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Shen N, Song G, Yang H, Lin X, Brown B, Hong Y, Cai J, Cao C. Identifying the Pathological Domain of Alpha- Synuclein as a Therapeutic for Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E2338. [PMID: 31083520 PMCID: PMC6539124 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20092338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein is considered the major pathological protein associated with Parkinson's disease, but there is still no effective immunotherapy which targets alpha-synuclein. In order to create a safer and more effective therapy against PD, we are targeting an epitope of alpha-synuclein rather than full-length alpha-synuclein. We have selected several antigenic domains (B-cell epitope) through antigenicity prediction, and also made several recombinant protein fragments from alpha-synuclein upon antigenicity prediction in an E. coli system. We then tested the function of each of the peptides and recombinant fragments in aggregation, their toxicity and antigenicity. We have discovered that the full-length recombinant (aa1-140) can aggregate into oligomers or even fibrils, and fragment aa15-65 can promote the aggregation of aa1-140. It is worth noting that it not only promotes whole protein aggregation, but also self-aggregates as seen by western blotting and silver staining assays. We have tested all candidates on primary neurons for their toxicity and discovered that aa15-65 is the most toxic domain compared to all other fragments. The antibody targeting this domain also showed both anti-aggregation activity and some therapeutic effect. Therefore, we believe that we have identified the most potent therapeutic domain of alpha synuclein as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Shen
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
| | - Ge Song
- Department of Surgery of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
| | - Haiqiang Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
| | - Xiaoyang Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
| | - Breanna Brown
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
| | - Yuzhu Hong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
| | - Chuanhai Cao
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
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2
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Abstract
Prion diseases denote a distinct form of infectivity that is based in the misfolding of a self-protein (PrP(C)) into a pathological, infectious conformation (PrP(Sc)). Efforts to develop vaccines for prion diseases have been complicated by the potential dangers that are associated with induction of immune responses against a self-protein. As a consequence, there is considerable appeal for vaccines that specifically target the misfolded prion conformation. Such conformation-specific immunotherapy is made possible through the identification of vaccine targets (epitopes) that are exclusively presented as a consequence of misfolding. An immune response directed against these targets, termed disease-specific epitopes (DSEs), has the potential to spare the function of the native form of the protein while clearing, or neutralizing, the infectious isomer. Although identification of DSEs represents a critical first step in the induction of conformation-specific immune responses, substantial efforts are required to translate these targets into functional vaccines. Due to the poor immunogenicity that is inherent to self-proteins, and that is often associated with short peptides, substantial efforts are required to overcome tolerance-to-self and maximize the resultant immune response following DSE-based immunization. This often includes optimization of target sequences in terms of immunogenicity and development of effective formulation and delivery strategies for the associated peptides. Further, these vaccines must satisfy additional criteria from perspectives of specificity (PrP(C) vs. PrP(Sc)) and safety (antibody-induced template-driven misfolding of PrP(C)). The emphasis of this report is on the steps required to translate DSEs into prion vaccines and subsequent evaluation of the resulting immune responses.
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Taschuk R, Van der Merwe J, Marciniuk K, Potter A, Cashman N, Griebel P, Napper S. In vitro neutralization of prions with PrP(Sc)-specific antibodies. Prion 2016; 9:292-303. [PMID: 26284508 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2015.1071761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases reflect the misfolding of a self-protein (PrP(C)) into an infectious, pathological isomer (PrP(Sc)). By targeting epitopes uniquely exposed by misfolding, our group developed PrP(Sc)-specific vaccines to 3 disease specific epitopes (DSEs). Here, antibodies induced by individual DSE vaccines are evaluated for their capacity to neutralize prions in vitro. For both purified antibodies and immunoreactive sera, the PrP(Sc)-specific antibodies were equally effective in neutralizing prions. Further, there was no significant increase in neutralizing activity when multiple DSEs were targeted within an assay. At a low antibody concentration, the PrP(Sc)-specific antibodies matched the neutralization achieved by an antibody that may act via both PrP(C) and PrP(Sc). At higher doses, however, this pan-specific antibody was more effective, potentially due to a combined deactivation of PrP(Sc) and depletion of PrP(C).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Taschuk
- a School of Public Health ; University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon , Saskatchewan , Canada
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Taschuk R, Marciniuk K, Määttänen P, Madampage C, Hedlin P, Potter A, Lee J, Cashman NR, Griebel PJ, Napper S. Safety, specificity and immunogenicity of a PrP(Sc)-specific prion vaccine based on the YYR disease specific epitope. Prion 2015; 8:51-9. [PMID: 24509522 DOI: 10.4161/pri.27962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions are a novel form of infectivity based on the misfolding of a self-protein (PrP(C)) into a pathological, infectious isomer (PrP(Sc)). The current uncontrolled spread of chronic wasting disease in cervids, coupled with the demonstrated zoonotic nature of select livestock prion diseases, highlights the urgent need for disease management tools. While there is proof-of-principle evidence for a prion vaccine, these efforts are complicated by the challenges and risks associated with induction of immune responses to a self-protein. Our priority is to develop a PrP(Sc)-specific prion vaccine based on epitopes that are uniquely exposed upon misfolding. These disease specific epitopes (DSEs) have the potential to enable specific targeting of the pathological species through immunotherapy. Here we review outcomes of the translation of a prion DSE into a PrP(Sc)-specific vaccine based on the criteria of immunogenicity, safety and specificity.
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Hedlin P, Taschuk R, Potter A, Griebel P, Napper S. Detection and control of prion diseases in food animals. ISRN VETERINARY SCIENCE 2012; 2012:254739. [PMID: 23738120 PMCID: PMC3658581 DOI: 10.5402/2012/254739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2011] [Accepted: 12/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases, represent a unique form of infectious disease based on misfolding of a self-protein (PrPC) into a pathological, infectious conformation (PrPSc). Prion diseases of food animals gained notoriety during the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) outbreak of the 1980s. In particular, disease transmission to humans, to the generation of a fatal, untreatable disease, elevated the perspective on livestock prion diseases from food production to food safety. While the immediate threat posed by BSE has been successfully addressed through surveillance and improved management practices, another prion disease is rapidly spreading. Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion disease of cervids, has been confirmed in wild and captive populations with devastating impact on the farmed cervid industries. Furthermore, the unabated spread of this disease through wild populations threatens a natural resource that is a source of considerable economic benefit and national pride. In a worst-case scenario, CWD may represent a zoonotic threat either through direct transmission via consumption of infected cervids or through a secondary food animal, such as cattle. This has energized efforts to understand prion diseases as well as to develop tools for disease detection, prevention, and management. Progress in each of these areas is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hedlin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5E3 ; Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5E3
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Wei X, Roettger Y, Tan B, He Y, Dodel R, Hampel H, Wei G, Haney J, Gu H, Johnstone BH, Liu J, Farlow MR, Du Y. Human anti-prion antibodies block prion peptide fibril formation and neurotoxicity. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:12858-66. [PMID: 22362783 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.255836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of rare, fatal neurodegenerative disorders associated with a conformational transformation of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into a self-replicating and proteinase K-resistant conformer, termed scrapie PrP (PrP(Sc)). Aggregates of PrP(Sc) deposited around neurons lead to neuropathological alterations. Currently, there is no effective treatment for these fatal illnesses; thus, the development of an effective therapy is a priority. PrP peptide-based ELISA assay methods were developed for detection and immunoaffinity chromatography capture was developed for purification of naturally occurring PrP peptide autoantibodies present in human CSF, individual donor serum, and commercial preparations of pooled intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). The ratio of anti-PrP autoantibodies (PrP-AA) to total IgG was ∼1:1200. The binding epitope of purified PrP-AA was mapped to an N-terminal region comprising the PrP amino acid sequence KTNMK. Purified PrP-AA potently blocked fibril formation by a toxic 21-amino acid fragment of the PrP peptide containing the amino acid alanine to valine substitution corresponding to position 117 of the full-length peptide (A117V). Furthermore, PrP-AA attenuated the neurotoxicity of PrP(A117V) and wild-type peptides in rat cerebellar granule neuron (CGN) cultures. In contrast, IgG preparations depleted of PrP-AA had little effect on PrP fibril formation or PrP neurotoxicity. The specificity of PrP-AA was demonstrated by immunoprecipitating PrP protein in brain tissues of transgenic mice expressing the human PrP(A117V) epitope and Sc237 hamster. Based on these intriguing findings, it is suggested that human PrP-AA may be useful for interfering with the pathogenic effects of pathogenic prion proteins and, thereby has the potential to be an effective means for preventing or attenuating human prion disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Wei
- Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA
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7
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Li L, Napper S, Cashman NR. Immunotherapy for prion diseases: opportunities and obstacles. Immunotherapy 2010; 2:269-82. [PMID: 20635933 DOI: 10.2217/imt.10.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) represent a unique form of infectious disease based on the misfolding of a self-protein into a pathological conformation. While other human diseases are also attributed to protein misfolding, the TSEs are unique in their zoonotic potential and iatrogenic infectivity. These characteristics are of particular importance in the aftermath of the UK bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) outbreak due to the dual concerns that a subpopulation of individuals exposed to the infectious agent may be serving as asymptomatic carriers, and that TSEs of other food animals may also threaten human health. These potentials, in addition to the ongoing baseline of familial and sporadic human prion diseases, necessitate development of effective treatment options. While TSEs represent a novel paradigm of infection, there is nevertheless the opportunity to apply traditional approaches of medicine for disease treatment and prevention, including vaccines for immunotherapy and immunoprophylaxis. However, vaccine development for TSEs is complicated by the challenges and potential dangers associated with induction of immune responses to a self-epitope, as well as the obstacles to treatment of a chronic infection through immunotherapy. The ongoing threat of TSEs to human health, together with the opportunity to apply information emerging from these investigations to other protein misfolding disorders, justifies the efforts required to overcome these obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- University of British Columbia & Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Buchholz CJ, Bach P, Nikles D, Kalinke U. Prion protein-specific antibodies for therapeutic intervention of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2006; 6:293-300. [PMID: 16503737 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.6.3.293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Prion diseases, also called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, are a group of fatal neurodegenerative conditions that affect humans and a wide variety of animals. There is no therapeutic or prophylactic approach against prion diseases available at present. The causative infectious agent is the prion, also termed PrPSc, which is a pathological conformer of the cellular prion protein PrPC. Passive immunisation studies with PrPC-specific antibodies indicated that immunotherapeutic strategies directed against PrPC can prevent prion disease. In this review, putative mechanisms of antibody-mediated prion inactivation, as well as active immunisation strategies, are discussed. Special attention is given to the problem of immunological self-tolerance against PrP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian J Buchholz
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 51-59, 63225 Langen, Germany.
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9
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van Rosmalen JWG, Martens GJM. Cell type-specific transgene expression of the prion protein in Xenopus intermediate pituitary cells. FEBS J 2006; 273:847-62. [PMID: 16441670 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2006.05118.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The cellular form of prion protein (PrPC) is anchored to the plasma membrane of the cell and expressed in most tissues, but predominantly in the brain, including in the pituitary gland. Thus far, the biosynthesis of PrPC has been studied only in cultured (transfected) tumour cell lines and not in primary cells. Here, we investigated the intracellular fate of PrPCin vivo by using the neuroendocrine intermediate pituitary melanotrope cells of the South-African claw-toed frog Xenopus laevis as a model system. These cells are involved in background adaptation of the animal and produce high levels of its major secretory cargo proopiomelanocortin (POMC) when the animal is black-adapted. The technique of stable Xenopus transgenesis in combination with the POMC gene promoter was used as a tool to express Xenopus PrPC amino-terminally tagged with the green fluorescent protein (GFP-PrPC) specifically in the melanotrope cells. The GFP-PrPC fusion protein was expressed from stage-25 tadpoles onwards to juvenile frogs, the expression was induced on a black background and the fusion protein was subcellularly located mainly in the Golgi apparatus and at the plasma membrane. Pulse-chase metabolic cell labelling studies revealed that GFP-PrPC was initially synthesized as a 45-kDa protein that was subsequently stepwise glycosylated to 48-, 51-, and eventually 55-kDa forms. Furthermore, we revealed that the mature 55-kDa GFP-PrPC protein was sulfated, anchored to the plasma membrane and cleaved to a 33-kDa product. Despite the high levels of transgene expression, the subcellular structures as well as POMC synthesis and processing, and the secretion of POMC-derived products remained unaffected in the transgenic melanotrope cells. Hence, we studied PrPC in a neuroendocrine cell and in a well-defined physiological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jos W G van Rosmalen
- Department of Molecular Animal Physiology, Nijmegen Center for Molecular Life Sciences and Institute for Neuroscience, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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10
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Nikles D, Bach P, Boller K, Merten CA, Montrasio F, Heppner FL, Aguzzi A, Cichutek K, Kalinke U, Buchholz CJ. Circumventing tolerance to the prion protein (PrP): vaccination with PrP-displaying retrovirus particles induces humoral immune responses against the native form of cellular PrP. J Virol 2005; 79:4033-42. [PMID: 15767405 PMCID: PMC1061525 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.79.7.4033-4042.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Passive immunization with antibodies directed against the cellular form of the prion protein (PrPC) can protect against prion disease. However, active immunization with recombinant prion protein has so far failed to induce antibodies directed against native PrPC expressed on the cell surface. To develop an antiprion vaccine, a retroviral display system presenting either the full-length mouse PrP (PrP209) or the C-terminal 111 amino acids (PrP111) fused to the transmembrane domain of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor was established. Western blot analysis and immunogold electron microscopy of the retroviral display particles revealed successful incorporation of the fusion proteins into the particle membrane. Interestingly, retroviral particles displaying PrP111 (PrPD111 retroparticles) showed higher incorporation efficiencies than those displaying PrP209. Already 7 days after intravenous injection of PrPD111 retroparticles, PrPC-deficient mice (Prnp(o/o)) showed high immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG titers specifically binding the native PrPC molecule as expressed on the surface of T cells isolated from PrPC-overexpressing transgenic mice. More importantly, heterozygous Prnp(+/o) mice and also wild-type mice showed PrPC-specific IgM and IgG antibodies upon vaccination with PrPD111 retroparticles, albeit at considerably lower levels. Bacterially expressed recombinant PrP, in contrast, was unable to evoke IgG antibodies recognizing native PrPC in wild-type mice. Thus, our data show that PrP or parts thereof can be functionally displayed on retroviral particles and that immunization with PrP retroparticles may serve as a novel promising strategy for vaccination against transmissible spongiform encephalitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne Nikles
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
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11
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Dumoulin M, Dobson CM. Probing the origins, diagnosis and treatment of amyloid diseases using antibodies. Biochimie 2005; 86:589-600. [PMID: 15556268 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2004.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2004] [Revised: 07/12/2004] [Accepted: 09/16/2004] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The deposition of proteins in the form of amyloid fibrils is the characteristic feature of more than 20 medical conditions affecting the central nervous system or a variety of peripheral tissues. These disorders, which include Alzheimer's disease, the prion diseases and type II diabetes, are of enormous importance in the context of present-day human health and welfare. Extensive research is therefore being carried out to define the molecular details of the mechanism of the pathological conversion of amyloidogenic proteins from their soluble forms into fibrillar structures. This review focuses on recent studies that demonstrate the power of using antibodies or antibody fragments to probe the process of fibril formation, and discusses the emerging potential of these species as diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireille Dumoulin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
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Onoue S, Ohshima K, Debari K, Koh K, Shioda S, Iwasa S, Kashimoto K, Yajima T. Mishandling of the therapeutic peptide glucagon generates cytotoxic amyloidogenic fibrils. Pharm Res 2005; 21:1274-83. [PMID: 15290870 DOI: 10.1023/b:pham.0000033016.36825.2c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Some therapeutic peptides exhibit amyloidogenic properties that cause insolubility and cytotoxicity against neuronal cells in vitro. Here, we characterize the conformational change in monomeric therapeutic peptide to its fibrillar aggregate in order to prevent amyloidogenic formation during clinical application. METHODS Therapeutic peptides including glucagon, porcine secretin, and salmon calcitonin were dissolved in acidic solution at concentrations ranging from 1 mg/ml to 80 mg/ml and then aged at 37 degrees C. Amyloidogenic properties were assessed by circular dichroism (CD), electron microscopy (EM), staining with beta-sheet-specific dyes, and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Cytotoxic characteristics were determined concomitantly. RESULTS By aging at 2.5 mg/ml or higher for 24 h, monomeric glucagon was converted to fibrillar aggregates consisting of a beta-sheet-rich structure with multimeric states of glucagon. Although no aggregation was observed by aging at the clinical concentration of 1 mg/ml for 1 day, 30-day aging resulted in the generation of fibrillar aggregates. The addition of anti-glucagon serum significantly inhibited fibrillar conversion of monomeric glucagon. Glucagon fibrils induced significant cell death and activated an apoptotic enzyme, caspase-3, in PC12 cells and NIH-3T3 cells. Caspase inhibitors attenuated this toxicity in a dose-dependent manner, indicating the involvement of apoptotic signaling pathways in the fibrillar formation of glucagon. On the contrary to glucagon, salmon calcitonin exhibited aggregation at a much higher concentration of 40 mg/ml and secretin showed no aggregation at the concentration as high as 75 mg/ml. CONCLUSIONS These results indicated that glucagon was self-associated by its beta-sheet-rich intermolecular structure during the aging process under concentrated conditions to induce fibrillar aggregates. Glucagon has the same amyloidogenic propensities as pathologically related peptides such as beta-amyloid (Abeta)1-42 and prion protein fragment (PrP)106-126 including conformational change to a beta-sheet-rich structure and cytotoxic effects by activating caspases. These findings suggest that inappropriate preparation and application of therapeutic glucagon may cause undesirable insoluble products and side effects such as amyloidosis in clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satomi Onoue
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan.
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Abstract
Antibody-based immunotherapy may represent a realistic approach against prion diseases, given that antibodies to the cellular prion protein PrPC have been shown to antagonize deposition of the disease-associated prion protein (termed PrPSc) in in vitro assays and in laboratory animals. However, induction of protective antiprion immune responses in wild-type animals is difficult because of host tolerance to the endogenous PrPC. Several studies indicate that it might be possible to overcome tolerance to PrPC and induce immune responses to bacterially expressed, recombinant PrP. However, it is much more difficult to induce antibodies capable of recognizing native cell-surface PrPC, and there is reason to believe that the latter immune responses correlate with anti-prion protection. The difficulties involved in eliciting development of such anti-native PrPC immune responses may be partly intrinsic to B cells and, in addition, may reside in peripheral T helper tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank L Heppner
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, CH-8091, Switzerland.
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Schwarz A, Krätke O, Burwinkel M, Riemer C, Schultz J, Henklein P, Bamme T, Baier M. Immunisation with a synthetic prion protein-derived peptide prolongs survival times of mice orally exposed to the scrapie agent. Neurosci Lett 2003; 350:187-9. [PMID: 14550926 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(03)00907-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Several lines of evidence suggest that immunisations may be helpful in the prophylaxis and treatment of neurodegenerative amyloidoses like Alzheimer's disease and prion infections. We used a synthetic prion protein-derived peptide (PrP105-125) and a recombinant PrP fragment (PrP90-230) as antigens for the active immunisation of mice, which were subsequently infected by dietary exposure to the scrapie agent. Immunisation with PrP105-125 prolonged the survival times significantly. In contrast, immunisation with PrP90-230 or adjuvants alone had no effect on the disease development. An epitope mapping of the antibodies raised against PrP90-230 revealed that reactivities against previously defined protective epitopes were either underrepresented or absent. These results point towards the possibility to prevent prion spread via the food chain by vaccinating humans or other species at risk to contract prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Schwarz
- Project Neurodegenerative Diseases, Robert-Koch-Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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Arbel M, Lavie V, Solomon B. Generation of antibodies against prion protein in wild-type mice via helix 1 peptide immunization. J Neuroimmunol 2003; 144:38-45. [PMID: 14597096 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2003.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We present here the development of antibodies against prion protein in BALB/C mice using as antigen human helix 1 of PrP. This sequence is suggested to be involved in protein pathological conformational changes, and is distinguished from that of mice by one amino acid. The immune tolerance to an 'almost-self' epitope and the poor immunogenicity of short peptides was overcome by using Multiple Antigen Peptide displaying eight copies of helix 1. The generated antibodies recognize the whole prion protein with a high binding constant and the established protocol may lead to an active immunization towards therapeutics of prion disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Arbel
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel
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Kholmurodov K, Hirano Y, Ebisuzaki T. MD Simulations on the Influence of Disease-Related Amino Acid Mutations in the Human Prion Protein. CHEM-BIO INFORMATICS JOURNAL 2003. [DOI: 10.1273/cbij.3.86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kholmirzo Kholmurodov
- Advanced Computing Center, Computational Science Division, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN)
- Laboratory of Information Technologies, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR)
| | - Yoshinori Hirano
- Advanced Computing Center, Computational Science Division, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN)
| | - Toshikazu Ebisuzaki
- Advanced Computing Center, Computational Science Division, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN)
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Riemer C, Simon D, Neidhold S, Schultz J, Schwarz A, Baier M. BSE, scrapie, and vCJD: infectious neurodegenerative diseases. ERNST SCHERING RESEARCH FOUNDATION WORKSHOP 2002:85-103. [PMID: 12066418 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-05073-6_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- C Riemer
- Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
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18
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Morgan C, Bugueño MP, Garrido J, Inestrosa NC. Laminin affects polymerization, depolymerization and neurotoxicity of Abeta peptide. Peptides 2002; 23:1229-40. [PMID: 12128080 DOI: 10.1016/s0196-9781(02)00058-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid deposition in Alzheimer fibrils forms neurotoxic senile plaques in a process that may be modulated by associated proteins. In this work we demonstrate the ability of laminin-1 and laminin-2 to inhibit fibril formation and toxicity on cultured rat hippocampal neurons. We confirm that the laminin-1-derived peptide YFQRYLI inhibits efficiently both fibril formation and neurotoxicity and show that the IKVAV peptide inhibits amyloid neurotoxicity despite its slight inhibition of fibril formation. On other hand, laminin-1 induces disaggregation of preformed fibrils in vitro, characterized as a progressive disassembly of fibrils into protofibrils and further clearance of these latter species, leading to a continual inhibition of amyloid neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Morgan
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, MIFAB, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Centro de Regulación Celular y Patología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile
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Okimoto N, Yamanaka K, Suenaga A, Hata M, Hoshino T. Computational studies on prion proteins: effect of Ala(117)-->Val mutation. Biophys J 2002; 82:2746-57. [PMID: 11964260 PMCID: PMC1302062 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-3495(02)75615-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular dynamics calculations demonstrated the conformational change in the prion protein due to Ala(117)-->Val mutation, which is related to Gerstmann-Sträussler-Sheinker disease, one of the familial prion diseases. Three kinds of model structures of human and mouse prion proteins were examined: (model 1) nuclear magnetic resonance structures of human prion protein HuPrP (125-228) and mouse prion protein MoPrP (124-224), each having a globular domain consisting of three alpha-helices and an antiparallel beta-sheet; (model 2) extra peptides including Ala(117) (109-124 in HuPrP and 109-123 in MoPrP) plus the nuclear magnetic resonance structures of model 1; and (model 3) extra peptides including Val(117) (109-124 in HuPrP and 109-123 in MoPrP) plus the nuclear magnetic resonance structures of model 1. The results of molecular dynamics calculations indicated that the globular domains of models 1 and 2 were stable and that the extra peptide in model 2 tended to form a new alpha-helix. On the other hand, the globular domain of model 3 was unstable, and the beta-sheet region increased especially in HuPrP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriaki Okimoto
- Advanced Computing Center, Computational Science Division, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
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Hanan E, Priola SA, Solomon B. Antiaggregating antibody raised against human PrP 106-126 recognizes pathological and normal isoforms of the whole prion protein. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2001; 21:693-703. [PMID: 12043842 DOI: 10.1023/a:1015199904354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies to the prion protein (PrP) have been critical to the neuropathological and biochemical characterization of PrP-related degenerative diseases in humans and animals. Although PrP is highly conserved evolutionarily, there is some sequence divergence among species; as a consequence, anti-PrP antibodies have a wide spectrum of reactivity when challenged with PrP from diverse species. We have produced an antibody [monoclonal antibody (mAb) 2-40] raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues (106-126 of human PrP and have characterized it by epitope mapping, Western immunoblot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. The antibody recognizes not only human PrP isoforms but also pathological PrP from all species tested (i.e., sheep, hamsters, and mice). Together with the fact that it recognizes the whole PrP in both cellular and scrapie isoforms, mAb 2-40 may be helpful in studying conformational changes of the PrP, as well as establishing a possible connection between human and animal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Hanan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel
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