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Bittar A, Sengupta U, Kayed R. Prospects for strain-specific immunotherapy in Alzheimer's disease and tauopathies. NPJ Vaccines 2018; 3:9. [PMID: 29507776 PMCID: PMC5829136 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-018-0046-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
With increasing age, as the incidence of Alzheimer's disease is increasing, finding a therapeutic intervention is becoming critically important to either prevent or slow down the progression of the disease. Passive immunotherapy has been demonstrated as a successful way of reducing large aggregates and improving cognition in animal models of both tauopathies and Alzheimer's disease. However, with all the continuous attempts and significant success of immunotherapy in preclinical studies, finding a successful clinical therapy has been a great challenge, possibly indicating a lack of accuracy in targeting the toxic species. Both active and passive immunotherapy approaches in transgenic animals have been demonstrated to have pros and cons. Passive immunotherapy has been favored and many mechanisms have been shown to clear toxic amyloid and tau aggregates and improve memory. These mechanisms may differ depending on the antibodie's' target and administration route. In this regard, deciding on affinity vs. specificity of the antibodies plays a significant role in terms of avoiding the clearance of the physiological forms of the targeted proteins and reducing adverse side effects. In addition, knowing that a single protein can exist in different conformational states, termed as strains, with varying degrees of neurotoxicity and seeding properties, presents an additional level of complexity. Therefore, immunotherapy targeting specifically the toxic strains will aid in developing potential strategies for intervention. Moreover, an approach of combinatorial immunotherapies against different amyloidogenic proteins, at distinct levels of the disease progression, might offer an effective therapy in many neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bittar
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Urmi Sengupta
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
- Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
- Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555 USA
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Neuroprotective effects of Cerebrolysin in triple repeat Tau transgenic model of Pick's disease and fronto-temporal tauopathies. BMC Neurosci 2015; 16:85. [PMID: 26611895 PMCID: PMC4662012 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-015-0218-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders with accumulation of three-repeat (3R) or four-repeat (4R) Tau. While 3R tau is found in Pick's disease and Alzheimer's disease (AD), 4R tau is more abundant in corticobasal degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy, and AD. We have previously shown that Cerebrolysin™ (CBL), a neuropeptide mixture with neurotrophic effects, ameliorates the pathology in amyloid precursor protein transgenic (tg) mouse model of AD and 4R tau, however it is unclear if CBL ameliorates the deficits and neuropathology in the mouse model of Pick's disease over expressing 3R tau. RESULTS Mice expressing 3R tau (L266V and G272V mutations) under the mThy-1 promoter were treated with CBL in two separate groups, the first was 3 months old (treated for 3 months, IP) and the second was 6 months old (treated for 3 months, IP) at the start of the treatment. We found that although the levels of total 3R tau were unchanged, CBL reduced the levels of hyper-phosphorylated tau in both groups of mice. This was accompanied by reduced neurodegenerative pathology in the neocortex and hippocampus in both groups and by improvements in the behavioral deficits in the nest-building test and water maze in the 3-6 month group. CONCLUSION Taken together these results support the notion that CBL may be beneficial in other taupathy models by reducing the levels of aberrantly phosphorylated tau.
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Marciani DJ. Alzheimer's disease vaccine development: A new strategy focusing on immune modulation. J Neuroimmunol 2015; 287:54-63. [PMID: 26439962 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Despite significant advances in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) vaccines effective in animal models, these prototypes have been clinically unsuccessful; apparently the result of using immunogens modified to prevent inflammation. Hence, a new paradigm is needed that uses entire AD-associated immunogens, a notion supported by recent successful passive immunotherapy results, with adjuvants that induce Th2-only while inhibiting without abrogating Th1 immunity. Here, we discuss the obstacles to AD vaccine development and Th2-adjuvants that by acting on dendritic and T cells, would elicit regardless of the antigen a safe and effective antibody response, while preventing damaging neuroinflammation and ameliorating immunosenescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dante J Marciani
- Qantu Therapeutics, Inc., 612 E. Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75057, USA.
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Driver JA, Zhou XZ, Lu KP. Pin1 dysregulation helps to explain the inverse association between cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2015; 1850:2069-76. [PMID: 25583562 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2014.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2014] [Revised: 12/26/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pin1 is an intracellular signaling molecule which plays a critical but opposite role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and many human cancers. SCOPE OF REVIEW We review the structure and function of the Pin1 enzyme, the diverse roles it plays in cycling cells and neurons, the epidemiologic evidence for the inverse association between cancer and AD, and the potential therapeutic implications of Pin1-based therapies. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Pin1 is a unique enzyme that has effects on the function of target proteins by "twisting" them into different shapes. Cycling cells use Pin1 to help coordinate cell division. It is over-expressed and/or activated by multiple mechanisms in many common human cancers, and acts on multiple signal pathways to promote tumorigenesis. Inhibition of Pin1 in animal models has profound anti-tumor effects. In contrast, Pin1 is down-regulated or inactivated by multiple mechanisms in AD brains. The absence of Pin1 impairs tau function and amyloid precursor protein processing, leading to tangle- and amyloid-related pathologies and neurodegeneration in an age-dependent manner, resembling human AD. We have developed cis and trans conformation-specific antibodies to provide the first direct evidence that tau exists in distinct cis and trans conformations and that Pin1 accelerates its cis to trans conversion, thereby protecting against tangle formation in AD. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Available studies on Pin1 suggest that cancer and AD may share biological pathways that are deregulated in different directions. Pin1 biology opens exciting preventive and therapeutic horizons for both cancer and neurodegeneration. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Proline-directed Foldases: Cell Signaling Catalysts and Drug Targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane A Driver
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System and the Division of Aging, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Xiao Zhen Zhou
- Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Kun Ping Lu
- Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Davtyan H, Ghochikyan A, Hovakimyan A, Davtyan A, Cadagan R, Marleau AM, Albrecht RA, García-Sastre A, Agadjanyan MG. A dual vaccine against influenza & Alzheimer's disease failed to enhance anti-β-amyloid antibody responses in mice with pre-existing virus specific memory. J Neuroimmunol 2014; 277:77-84. [PMID: 25455094 PMCID: PMC4314405 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Revised: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Novel dual vaccine, WSN-Aβ(1-10), based on the recombinant influenza virus, expressing immunodominant B-cell epitope of β-amyloid, simultaneously induced therapeutically potent anti-Aβ and anti-influenza antibodies. In this study we showed that boosting of WSN-WT primed mice with WSN-Aβ(1-10) enhances anti-viral, but fails to induce anti-Aβ antibody responses. This inhibition is associated with expression of Aβ(1-10) within the context of an inactivated influenza virus vaccine. These results demonstrate that the use of an inactivated influenza virus as a carrier for AD vaccine may not be applicable due to the possible inhibition of anti-Aβ antibody response in individuals previously vaccinated or infected with influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayk Davtyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA
| | - Anahit Ghochikyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA
| | - Armine Hovakimyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA
| | - Arpine Davtyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA
| | - Richard Cadagan
- Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA; Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Annette M Marleau
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA
| | - Randy A Albrecht
- Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA; Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Adolfo García-Sastre
- Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA; Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Infection Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Michael G Agadjanyan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA; University of California, Irvine, Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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Passive immunization with Tau oligomer monoclonal antibody reverses tauopathy phenotypes without affecting hyperphosphorylated neurofibrillary tangles. J Neurosci 2014; 34:4260-72. [PMID: 24647946 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3192-13.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent findings suggest that tau oligomers, which form before neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), are the true neurotoxic tau entities in neurodegenerative tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies in animal models of tauopathy suggest that tau oligomers play a key role in eliciting behavioral and cognitive impairments. Here, we used a novel tau oligomer-specific monoclonal antibody (TOMA) for passive immunization in mice expressing mutant human tau. A single dose of TOMA administered either intravenously or intracerebroventricularly was sufficient to reverse both locomotor and memory deficits in a mouse model of tauopathy for 60 d, coincident with rapid reduction of tau oligomers but not phosphorylated NFTs or monomeric tau. Our data demonstrate that antibody protection is mediated by extracellular and rapid peripheral clearance. These findings provide the first direct evidence in support of a critical role for tau oligomers in disease progression and validate tau oligomers as a target for the treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative tauopathies.
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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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Hawkins BE, Krishnamurthy S, Castillo-Carranza DL, Sengupta U, Prough DS, Jackson GR, DeWitt DS, Kayed R. Rapid accumulation of endogenous tau oligomers in a rat model of traumatic brain injury: possible link between traumatic brain injury and sporadic tauopathies. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:17042-17050. [PMID: 23632019 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.472746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious problem that affects millions of people in the United States alone. Multiple concussions or even a single moderate to severe TBI can also predispose individuals to develop a pathologically distinct form of tauopathy-related dementia at an early age. No effective treatments are currently available for TBI or TBI-related dementia; moreover, only recently has insight been gained regarding the mechanisms behind their connection. Here, we used antibodies to detect oligomeric and phosphorylated Tau proteins in a non-transgenic rodent model of parasagittal fluid percussion injury. Oligomeric and phosphorylated Tau proteins were detected 4 and 24 h and 2 weeks post-TBI in injured, but not sham control rats. These findings suggest that diagnostic tools and therapeutics that target only toxic forms of Tau may provide earlier detection and safe, more effective treatments for tauopathies associated with repetitive neurotrauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget E Hawkins
- Sealy Center for Vaccine Development University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555; Moody Center for Traumatic Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555
| | - Shashirekha Krishnamurthy
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555; George and Cynthia Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1045
| | - Diana L Castillo-Carranza
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555; George and Cynthia Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1045
| | - Urmi Sengupta
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555; George and Cynthia Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1045
| | - Donald S Prough
- Moody Center for Traumatic Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555
| | - George R Jackson
- Sealy Center for Vaccine Development University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555; Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555; George and Cynthia Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1045
| | - Douglas S DeWitt
- Moody Center for Traumatic Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Sealy Center for Vaccine Development University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555; Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience & Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555; George and Cynthia Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1045.
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Valera E, Masliah E. Immunotherapy for neurodegenerative diseases: focus on α-synucleinopathies. Pharmacol Ther 2013; 138:311-22. [PMID: 23384597 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2013.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is currently being intensively explored as much-needed disease-modifying treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. While Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been the focus of numerous immunotherapeutic studies, less attention has been paid to Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. The reason for this difference is that the amyloid beta (Aβ) protein in AD is a secreted molecule that circulates in the blood and is readably recognized by antibodies. In contrast, α-synuclein (α-syn), tau, huntingtin and other proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases have been considered to be exclusively of intracellular nature. However, the recent discovery that toxic oligomeric versions of α-syn and tau accumulate in the membrane and can be excreted to the extracellular environment has provided a rationale for the development of immunotherapeutic approaches for PD, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and other neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the abnormal accumulation of these proteins. Active immunization, passive immunization, and T cell-mediated cellular immunotherapeutic approaches have been developed targeting Aβ, α-syn and tau. Most advanced studies, including results from phase III clinical trials for passive immunization in AD, have been recently reported. Results suggest that immunotherapy might be a promising therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases that progress with the accumulation and propagation of toxic protein aggregates. In this manuscript we provide an overview on immunotherapeutic advances for neurodegenerative disorders, with special emphasis on α-synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Valera
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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