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Kim C, Hovakimyan A, Zagorski K, Antonyan T, Petrushina I, Davtyan H, Chailyan G, Hasselmann J, Iba M, Adame A, Rockenstein E, Szabo M, Blurton-Jones M, Cribbs DH, Ghochikyan A, Masliah E, Agadjanyan MG. Author Correction: Efficacy and immunogenicity of MultiTEP-based DNA vaccines targeting human α-synuclein: prelude for IND enabling studies. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:105. [PMID: 37460684 PMCID: PMC10352336 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00703-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Changyoun Kim
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Aging, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Armine Hovakimyan
- 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
| | - Tatevik Antonyan
- 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
| | - Hayk Davtyan
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Gor Chailyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Hasselmann
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Michiyo Iba
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Aging, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anthony Adame
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Edward Rockenstein
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Marcell Szabo
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Aging, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, 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
| | - David H Cribbs
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Anahit Ghochikyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Aging, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Michael G Agadjanyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA, USA.
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Zagorski K, King O, Hovakimyan A, Antonyan T, Chailyan G, Ghazaryan M, Petrushina I, Cribbs DH, Davtyan H, Blurton‐Jones M, Ghochikyan A, Agadjanyan MG. MultiTEP‐based conjugated vaccines targeting various phosphorylated tau epitopes are immunogenic and effective in the PS19 mouse model. Alzheimers Dement 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/alz.068119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Zagorski
- The Institute for Molecular Medicine Huntington Beach CA USA
- University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE USA
| | - Olga King
- The Institute for Molecular Medicine Huntington Beach CA USA
| | | | | | - Gor Chailyan
- The Institute for Molecular Medicine Huntington Beach CA USA
| | | | | | | | - Hayk Davtyan
- University of California, Irvine Irvine CA USA
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center Irvine CA USA
| | - Mathew Blurton‐Jones
- University of California, Irvine Irvine CA USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine Irvine CA USA
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Zagorski K, Chailyan G, Hovakimyan A, Antonyan T, Kiani Shabestari S, Petrushina I, Davtyan H, Cribbs DH, Blurton-Jones M, Masliah E, Agadjanyan MG, Ghochikyan A. Immunogenicity of MultiTEP-Platform-Based Recombinant Protein Vaccine, PV-1950R, Targeting Three B-Cell Antigenic Determinants of Pathological α-Synuclein. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116080. [PMID: 35682759 PMCID: PMC9181659 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are characterized by the aberrant accumulation of intracytoplasmic misfolded and aggregated α-synuclein (α-Syn), resulting in neurodegeneration associated with inflammation. The propagation of α-Syn aggregates from cell to cell is implicated in the spreading of pathological α-Syn in the brain and disease progression. We and others demonstrated that antibodies generated after active and passive vaccinations could inhibit the propagation of pathological α-Syn in the extracellular space and prevent/inhibit disease/s in the relevant animal models. We recently tested the immunogenicity and efficacy of four DNA vaccines on the basis of the universal MultiTEP platform technology in the DLB/PD mouse model. The antibodies generated by these vaccines efficiently reduced/inhibited the accumulation of pathological α-Syn in the different brain regions and improved the motor deficit of immunized female mice. The most immunogenic and preclinically effective vaccine, PV-1950D, targeting three B-cell epitopes of pathological α-Syn simultaneously, has been selected for future IND-enabling studies. However, to ensure therapeutically potent concentrations of α-Syn antibodies in the periphery of the vaccinated elderly, we developed a recombinant protein-based MultiTEP vaccine, PV-1950R/A, and tested its immunogenicity in young and aged D-line mice. Antibody responses induced by immunizations with the PV-1950R/A vaccine and its homologous DNA counterpart, PV-1950D, in a mouse model of PD/DLB have been compared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Zagorski
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (G.C.); (A.H.); (T.A.)
| | - Gor Chailyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (G.C.); (A.H.); (T.A.)
| | - Armine Hovakimyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (G.C.); (A.H.); (T.A.)
| | - Tatevik Antonyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (G.C.); (A.H.); (T.A.)
| | - Sepideh Kiani Shabestari
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (S.K.S.); (I.P.); (H.D.); (D.H.C.); (M.B.-J.)
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Irina Petrushina
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (S.K.S.); (I.P.); (H.D.); (D.H.C.); (M.B.-J.)
| | - Hayk Davtyan
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (S.K.S.); (I.P.); (H.D.); (D.H.C.); (M.B.-J.)
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, 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; (S.K.S.); (I.P.); (H.D.); (D.H.C.); (M.B.-J.)
| | - Mathew Blurton-Jones
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (S.K.S.); (I.P.); (H.D.); (D.H.C.); (M.B.-J.)
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Aging, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
| | - Michael G. Agadjanyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (G.C.); (A.H.); (T.A.)
- Correspondence: (M.G.A.); (A.G.)
| | - Anahit Ghochikyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; (K.Z.); (G.C.); (A.H.); (T.A.)
- Correspondence: (M.G.A.); (A.G.)
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Zagorski K, King O, Hovakimyan A, Antonyan T, Petrushina I, Chadarevian JP, Danhash E, Cribbs DH, Davtyan H, Blurton‐Jones M, Agadjanyan MG, Ghochikyan A. The first MultiTEP‐based conjugated vaccine targeting pyroglutamated pE3‐Aβ is immunogenic and effective in a 5xFAD animal model. Alzheimers Dement 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/alz.054681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Zagorski
- The Institute for Molecular Medicine Huntington Beach CA USA
- University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha NE USA
| | - Olga King
- The Institute for Molecular Medicine Huntington Beach CA USA
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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: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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