memory cell response and a strong adaptive immune reaction. We proposed a potential vaccine candidate against ALS and verified its physicochemical and immune inducing features. Future studies should assess this vaccine in animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiarash Saleki
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.,USERN Office, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | | | - Mohamad Banazadeh
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cosmetic Products Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Parsa Alijanizadeh
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.,USERN Office, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Nima Javanmehr
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.,USERN Office, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Ramtin Pourahmad
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Nouri
- USERN Office, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.,Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
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4
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PBPK model for antibody disposition in mouse brain: validation using large-pore microdialysis data. J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn 2022; 49:579-592. [DOI: 10.1007/s10928-022-09823-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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5
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A Conceptual Framework for Integrating Cellular Protein Folding, Misfolding and Aggregation. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11070605. [PMID: 34202456 PMCID: PMC8304792 DOI: 10.3390/life11070605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
How proteins properly fold and maintain solubility at the risk of misfolding and aggregation in the cellular environments still remains largely unknown. Aggregation has been traditionally treated as a consequence of protein folding (or misfolding). Notably, however, aggregation can be generally inhibited by affecting the intermolecular interactions leading to aggregation, independently of protein folding and conformation. We here point out that rigorous distinction between protein folding and aggregation as two independent processes is necessary to reconcile and underlie all observations regarding the combined cellular protein folding and aggregation. So far, the direct attractive interactions (e.g., hydrophobic interactions) between cellular macromolecules including chaperones and interacting polypeptides have been widely believed to mainly stabilize polypeptides against aggregation. However, the intermolecular repulsions by large excluded volume and surface charges of cellular macromolecules can play a key role in stabilizing their physically connected polypeptides against aggregation, irrespective of the connection types and induced conformational changes, underlying the generic intrinsic chaperone activity of cellular macromolecules. Such rigorous distinction and intermolecular repulsive force-driven aggregation inhibition by cellular macromolecules could give new insights into understanding the complex cellular protein landscapes that remain uncharted.
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6
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Le Prieult F, Barini E, Laplanche L, Schlegel K, Mezler M. Collecting antibodies and large molecule biomarkers in mouse interstitial brain fluid: a comparison of microdialysis and cerebral open flow microperfusion. MAbs 2021; 13:1918819. [PMID: 33993834 PMCID: PMC8128180 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2021.1918819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The determination of concentrations of large therapeutic molecules, like monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), in the interstitial brain fluid (ISF) is one of the cornerstones for the translation from preclinical species to humans of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Microdialysis (MD) and cerebral open flow microperfusion (cOFM) are the only currently available methods for extracting ISF, and their use and characterization for the collection of large molecules in rodents have barely started. For the first time, we compared both methods at a technical and performance level for measuring ISF concentrations of a non-target-binding mAb, trastuzumab, in awake and freely moving mice. Without correction of the data for recovery, concentrations of samples are over 10-fold higher through cOFM compared to MD. The overall similar pharmacokinetic profile and ISF exposure between MD (corrected for recovery) and cOFM indicate an underestimation of the absolute concentrations calculated with in vitro recovery. In vivo recovery (zero-flow rate method) revealed an increased extraction of trastuzumab at low flow rates and a 6-fold higher absolute concentration at steady state than initially calculated with the in vitro recovery. Technical optimizations have significantly increased the performance of both systems, resulting in the possibility of sampling up to 12 mice simultaneously. Moreover, strict aseptic conditions have played an important role in improving data quality. The standardization of these complex methods makes the unraveling of ISF concentrations attainable for various diseases and modalities, starting in this study with mAbs, but extending further in the future to RNA therapeutics, antibody-drug conjugates, and even cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florie Le Prieult
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Erica Barini
- Neuroscience Discovery, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Loic Laplanche
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schlegel
- Neuroscience Discovery, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Mario Mezler
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Knollstrasse, Ludwigshafen, Germany
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7
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Zhao B, Marciniuk K, Gibbs E, Yousefi M, Napper S, Cashman NR. Therapeutic vaccines for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis directed against disease specific epitopes of superoxide dismutase 1. Vaccine 2019; 37:4920-4927. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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8
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Prądzińska M, Behrendt I, Spodzieja M, Kołodziejczyk AS, Rodziewicz-Motowidło S, Szymańska A, Lundström SL, Zubarev RA, Macur K, Czaplewska P. Isolation and characterization of autoantibodies against human cystatin C. Amino Acids 2016; 48:2501-2518. [PMID: 27277188 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-016-2271-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy (HCCAA) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder related to the point mutation in cystatin C gene resulting in human cystatin C (hCC) L68Q variant. One of the potential immunotherapeutic approaches to HCCAA treatment is based on naturally occurring antibodies against cystatin C. A recent growing interest in autoantibodies, especially in the context of neurodegenerative diseases, emerges from their potential use as valuable diagnostic markers and for controlling protein aggregation. In this work, we present characteristics of natural anti-hCC antibodies isolated from the IgG fraction of human serum by affinity chromatography. The electrophoresis (1-D and 2-D) results demonstrated that the isolated NAbs are a polyclonal mixture, but their electrophoretic properties did not allow to classify the new autoantibodies to any particular type of IgG. The Fc-glycan status of the studied autoantibodies was assessed using mass spectrometry analysis. For the isolated NAbs, the epitopic fragments in hCC sequence were identified by MS-assisted proteolytic excision of the immune complex and compared with the ones predicted theoretically. The knowledge of hCC fragments binding to NAbs and other ligands may contribute to the search for new diagnostic methods for amyloidosis of different types and the search for their treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Prądzińska
- Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-952, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Izabela Behrendt
- Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-952, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Marta Spodzieja
- Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-952, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Aleksandra S Kołodziejczyk
- Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-952, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Sylwia Rodziewicz-Motowidło
- Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-952, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Aneta Szymańska
- Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Biomedical Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-952, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Susanna L Lundström
- Division of Chemistry I, Head Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Scheelesvag 2, SE 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Roman A Zubarev
- Division of Chemistry I, Head Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Scheelesvag 2, SE 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katarzyna Macur
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Paulina Czaplewska
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland.
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9
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Oyetayo OO, Kiefer H. Experimental Model System to Study pH Shift-Induced Aggregation of Monoclonal Antibodies Under Controlled Conditions. Pharm Res 2016; 33:1359-69. [DOI: 10.1007/s11095-016-1878-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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10
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Encapsulated cellular implants for recombinant protein delivery and therapeutic modulation of the immune system. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:10578-600. [PMID: 26006227 PMCID: PMC4463663 DOI: 10.3390/ijms160510578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ex vivo gene therapy using retrievable encapsulated cellular implants is an effective strategy for the local and/or chronic delivery of therapeutic proteins. In particular, it is considered an innovative approach to modulate the activity of the immune system. Two recently proposed therapeutic schemes using genetically engineered encapsulated cells are discussed here: the chronic administration of monoclonal antibodies for passive immunization against neurodegenerative diseases and the local delivery of a cytokine as an adjuvant for anti-cancer vaccines.
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11
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Ittner A, Bertz J, Suh LS, Stevens CH, Götz J, Ittner LM. Tau-targeting passive immunization modulates aspects of pathology in tau transgenic mice. J Neurochem 2014; 132:135-45. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Revised: 06/29/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arne Ittner
- Dementia Research Unit; School of Medical Sciences; The University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW Australia
- Brain & Mind Research Institute; The University of Sydney; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Josefine Bertz
- Dementia Research Unit; School of Medical Sciences; The University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW Australia
- Brain & Mind Research Institute; The University of Sydney; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Lisa S. Suh
- Dementia Research Unit; School of Medical Sciences; The University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Claire H. Stevens
- Dementia Research Unit; School of Medical Sciences; The University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Jürgen Götz
- Brain & Mind Research Institute; The University of Sydney; Sydney NSW Australia
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research; Queensland Brain Institute; University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld. Australia
| | - Lars M. Ittner
- Dementia Research Unit; School of Medical Sciences; The University of New South Wales; Sydney NSW Australia
- Brain & Mind Research Institute; The University of Sydney; Sydney NSW Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia; Sydney NSW Australia
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12
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Marciani DJ. New Th2 adjuvants for preventive and active immunotherapy of neurodegenerative proteinopathies. Drug Discov Today 2014; 19:912-20. [PMID: 24607730 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2014.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2013] [Revised: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Active immunotherapy of neurodegenerative proteinopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease, requires a Th2 antibody immune response with exclusion of damaging inflammatory Th1 immunity. Because these diseases affect the elderly whom, owing to immunosenescence, are frequently immune compromised, a successful therapy would require immune agonists capable of eliciting Th2 immunity solely while ameliorating the immune decline linked to aging; an objective hampered by the scarcity of Th2 immune agonists. The fact that some helminth-derived glycans and modified triterpene glycosides elicit Th2 immunity only, even when administered with antigens carrying T cell epitopes, presents new ways to improve the active immune therapy of proteinopathies. Of additional benefit is that these triterpene glycosides could amend some of the detrimental effects of the immunosenescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dante J Marciani
- Qantu Therapeutics, LLC, 612 E Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75057, USA.
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13
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Yu S, Liang Y, Palacino J, Difiglia M, Lu B. Drugging unconventional targets: insights from Huntington's disease. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2014; 35:53-62. [PMID: 24388390 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2013.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Revised: 12/03/2013] [Accepted: 12/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Classical targeted drug discovery is based on targeting druggable targets, typically kinases and receptors of which the function can be agonized or antagonized. This strategy meets difficulties in cases such as Huntington's disease (HD) and similar neurodegenerative disorders, where the pathological function of the protein causing the disease is not clear. HD is caused by mutant HTT protein (mHTT) containing an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) stretch, but the function of mHTT and how mHTT causes HD are unknown, thus preventing efforts to screen for mHTT 'inhibitors'. However, HD is appealing for drug discovery because the genetic mutation is clear, as compared with other major neurodegenerative disorders. Although mHTT is not a conventional 'druggable' target, one approach that appears promising is lowering its level, which might be applicable to other neurodegenerative disorders and proteinopathies linked to aberrant accumulation of proteins. Here we review mHTT lowering strategies that might provide promising avenues for drugging such diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenliang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yijian Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - James Palacino
- Developmental Molecular Pathways, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Marian Difiglia
- Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA, USA.
| | - Boxun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA, USA.
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14
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Evidence for prion-like mechanisms in several neurodegenerative diseases: potential implications for immunotherapy. Clin Dev Immunol 2013; 2013:473706. [PMID: 24228054 PMCID: PMC3817797 DOI: 10.1155/2013/473706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2013] [Revised: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are fatal, untreatable neurodegenerative diseases. While the impact of TSEs on human health is relatively minor, these diseases are having a major influence on how we view, and potentially treat, other more common neurodegenerative disorders. Until recently, TSEs encapsulated a distinct category of neurodegenerative disorder, exclusive in their defining characteristic of infectivity. It now appears that similar mechanisms of self-propagation may underlie other proteinopathies such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's disease. This link is of scientific interest and potential therapeutic importance as this route of self-propagation offers conceptual support and guidance for vaccine development efforts. Specifically, the existence of a pathological, self-promoting isoform offers a rational vaccine target. Here, we review the evidence of prion-like mechanisms within a number of common neurodegenerative disorders and speculate on potential implications and opportunities for vaccine development.
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15
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Madampage CA, Määttänen P, Marciniuk K, Brownlie R, Andrievskaia O, Potter A, Cashman NR, Lee JS, Napper S. Binding of bovine T194A PrP(C) by PrP(Sc)-specific antibodies: potential implications for immunotherapy of familial prion diseases. Prion 2013; 7:301-11. [PMID: 23787697 DOI: 10.4161/pri.25148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that are based on the misfolding of a cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into an infectious, pathological conformation (PrP(Sc)). There is proof-of-principle evidence that a prion vaccine is possible but this is tempered with concerns of the potential dangers associated with induction of immune responses to a widely-expressed self-protein. By targeting epitopes that are specifically exposed upon protein misfolding, our group developed a vaccine that induces PrP(Sc)-specific antibody responses. Here we consider the ability of this polyclonal antibody (SN6b) to bind to a mutant of PrP(C) associated with spontaneous prion disease. Polyclonal antibodies were selected to mimic the vaccination outcome and also explore all possible protein conformations of the recombinant bovine prion protein with mutation T194A [bPrP(T194A)]. This mutant is a homolog of the human T183A mutation of PrP(C) that is associated with early onset of familial dementia. With nanopore analysis, under non-denaturing conditions, we observed binding of the SN6b antibody to bPrP(T194A). This interaction was confirmed through ELISAs as well as immunoprecipitation of the recombinant and cellularly expressed forms of bPrP(T194A). This interaction did not promote formation of a protease resistant conformation of PrP in vitro. Collectively, these findings support the disease-specific approach for immunotherapy of prion diseases but also suggest that the concept of conformation-specific immunotherapy may be complicated in individuals who are genetically predisposed to PrP(C) misfolding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia A Madampage
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization; University of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, SK Canada; Department of Biochemistry; University of Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, SK Canada
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16
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Gong B, Kielar C, Morton AJ. Temporal separation of aggregation and ubiquitination during early inclusion formation in transgenic mice carrying the Huntington's disease mutation. PLoS One 2012; 7:e41450. [PMID: 22848498 PMCID: PMC3404089 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Accepted: 06/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal insoluble ubiqitinated protein aggregates are found in the brains of Huntington’s disease (HD) patients and in mice transgenic for the HTT mutation. Here, we describe the earliest stages of visible NII formation in brains of R6/2 mice killed between 2 and 6 weeks of age. We found that huntingtin-positive aggregates formed rapidly (within 24–48 hours) in a spatiotemporal manner similar to that we described previously for ubiquitinated inclusions. However, in most neurons, aggregates are not ubiquitinated when they first form. It has always been assumed that mutant huntingtin is recognised as ‘foreign’ and consequently ubiquitinated and targeted for degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system pathway. Our data, however, suggest that aggregation and ubiquitination are separate processes, and that mutant huntingtin fragment is not recognized as ‘abnormal’ by the ubiquitin-proteasome system before aggregation. Rather, mutant Htt appears to aggregate before it is ubiquitinated, and then either aggregated huntingtin is ubiquitinated or ubiquitinated proteins are recruited into aggregates. Our findings have significant implications for the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the formation of aggregates, as they suggest that this system is not involved until after the first aggregates form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belvin Gong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- UC Davis/NIH NeuroMab Facility, Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Catherine Kielar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - A. Jennifer Morton
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Perturbation with intrabodies reveals that calpain cleavage is required for degradation of huntingtin exon 1. PLoS One 2011; 6:e16676. [PMID: 21304966 PMCID: PMC3031625 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2010] [Accepted: 12/24/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Proteolytic processing of mutant huntingtin (mHtt), the protein that causes Huntington's disease (HD), is critical for mHtt toxicity and disease progression. mHtt contains several caspase and calpain cleavage sites that generate N-terminal fragments that are more toxic than full-length mHtt. Further processing is then required for the degradation of these fragments, which in turn, reduces toxicity. This unknown, secondary degradative process represents a promising therapeutic target for HD. Methodology/Principal Findings We have used intrabodies, intracellularly expressed antibody fragments, to gain insight into the mechanism of mutant huntingtin exon 1 (mHDx-1) clearance. Happ1, an intrabody recognizing the proline-rich region of mHDx-1, reduces the level of soluble mHDx-1 by increasing clearance. While proteasome and macroautophagy inhibitors reduce turnover of mHDx-1, Happ1 is still able to reduce mHDx-1 under these conditions, indicating Happ1-accelerated mHDx-1 clearance does not rely on these processes. In contrast, a calpain inhibitor or an inhibitor of lysosomal pH block Happ1-mediated acceleration of mHDx-1 clearance. These results suggest that mHDx-1 is cleaved by calpain, likely followed by lysosomal degradation and this process regulates the turnover rate of mHDx-1. Sequence analysis identifies amino acid (AA) 15 as a potential calpain cleavage site. Calpain cleavage of recombinant mHDx-1 in vitro yields fragments of sizes corresponding to this prediction. Moreover, when the site is blocked by binding of another intrabody, VL12.3, turnover of soluble mHDx-1 in living cells is blocked. Conclusions/Significance These results indicate that calpain-mediated removal of the 15 N-terminal AAs is required for the degradation of mHDx-1, a finding that may have therapeutic implications.
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