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Mahboob A, Ali H, AlNaimi A, Yousef M, Rob M, Al-Muhannadi NA, Senevirathne DKL, Chaari A. Immunotherapy for Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease: A Promising Disease-Modifying Therapy. Cells 2024; 13:1527. [PMID: 39329711 PMCID: PMC11429902 DOI: 10.3390/cells13181527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are two neurodegenerative diseases posing a significant disease burden due to their increasing prevalence and socio-economic cost. Traditional therapeutic approaches for these diseases exist but provide limited symptomatic relief without addressing the underlying pathologies. This review examines the potential of immunotherapy, specifically monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), as disease-modifying treatments for AD and PD. We analyze the pathological mechanisms of AD and PD, focusing on the roles of amyloid-beta (Aβ), tau (τ), and alpha-synuclein (α-syn) proteins. We discuss the latest advancements in mAb therapies targeting these proteins, evaluating their efficacy in clinical trials and preclinical studies. We also explore the challenges faced in translating these therapies from bench to bedside, including issues related to safety, specificity, and clinical trial design. Additionally, we highlight future directions for research, emphasizing the need for combination therapies, improved biomarkers, and personalized treatment strategies. This review aims to provide insights into the current state and future potential of antibody-based immunotherapy in modifying the course of AD and PD, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anns Mahboob
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha P.O. Box 24144, Qatar
| | - Hasan Ali
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha P.O. Box 24144, Qatar
| | - AlJazi AlNaimi
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha P.O. Box 24144, Qatar
| | - Mahmoud Yousef
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha P.O. Box 24144, Qatar
| | - Mlaak Rob
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha P.O. Box 24144, Qatar
| | | | | | - Ali Chaari
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha P.O. Box 24144, Qatar
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Azargoonjahromi A. Immunotherapy in Alzheimer's disease: focusing on the efficacy of gantenerumab on amyloid-β clearance and cognitive decline. J Pharm Pharmacol 2024; 76:1115-1131. [PMID: 38767981 DOI: 10.1093/jpp/rgae066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Gantenerumab, a human monoclonal antibody (mAb), has been thought of as a potential agent to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) by specifically targeting regions of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide sequence. Aβ protein accumulation in the brain leads to amyloid plaques, causing neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, neuronal damage, and neurotransmitter dysfunction, thereby causing cognitive decline in AD. Gantenerumab involves disrupting Aβ aggregation and promoting the breakdown of larger Aβ aggregates into smaller fragments, which facilitates the action of Aβ-degrading enzymes in the brain, thus slowing down the progression of AD. Moreover, Gantenerumab acts as an opsonin, coating Aβ plaques and enhancing their recognition by immune cells, which, combined with its ability to improve the activity of microglia, makes it an intriguing candidate for promoting Aβ plaque clearance. Indeed, the multifaceted effects of Gantenerumab, including Aβ disaggregation, enhanced immune recognition, and improved microglia activity, may position it as a promising therapeutic approach for AD. Of note, reports suggest that Gantenerumab, albeit its capacity to reduce or eliminate Aβ, has not demonstrated effectiveness in reducing cognitive decline. This review, after providing an overview of immunotherapy approaches that target Aβ in AD, explores the efficacy of Gantenerumab in reducing Aβ levels and cognitive decline.
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Lozupone M, Dibello V, Sardone R, Castellana F, Zupo R, Lampignano L, Bortone I, Stallone R, Altamura M, Bellomo A, Daniele A, Solfrizzi V, Panza F. Lessons learned from the failure of solanezumab as a prospective treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:639-647. [PMID: 38685682 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2348142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the last decade, the efforts conducted for discovering Alzheimer's Disease (AD) treatments targeting the best-known pathogenic factors [amyloid-β (Aβ), tau protein, and neuroinflammation] were mostly unsuccessful. Given that a systemic failure of Aβ clearance was supposed to primarily contribute to AD development and progression, disease-modifying therapies with anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies (e.g. solanezumab, bapineuzumab, gantenerumab, aducanumab, lecanemab and donanemab) are ongoing in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with contrasting results. AREAS COVERED The present Drug Discovery Case History analyzes the failures of RCTs of solanezumab on AD. Furthermore, the authors review the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and tolerability effect of solanezumab from preclinical studies with its analogous m266 in mice. Finally, they describe the RCTs with cognitive, cerebrospinal fluid and neuroimaging findings in mild-to-moderate AD (EXPEDITION studies) and in secondary prevention studies (A4 and DIAN-TU). EXPERT OPINION Solanezumab was one of the first anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies to be tested in preclinical and clinical AD showing to reduce brain Aβ level by acting on soluble monomeric form of Aβ peptide without significant results on deposits. Unfortunately, this compound showed to accelerate cognitive decline in both asymptomatic and symptomatic trial participants, and this failure of solanezumab further questioned the Aβ cascade hypothesis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madia Lozupone
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience "DiBraiN", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Vittorio Dibello
- Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Clinica Medica e Geriatria "Cesare Frugoni", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rodolfo Sardone
- Unit of Statistics and Epidemiology, Local Health Authority of Taranto, Taranto, Italy
| | - Fabio Castellana
- Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Clinica Medica e Geriatria "Cesare Frugoni", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Roberta Zupo
- Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Clinica Medica e Geriatria "Cesare Frugoni", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Ilaria Bortone
- Local Healthcare Authority of Bari, ASL Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Roberta Stallone
- Neuroscience and Education, Human Resources Excellence in Research, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Mario Altamura
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonello Bellomo
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonio Daniele
- Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Solfrizzi
- Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Clinica Medica e Geriatria "Cesare Frugoni", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Panza
- Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Clinica Medica e Geriatria "Cesare Frugoni", University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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Penny LK, Lofthouse R, Arastoo M, Porter A, Palliyil S, Harrington CR, Wischik CM. Considerations for biomarker strategies in clinical trials investigating tau-targeting therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:25. [PMID: 38773569 PMCID: PMC11107038 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00417-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of biomarker-led clinical trial designs has been transformative for investigating amyloid-targeting therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The designs have ensured the correct selection of patients on these trials, supported target engagement and have been used to support claims of disease modification and clinical efficacy. Ultimately, this has recently led to approval of disease-modifying, amyloid-targeting therapies for AD; something that should be noted for clinical trials investigating tau-targeting therapies for AD. There is a clear overlap of the purpose of biomarker use at each stage of clinical development between amyloid-targeting and tau-targeting clinical trials. However, there are differences within the potential context of use and interpretation for some biomarkers in particular measurements of amyloid and utility of soluble, phosphorylated tau biomarkers. Given the complexities of tau in health and disease, it is paramount that therapies target disease-relevant tau and, in parallel, appropriate assays of target engagement are developed. Tau positron emission tomography, fluid biomarkers reflecting tau pathology and downstream measures of neurodegeneration will be important both for participant recruitment and for monitoring disease-modification in tau-targeting clinical trials. Bespoke design of biomarker strategies and interpretations for different modalities and tau-based targets should also be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis K Penny
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Scottish Biologics Facility, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Richard Lofthouse
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Scottish Biologics Facility, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Mohammad Arastoo
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Scottish Biologics Facility, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Andy Porter
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Scottish Biologics Facility, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Soumya Palliyil
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Scottish Biologics Facility, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Charles R Harrington
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- GT Diagnostics (UK) Ltd, Aberdeen, UK
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Claude M Wischik
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
- GT Diagnostics (UK) Ltd, Aberdeen, UK.
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd, Aberdeen, UK.
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Yi LX, Tan EK, Zhou ZD. Passive immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease: challenges & future directions. J Transl Med 2024; 22:430. [PMID: 38715084 PMCID: PMC11075320 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05248-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Passive immunotherapy with specific antibodies targeting Amyloid β (Aβ) peptide or tubulin-associated unit (tau) protein has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, in a recent phase III clinical study, Sperling et al. (N Engl J Med 10.1056/NEJMoa2305032, 2023) reported that solanezumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting Aβ peptide, failed to slow cognitive decline in AD patients. Previously, three other anti-Aβ antibodies, bapineuzumab, crenezumab, and gantenerumab, have also failed to show similar beneficial effects. In addition, three humanized antibodies targeting tau protein failed in their phase II trials. However, other anti-Aβ antibodies, such as lecanemab (a humanized mAb binds to soluble Aβ protofibrils), donanemab (a humanized mAb binds to insoluble, N-terminal truncated form of Aβ peptides) and aducanumab (a human mAb binds to the aggregated form of Aβ), have been shown to slow the decline of cognitive functions in early stage AD patients. The specific targets used in passive immunotherapy in these clinical trials may explain the divergent clinical outcomes. There are several challenges and limitations of passive immunotherapy using anti-Aβ antibodies and long term longitudinal studies are needed to assess their efficacy, side effects and cost effectiveness in a wider spectrum of subjects, from pre-dementia to more advanced dementia. A combination therapeutic approach using both anti-Aβ antibodies and other pharmaceutical agents should also be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Xiao Yi
- National Neuroscience Institute of Singapore, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 30843, Singapore
| | - Eng King Tan
- National Neuroscience Institute of Singapore, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 30843, Singapore.
- Department of Neurology, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore, 169608, Singapore.
- Signature Research Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore.
| | - Zhi Dong Zhou
- National Neuroscience Institute of Singapore, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore, 30843, Singapore.
- Signature Research Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore.
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Gu X, Qi L, Qi Q, Zhou J, Chen S, Wang L. Monoclonal antibody therapy for Alzheimer's disease focusing on intracerebral targets. Biosci Trends 2024; 18:49-65. [PMID: 38382942 DOI: 10.5582/bst.2023.01288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Due to the complexity of the disorder and the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), its drug discovery and development are facing enormous challenges, especially after several failures of monoclonal antibody (mAb) trials. Nevertheless, the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the mAb aducanumab has ushered in a new day. As we better understand the disease's pathogenesis and identify novel intracerebral therapeutic targets, antibody-based therapies have advanced over the past few years. The mAb drugs targeting β-amyloid or hyperphosphorylated tau protein are the focus of the current research. Massive neuronal loss and glial cell-mediated inflammation are also the vital pathological hallmarks of AD, signaling a new direction for research on mAb drugs. We have elucidated the mechanisms by which AD-specific mAbs cross the BBB to bind to targets. In order to investigate therapeutic approaches to treat AD, this review focuses on the promising mAbs targeting intracerebral dysfunction and related strategies to cross the BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Gu
- College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Long Qi
- New Drug Screening Center, Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qing Qi
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Song Chen
- Postdoctoral Station of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Doggrell SA. More failure with solanezumab - this time in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2024. [PMID: 38414336 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2024.2325551] [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: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, which is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.A.. Lecanemab is anti-Aβ monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of early Alzheimer's disease but is only marginally effective. Other antibodies are being developed including solanezumab. AREAS COVERED A phase 3 clinical trial of solanezumab in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. In the A4 study, solanezumab did not reduce the decline in cognition or function and had no effect on brain amyloid burden. EXPERT OPINION After the poor results in the EXPEDITION series of trials, the development of solanezumab should have been terminated. The rationale for undertaking the A4 trial was questionable, and the lack of benefit was probable. The controversial approval of two anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies (aducanumab, lecanemab) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), despite a high incidence of amyloid-related imagining abnormalities (ARIA), may be fueling this continuation of clinical development of agents such as solanezumab. The lesson from the A4 trial is that more careful/realistic consideration needs to be given before embarking on further phase 3 trials with anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila A Doggrell
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
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Neațu M, Covaliu A, Ioniță I, Jugurt A, Davidescu EI, Popescu BO. Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Alzheimer's Disease. Pharmaceutics 2023; 16:60. [PMID: 38258071 PMCID: PMC11154277 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010060] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative condition marked by the progressive deterioration of cognitive abilities, memory impairment, and the accumulation of abnormal proteins, specifically beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles, within the brain. Despite extensive research efforts, Alzheimer's disease remains without a cure, presenting a significant global healthcare challenge. Recently, there has been an increased focus on antibody-based treatments as a potentially effective method for dealing with Alzheimer's disease. This paper offers a comprehensive overview of the current status of research on antibody-based molecules as therapies for Alzheimer's disease. We will briefly mention their mechanisms of action, therapeutic efficacy, and safety profiles while addressing the challenges and limitations encountered during their development. We also highlight some crucial considerations in antibody-based treatment development, including patient selection criteria, dosing regimens, or safety concerns. In conclusion, antibody-based therapies present a hopeful outlook for addressing Alzheimer's disease. While challenges remain, the accumulating evidence suggests that these therapies may offer substantial promise in ameliorating or preventing the progression of this debilitating condition, thus potentially enhancing the quality of life for the millions of individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Neațu
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (M.N.); (A.C.); (I.I.); (A.J.); (B.O.P.)
- Department of Neurology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Anca Covaliu
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (M.N.); (A.C.); (I.I.); (A.J.); (B.O.P.)
- Department of Neurology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Iulia Ioniță
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (M.N.); (A.C.); (I.I.); (A.J.); (B.O.P.)
- Department of Neurology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ana Jugurt
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (M.N.); (A.C.); (I.I.); (A.J.); (B.O.P.)
- Department of Neurology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Eugenia Irene Davidescu
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (M.N.); (A.C.); (I.I.); (A.J.); (B.O.P.)
- Department of Neurology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Bogdan Ovidiu Popescu
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (M.N.); (A.C.); (I.I.); (A.J.); (B.O.P.)
- Department of Neurology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurosciences and Experimental Myology, “Victor Babeș” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
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Gholami A. Alzheimer's disease: The role of proteins in formation, mechanisms, and new therapeutic approaches. Neurosci Lett 2023; 817:137532. [PMID: 37866702 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS), leading to memory and cognitive decline. In AD, the brain experiences three main structural changes: a significant decrease in the quantity of neurons, the development of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, and the formation of amyloid beta (Aβ) or senile plaques, which are protein deposits found outside cells and surrounded by dystrophic neurites. Genetic studies have identified four genes associated with autosomal dominant or familial early-onset AD (FAD): amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PS1), presenilin 2 (PS2), and apolipoprotein E (ApoE). The formation of plaques primarily involves the accumulation of Aβ, which can be influenced by mutations in APP, PS1, PS2, or ApoE genes. Mutations in the APP and presenilin (PS) proteins can cause an increased amyloid β peptides production, especially the further form of amyloidogenic known as Aβ42. Apart from genetic factors, environmental factors such as cytokines and neurotoxins may also have a significant impact on the development and progression of AD by influencing the formation of amyloid plaques and intracellular tangles. Exploring the causes and implications of protein aggregation in the brain could lead to innovative therapeutic approaches. Some promising therapy strategies that have reached the clinical stage include using acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, estrogen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antioxidants, and antiapoptotic agents. The most hopeful therapeutic strategies involve inhibiting activity of secretase and preventing the β-amyloid oligomers and fibrils formation, which are associated with the β-amyloid fibrils accumulation in AD. Additionally, immunotherapy development holds promise as a progressive therapeutic approach for treatment of AD. Recently, the two primary categories of brain stimulation techniques that have been studied for the treatment of AD are invasive brain stimulation (IBS) and non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS). In this article, the amyloid proteins that play a significant role in the AD formation, the mechanism of disease formation as well as new drugs utilized to treat of AD will be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirreza Gholami
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
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Hao Y, Dong M, Sun Y, Duan X, Niu W. Effectiveness and safety of monoclonal antibodies against amyloid-beta vis-à-vis placebo in mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1147757. [PMID: 37006475 PMCID: PMC10050585 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1147757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Backgrounds and objectives Currently, no consensus has been reached on the therapeutic implications of monoclonal antibodies against amyloid-beta (Aβ) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and safety of monoclonal antibodies against Aβ as a whole and also to determine the superiority of individual antibodies vis-à-vis placebo in mild or moderate AD. Methods Literature retrieval, article selection, and data abstraction were performed independently and in duplicate. Cognition and function were appraised by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog), Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD), and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB). Effect sizes are expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Twenty-nine articles involving 108 drug-specific trials and 21,383 participants were eligible for synthesis. Of the four assessment scales, only CDR-SB was significantly reduced after using monoclonal antibodies against Aβ relative to placebo (SMD: -0.12; 95% CI: -0.2 to -0.03; p = 0.008). Egger's tests indicated a low likelihood of publication bias. At individual levels, bapineuzumab was associated with a significant increase in MMSE (SMD: 0.588; 95% CI: 0.226-0.95) and DAD (SMD: 0.919; 95% CI: 0.105-1.943), and a significant decrease in CDR-SB (SMD: -0.15; 95% CI: -0.282-0.018). Bapineuzumab can increase the significant risk of serious adverse events (OR: 1.281; 95% CI: 1.075-1.525). Conclusion Our findings indicate that monoclonal antibodies against Aβ can effectively improve instrumental activities of daily life in mild or moderate AD. In particular, bapineuzumab can improve cognition and function, as well as activities of daily life, and meanwhile, it triggers serious adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hao
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mingrui Dong
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yingtong Sun
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohui Duan
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wenquan Niu
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
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Jain R, Subramanian J, Rathore AS. A review of therapeutic failures in late-stage clinical trials. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2023; 24:389-399. [PMID: 36542800 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2022.2161366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The process of drug approval involves extensive and expensive preclinical and clinical examination. Most drugs entering late-stage clinical trials get terminated for a variety of reasons including inability to achieve the primary endpoints or intolerable adverse effects. Only one-tenth of the drugs that enter clinical trials progress to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory submission. AREAS COVERED This review offers insight into some of the attributes that may be responsible for a drug's failure in late-stage trials. Information from multiple open sources including PubMed articles published between 1989 and 2019, recent articles from authentic websites like www.ClinicalTrials.gov, www.fda.gov, and pharmaceutical news articles for the years between 2017 and 2021 were accumulated and summarized. Further, a few drug candidates that reached the phase III clinical trials but were discontinued at later stages have been presented as case studies. EXPERT OPINION Ineluctable failures were observed due to insufficient knowledge about the mechanism of action where the disease progression stages are unclear. Other reasons were choice of patient population, late-stage treatment, and dosage. Adhering to the guidelines and recommendations provided by the regulatory authorities and learning from past failures, considerably reduce failure rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritu Jain
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, 110016, New Delhi, India
| | - Janakiraman Subramanian
- Division of Oncology, Saint Luke's Cancer Institute/University of Missouri, 64111, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Anurag S Rathore
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, 110016, New Delhi, India
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Chockanathan U, Padmanabhan K. From synapses to circuits and back: Bridging levels of understanding in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5564-5586. [PMID: 35244297 PMCID: PMC10926359 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by behavioural changes that include memory loss and cognitive decline and is associated with the appearance of amyloid-β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles throughout the brain. Although aspects of the disease percolate across multiple levels of neuronal organization, from the cellular to the behavioural, it is increasingly clear that circuits are a critical junction between the cellular pathology and the behavioural phenotypes that bookend these levels of analyses. In this review, we discuss critical aspects of neural circuit research, beginning with synapses and progressing to network activity and how they influence our understanding of disease processed in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udaysankar Chockanathan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Krishnan Padmanabhan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
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13
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Zhao P, Zhang N, An Z. Engineering antibody and protein therapeutics to cross the blood-brain barrier. Antib Ther 2022; 5:311-331. [PMID: 36540309 PMCID: PMC9759110 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbac028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Diseases in the central nervous system (CNS) are often difficult to treat. Antibody- and protein-based therapeutics hold huge promises in CNS disease treatment. However, proteins are restricted from entering the CNS by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To achieve enhanced BBB crossing, antibody-based carriers have been developed by utilizing the endogenous macromolecule transportation pathway, known as receptor-mediated transcytosis. In this report, we first provided an overall review on key CNS diseases and the most promising antibody- or protein-based therapeutics approved or in clinical trials. We then reviewed the platforms that are being explored to increase the macromolecule brain entry to combat CNS diseases. Finally, we have analyzed the lessons learned from past experiences and have provided a perspective on the future engineering of novel delivery vehicles for antibody- and protein-based therapies for CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhao
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ningyan Zhang
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Zhiqiang An
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1825 Pressler Street, Houston, Texas, USA
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14
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Khoury R, Gallop A, Roberts K, Grysman N, Lu J, Grossberg GT. Pharmacotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease: what’s new on the horizon? Expert Opin Pharmacother 2022; 23:1305-1323. [DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2022.2097868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rita Khoury
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, St. Georges Hospital University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
- University of Balamand, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, St Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| | - Amy Gallop
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, St Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| | - Kelsey Roberts
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, St Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| | - Noam Grysman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, St Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| | - Jiaxi Lu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, St Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| | - George T. Grossberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, St Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
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15
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Lacorte E, Ancidoni A, Zaccaria V, Remoli G, Tariciotti L, Bellomo G, Sciancalepore F, Corbo M, Lombardo FL, Bacigalupo I, Canevelli M, Piscopo P, Vanacore N. Safety and Efficacy of Monoclonal Antibodies for Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Published and Unpublished Clinical Trials. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 87:101-129. [PMID: 35275549 PMCID: PMC9198746 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are currently among the most investigated targets for potential disease-modifying therapies in Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE Our objectives were to identify all registered trials investigating mAbs in MCI due to AD or AD at any stage, retrieve available published and unpublished data from all registered trials, and analyze data on safety and efficacy outcomes. METHODS A systematic search of all registered trials on ClinicalTrials.gov and EUCT was performed. Available results were searched on both platforms and on PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and The Cochrane Library. RESULTS Overall, 101 studies were identified on 27 mAbs. Results were available for 50 trials investigating 12 mAbs. For 18 trials, data were available from both published and unpublished sources, for 21 trials only from published sources, and for 11 trials only from unpublished sources. Meta-analyses of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) events showed overall risk ratios of 10.65 for ARIA-E and of 1.75 for ARIA-H. The meta-analysis of PET-SUVR showed an overall significant effect of mAbs in reducing amyloid (SMD -0.88), but when considering clinical efficacy, data on CDR-SB showed that treated patients had a statistically significant but clinically non-relevant lower worsening (MD -0.15). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the risk-benefit profile of mAbs remains unclear. Research should focus on clarifying the effect of amyloid on cognitive decline, providing data on treatment response rate, and accounting for minimal clinically important difference. Research on mAbs should also investigate the possible long-term impact of ARIA events, including potential factors predicting their onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Lacorte
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Ancidoni
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Zaccaria
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Remoli
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Leonardo Tariciotti
- Neurosurgery Department, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Guido Bellomo
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Sciancalepore
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Corbo
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa Cura Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Flavia L. Lombardo
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bacigalupo
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Canevelli
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
- Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Piscopo
- Department of Neuroscience, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Vanacore
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
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16
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Nimmo JT, Kelly L, Verma A, Carare RO, Nicoll JAR, Dodart JC. Amyloid-β and α-Synuclein Immunotherapy: From Experimental Studies to Clinical Trials. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:733857. [PMID: 34539340 PMCID: PMC8441015 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.733857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body diseases are the most common causes of neurodegeneration and dementia. Amyloid-beta (Aβ) and alpha-synuclein (αSyn) are two key proteins involved in the pathogenesis of these neurodegenerative diseases. Immunotherapy aims to reduce the harmful effects of protein accumulation by neutralising toxic species and facilitating their removal. The results of the first immunisation trial against Aβ led to a small percentage of meningoencephalitis cases which revolutionised vaccine design, causing a shift in the field of immunotherapy from active to passive immunisation. While the vast majority of immunotherapies have been developed for Aβ and tested in Alzheimer’s disease, the field has progressed to targeting other proteins including αSyn. Despite showing some remarkable results in animal models, immunotherapies have largely failed final stages of clinical trials to date, with the exception of Aducanumab recently licenced in the US by the FDA. Neuropathological findings translate quite effectively from animal models to human trials, however, cognitive and functional outcome measures do not. The apparent lack of translation of experimental studies to clinical trials suggests that we are not obtaining a full representation of the effects of immunotherapies from animal studies. Here we provide a background understanding to the key concepts and challenges involved in therapeutic design. This review further provides a comprehensive comparison between experimental and clinical studies in Aβ and αSyn immunotherapy and aims to determine the possible reasons for the disconnection in their outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqui Taryn Nimmo
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Kelly
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ajay Verma
- Yumanity Therapeutics, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Roxana O Carare
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - James A R Nicoll
- Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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17
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Mortada I, Farah R, Nabha S, Ojcius DM, Fares Y, Almawi WY, Sadier NS. Immunotherapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Neurol 2021; 12:654739. [PMID: 34163421 PMCID: PMC8215715 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.654739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The current treatments for neurodegenerative diseases are mostly symptomatic without affecting the underlying cause of disease. Emerging evidence supports a potential role for immunotherapy in the management of disease progression. Numerous reports raise the exciting prospect that either the immune system or its derivative components could be harnessed to fight the misfolded and aggregated proteins that accumulate in several neurodegenerative diseases. Passive and active vaccinations using monoclonal antibodies and specific antigens that induce adaptive immune responses are currently under evaluation for their potential use in the development of immunotherapies. In this review, we aim to shed light on prominent immunotherapeutic strategies being developed to fight neuroinflammation-induced neurodegeneration, with a focus on innovative immunotherapies such as vaccination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Mortada
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Raymond Farah
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sanaa Nabha
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - David M Ojcius
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of the Pacific, Arthur Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Youssef Fares
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Wassim Y Almawi
- College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Najwane Said Sadier
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.,College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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18
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Naseri Kouzehgarani G, Feldsien T, Engelhard HH, Mirakhur KK, Phipps C, Nimmrich V, Clausznitzer D, Lefebvre DR. Harnessing cerebrospinal fluid circulation for drug delivery to brain tissues. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 173:20-59. [PMID: 33705875 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Initially thought to be useful only to reach tissues in the immediate vicinity of the CSF circulatory system, CSF circulation is now increasingly viewed as a viable pathway to deliver certain therapeutics deeper into brain tissues. There is emerging evidence that this goal is achievable in the case of large therapeutic proteins, provided conditions are met that are described herein. We show how fluid dynamic modeling helps predict infusion rate and duration to overcome high CSF turnover. We posit that despite model limitations and controversies, fluid dynamic models, pharmacokinetic models, preclinical testing, and a qualitative understanding of the glymphatic system circulation can be used to estimate drug penetration in brain tissues. Lastly, in addition to highlighting landmark scientific and medical literature, we provide practical advice on formulation development, device selection, and pharmacokinetic modeling. Our review of clinical studies suggests a growing interest for intra-CSF delivery, particularly for targeted proteins.
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19
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Vijayan D, Chandra R. Amyloid Beta Hypothesis in Alzheimer's Disease: Major Culprits and Recent Therapeutic Strategies. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 21:148-166. [PMID: 31385768 DOI: 10.2174/1389450120666190806153206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of dementia and has been a global concern for several years. Due to the multi-factorial nature of the disease, AD has become irreversible, fatal and imposes a tremendous socio-economic burden. Even though experimental medicines suggested moderate benefits, AD still lacks an effective treatment strategy for the management of symptoms or cure. Among the various hypotheses that describe development and progression of AD, the amyloid hypothesis has been a long-term adherent to the AD due to the involvement of various forms of Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in the impairment of neuronal and cognitive functions. Hence, majority of the drug discovery approaches in the past have focused on the prevention of the accumulation of Aβ peptides. Currently, there are several agents in the phase III clinical trials that target Aβ or the various macromolecules triggering Aβ deposition. In this review, we present the state of the art knowledge on the functional aspects of the key players involved in the amyloid hypothesis. Furthermore, we also discuss anti-amyloid agents present in the Phase III clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dileep Vijayan
- Laboratory for Structural Bioinformatics, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Remya Chandra
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Thalassery Campus, Kannur University, Kerala Pin 670 661, India
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20
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Yang A, Kantor B, Chiba-Falek O. APOE: The New Frontier in the Development of a Therapeutic Target towards Precision Medicine in Late-Onset Alzheimer's. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1244. [PMID: 33513969 PMCID: PMC7865856 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a critical unmet medical need. The consensus around the amyloid cascade hypothesis has been guiding pre-clinical and clinical research to focus mainly on targeting beta-amyloid for treating AD. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the clinical trials have repeatedly failed, prompting the urgent need to refocus on other targets and shifting the paradigm of AD drug development towards precision medicine. One such emerging target is apolipoprotein E (APOE), identified nearly 30 years ago as one of the strongest and most reproduceable genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). An exploration of APOE as a new therapeutic culprit has produced some very encouraging results, proving that the protein holds promise in the context of LOAD therapies. Here, we review the strategies to target APOE based on state-of-the-art technologies such as antisense oligonucleotides, monoclonal antibodies, and gene/base editing. We discuss the potential of these initiatives in advancing the development of novel precision medicine therapies to LOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Yang
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Boris Kantor
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
- Viral Vector Core, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Ornit Chiba-Falek
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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21
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[The future of dementia prevention and treatment strategies]. Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi 2020; 57:374-396. [PMID: 33268621 DOI: 10.3143/geriatrics.57.374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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22
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Taylor RP, Lindorfer MA, Atkinson JP. Clearance of amyloid-beta with bispecific antibody constructs bound to erythrocytes. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2020; 6:e12067. [PMID: 32885023 PMCID: PMC7453147 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
We propose use of bispecific monoclonal antibody (mAb) complexes bound to erythrocytes to redress the lack of efficacy of anti-amyloid beta mAbs in Alzheimer's disease treatment. Our paradigm leverages erythrocyte complement receptor 1 to promote rapid and quantitative removal of amyloid beta from the circulation, and its subsequent removal from the brain as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald P. Taylor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - Margaret A. Lindorfer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - John P. Atkinson
- Department of Medicine and Division of RheumatologyWashington UniversitySt. LouisMissouriUSA
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23
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Lozupone M, Solfrizzi V, D'Urso F, Di Gioia I, Sardone R, Dibello V, Stallone R, Liguori A, Ciritella C, Daniele A, Bellomo A, Seripa D, Panza F. Anti-amyloid-β protein agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: an update on emerging drugs. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2020; 25:319-335. [PMID: 32772738 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2020.1808621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Currently available Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapeutics are only symptomatic, targeting cholinergic and glutamatergic neurotransmissions. Several putative disease-modifying drugs in late-stage clinical development target amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and tau protein, the principal neurophatological hallmarks of the disease. AREAS COVERED Phase III randomized clinical trials of anti-Aβ drugs for AD treatment were searched in US and EU clinical trial registries and principal biomedical databases until May 2020. EXPERT OPINION At present, compounds in Phase III clinical development for AD include four anti-Ab monoclonal antibodies (solanezumab, gantenerumab, aducanumab, BAN2401), the combination of cromolyn sodium and ibuprofen (ALZT-OP1), and two small molecules (levetiracetam, GV-971). These drugs are mainly being tested in subjects during early AD phases or at preclinical stage of familial AD or even in asymptomatic subjects at high risk of developing AD. The actual results support the hypothesis that elevated Aβ represents an early stage in the AD continuum and demonstrate the feasibility of enrolling these high-risk participants in secondary prevention trials to slow cognitive decline during the AD preclinical stages. However, a series of clinical failures may question further development of Aβ-targeting drugs and the findings from current ongoing Phase III trials will hopefully give light to this critical issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madia Lozupone
- Neurodegenerative Disease Unit, Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro , Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Solfrizzi
- "Cesare Frugoni" Internal and Geriatric Medicine and Memory Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" , Bari, Italy
| | - Francesca D'Urso
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia , Foggia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Di Gioia
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia , Foggia, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Sardone
- Population Health Unit - "Salus in Apulia Study" - National Institute of Gastroenterology, "Saverio De Bellis", Research Hospital , Bari, Italy
| | - Vittorio Dibello
- Population Health Unit - "Salus in Apulia Study" - National Institute of Gastroenterology, "Saverio De Bellis", Research Hospital , Bari, Italy.,Department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction, Academic Centre of Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , The Netherlands
| | - Roberta Stallone
- Population Health Unit - "Salus in Apulia Study" - National Institute of Gastroenterology, "Saverio De Bellis", Research Hospital , Bari, Italy
| | - Angelo Liguori
- Population Health Unit - "Salus in Apulia Study" - National Institute of Gastroenterology, "Saverio De Bellis", Research Hospital , Bari, Italy
| | - Chiara Ciritella
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, University of Foggia , Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonio Daniele
- Institute of Neurology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart , Rome, Italy.,Institute of Neurology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS , Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Bellomo
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia , Foggia, Italy
| | - Davide Seripa
- Geriatric Unit and Gerontology-Geriatrics Research Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, IRCCS Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza , Foggia, Italy.,Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Vito Fazzi Hospital, ASL Lecce , Lecce, Italy
| | - Francesco Panza
- Population Health Unit - "Salus in Apulia Study" - National Institute of Gastroenterology, "Saverio De Bellis", Research Hospital , Bari, Italy
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24
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Li L, Zhen EY, Decker RL, Willis BA, Waters D, Liu P, Hake AM, Demattos RB, Ayan-Oshodi M. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of LY2599666, a PEG-Linked Antigen Binding Fragment that Targets Soluble Monomer Amyloid-β. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 68:137-144. [PMID: 30741684 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
LY2599666 is a humanized, affinity-optimized monoclonal antibody antigen-binding fragment linked to a PEG molecule and targets soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) monomers. This first-in-human dose ascending study assessed pharmacokinetics (PK) (measured as serum free LY2599666 concentration) and pharmacodynamic (PD) effects (measured as plasma total soluble Aβ40 and Aβ42) after a single subcutaneous (SC) dose of 10, 25, 100, and 200 mg LY2599666 in healthy subjects. As LY2599666 binds to multiple soluble Aβ monomers, a two-target mediated drug disposition model (TMDD) was developed to simultaneously fit serum LY2599666 concentration and Aβ monomer levels. Four Alzheimer's disease patients completed 25 mg once-weekly dosing of LY2599666 for 12 weeks. In addition, single cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected to assess penetration capability across the blood-brain barrier. PK and PD data collected from the multiple dose cohort aligned with model predictions, suggesting the established TMDD model predicted suppression of soluble Aβ40 and Aβ42 in plasma after SC dosing of LY2599666.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Peng Liu
- Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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25
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Bullain S, Doody R. What works and what does not work in Alzheimer's disease? From interventions on risk factors to anti-amyloid trials. J Neurochem 2020; 155:120-136. [PMID: 32277473 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with no approved disease-modifying therapy (DMT). In this review, we summarize the various past approaches taken in an attempt to find treatments capable of altering the long-term course for individuals with AD, including: translating epidemiological observations into potential treatment options; seeking a single-treatment approach across the continuum of AD severity; utilizing biomarkers for assessing target engagement; using biomarkers as early surrogates of clinical efficacy; and enriching study populations to demonstrate adequate placebo decline during the limited duration of clinical trials. Although targeting the amyloid-β (Aβ) pathway has been central to the search for an effective DMT, to date, trials of anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies have failed to consistently demonstrate significant clinical efficacy. Key learnings from these anti-Aβ trials, as well as the trials that came before them, have shifted the focus within clinical development programs to identifying target populations thought most likely to benefit from treatments (i.e., individuals at an earlier stage of disease). Other learnings include strategies to increase the likelihood of showing measurable improvements within the clinical trial setting by better predicting decline in placebo participants, as well as developing measures to quantify the needed treatment exposure (e.g., higher doses). Given the complexity associated with AD pathology and progression, treatments targeting non-amyloid AD pathologies in combination with anti-amyloid therapies may offer an alternative for the successful development of DMTs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachelle Doody
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland.,Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, USA
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26
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Agrawal N, Skelton AA. Structure and Function of Alzheimer’s Amyloid βeta Proteins from Monomer to Fibrils: A Mini Review. Protein J 2019; 38:425-434. [DOI: 10.1007/s10930-019-09854-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Milne R. The rare and the common: scale and the genetic imaginary in Alzheimer's disease drug development. NEW GENETICS AND SOCIETY 2019; 39:101-126. [PMID: 32256202 PMCID: PMC7077363 DOI: 10.1080/14636778.2019.1637718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this paper I examine how the promissory value of genetics is constituted through processes of scale and scaling, focussing on the relationship between "rare" and "common" forms of disease. I highlight the bodies and spaces involved in the production of post-genomic knowledge and technologies of Alzheimer's disease and the development of new disease-modifying drugs. I focus on the example of the development of a monoclonal antibody therapy for Alzheimer's disease. I argue that the process of therapeutic innovation, from genetic studies and animal models to phase III clinical trials, reflects the persistent importance of a genetic imaginary and a mutually constitutive relationship between the rare and the common in in shaping visions of Alzheimer's disease medicine. Approaching this relationship as a question of scale, I suggest the importance of attending to how and where genomic knowledge is "scaled" or proves resistant to scaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Milne
- Wellcome Genome Campus – Society and Ethics Research Group, Cambridge, UK
- Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Dionisio-Santos DA, Olschowka JA, O'Banion MK. Exploiting microglial and peripheral immune cell crosstalk to treat Alzheimer's disease. J Neuroinflammation 2019; 16:74. [PMID: 30953557 PMCID: PMC6449993 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-019-1453-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is considered one of the cardinal features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Neuritic plaques composed of amyloid β and neurofibrillary tangle-laden neurons are surrounded by reactive astrocytes and microglia. Exposure of microglia, the resident myeloid cell of the CNS, to amyloid β causes these cells to acquire an inflammatory phenotype. While these reactive microglia are important to contain and phagocytose amyloid plaques, their activated phenotype impacts CNS homeostasis. In rodent models, increased neuroinflammation promoted by overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines can cause an increase in hyperphosphorylated tau and a decrease in hippocampal function. The peripheral immune system can also play a detrimental or beneficial role in CNS inflammation. Systemic inflammation can increase the risk of developing AD dementia, and chemokines released directly by microglia or indirectly by endothelial cells can attract monocytes and T lymphocytes to the CNS. These peripheral immune cells can aid in amyloid β clearance or modulate microglia responses, depending on the cell type. As such, several groups have targeted the peripheral immune system to modulate chronic neuroinflammation. In this review, we focus on the interplay of immunomodulating factors and cell types that are being investigated as possible therapeutic targets for the treatment or prevention of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawling A Dionisio-Santos
- Department of Neuroscience, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 603, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - John A Olschowka
- Department of Neuroscience, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 603, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - M Kerry O'Banion
- Department of Neuroscience, Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 603, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
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Weihofen A, Liu Y, Arndt JW, Huy C, Quan C, Smith BA, Baeriswyl JL, Cavegn N, Senn L, Su L, Marsh G, Auluck PK, Montrasio F, Nitsch RM, Hirst WD, Cedarbaum JM, Pepinsky RB, Grimm J, Weinreb PH. Development of an aggregate-selective, human-derived α-synuclein antibody BIIB054 that ameliorates disease phenotypes in Parkinson's disease models. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 124:276-288. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
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Overk C, Masliah E. Dale Schenk One Year Anniversary: Fighting to Preserve the Memories. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 62:1-13. [PMID: 29439357 DOI: 10.3233/jad-171071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
It has been a year since we lost Dale Schenk on September 30, 2016. Dale's visionary work resulted in the remarkable discovery in 1999 that an experimental amyloid-β (Aβ) vaccine reduced the neurodegeneration in a transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Following Dale's seminal work, several active and passive immunotherapies have since been developed and tested in the clinic for AD, Parkinson's disease (PD), and other neurodegenerative disorders. Here we provide a brief overview of the current state of development of immunotherapy for AD, PD, and other neurodegenerative disorders in the context of this anniversary. The next steps in the development of immunotherapies will require combinatorial approaches mixing antibodies against various targets (e.g., Aβ, α-syn, Tau, and TDP43) with small molecules that block toxicity, aggregation, inflammation, and promote cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassia Overk
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Division of Neurosciences and Molecular Neuropathology Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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31
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Mullane K, Williams M. The de-Alzheimerization of age-related dementias: implications for drug targets and approaches to effective therapeutics. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2019; 44:62-75. [PMID: 30795894 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2019.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) was differentiated from senile dementia (SD) in 1910 due to its early onset and pathological severity. In 1976, this distinction was upended when SD was redesignated as AD to focus efforts and funding in dementia-related research. AD then became conflated with amyloid plaques and, to a lesser degree, neurofibrillary tangles complicating efforts in understanding dementia causality and its treatment. The resultant four-decade search for therapies-based almost exclusively on amyloid was an exercise in futility. While dementia is a complex, multifactorial syndrome, AD is viewed as a homogeneous, linear disease. An amyloid-agnostic approach is necessary to discover therapeutics for age-related dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Mullane
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Michael Williams
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.
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32
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Panza F, Lozupone M, Logroscino G, Imbimbo BP. A critical appraisal of amyloid-β-targeting therapies for Alzheimer disease. Nat Rev Neurol 2019; 15:73-88. [DOI: 10.1038/s41582-018-0116-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 459] [Impact Index Per Article: 91.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Morsy A, Trippier PC. Current and Emerging Pharmacological Targets for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 72:S145-S176. [PMID: 31594236 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
No cure or disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has yet been realized. However, a multitude of pharmacological targets have been identified for possible engagement to enable drug discovery efforts for AD. Herein, we review these targets comprised around three main therapeutic strategies. First is an approach that targets the main pathological hallmarks of AD: amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers and hyperphosphorylated tau tangles which primarily focuses on reducing formation and aggregation, and/or inducing their clearance. Second is a strategy that modulates neurotransmitter signaling. Comprising this strategy are the cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor blockade treatments that are clinically approved for the symptomatic treatment of AD. Additional targets that aim to stabilize neuron signaling through modulation of neurotransmitters and their receptors are also discussed. Finally, the third approach comprises a collection of 'sensitive targets' that indirectly influence Aβ or tau accumulation. These targets are proteins that upon Aβ accumulation in the brain or direct Aβ-target interaction, a modification in the target's function is induced. The process occurs early in disease progression, ultimately causing neuronal dysfunction. This strategy aims to restore normal target function to alleviate Aβ-induced toxicity in neurons. Overall, we generally limit our analysis to targets that have emerged in the last decade and targets that have been validated using small molecules in in vitro and/or in vivo models. This review is not an exhaustive list of all possible targets for AD but serves to highlight the most promising and critical targets suitable for small molecule drug intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Morsy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
| | - Paul C Trippier
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
- UNMC Center for Drug Discovery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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Kroetsch A, Qiao C, Heavey M, Guo L, Shah DK, Park S. Engineered pH-dependent recycling antibodies enhance elimination of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B superantigen in mice. MAbs 2018; 11:411-421. [PMID: 30526311 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2018.1545510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A new modality in antibody engineering has emerged in which the antigen affinity is designed to be pH dependent (PHD). In particular, combining high affinity binding at neutral pH with low affinity binding at acidic pH leads to a novel antibody that can more effectively neutralize the target antigen while avoiding antibody-mediated antigen accumulation. Here, we studied how the in vivo pharmacokinetics of the superantigen, Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), is affected by an engineered antibody with pH-dependent binding. PHD anti-SEB antibodies were engineered by introducing mutations into a high affinity anti-SEB antibody, 3E2, by rational design and directed evolution. Three antibody mutants engineered in the study have an affinity at pH 6.0 that is up to 68-fold weaker than the control antibody. The pH dependency of each mutant, measured as the pH-dependent affinity ratio (PAR - ratio of affinity at pH 7.4 and pH 6.0), ranged from 6.7-11.5 compared to 1.5 for the control antibody. The antibodies were characterized in mice by measuring their effects on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics (PK) of SEB after co-administration. All antibodies were effective in neutralizing the toxin and reducing the toxin-induced cytokine production. However, engineered PHD antibodies led to significantly faster elimination of the toxin from the circulation than wild type 3E2. The area under the curve computed from the SEB PK profile correlated well with the PAR value of antibody, indicating the importance of fine tuning the pH dependency of binding. These results suggest that a PHD recycling antibody may be useful to treat intoxication from a bacterial toxin by accelerating its clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Kroetsch
- a Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering , University at Buffalo , Buffalo , New York , USA
| | - Chunxia Qiao
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University at Buffalo , Buffalo , New York , USA
| | - Mairead Heavey
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University at Buffalo , Buffalo , New York , USA
| | - Leiming Guo
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University at Buffalo , Buffalo , New York , USA
| | - Dhaval K Shah
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University at Buffalo , Buffalo , New York , USA
| | - Sheldon Park
- a Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering , University at Buffalo , Buffalo , New York , USA
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Palombo F, Masia F, Mattana S, Tamagnini F, Borri P, Langbein W, Fioretto D. Hyperspectral analysis applied to micro-Brillouin maps of amyloid-beta plaques in Alzheimer's disease brains. Analyst 2018; 143:6095-6102. [PMID: 30460364 PMCID: PMC6336087 DOI: 10.1039/c8an01291a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
A recent investigation on the architecture and chemical composition of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques in ex vivo histological sections of an Aβ-overexpressing transgenic mouse hippocampus has shed light on the infrared light signature of cell-activation related biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. A correlation was highlighted between the biomechanical properties detected by Brillouin microscopy and the molecular make-up of Aβ plaques provided by FTIR spectroscopic imaging and Raman microscopy (with correlative immunofluorescence imaging) in this animal model of the disease. In the Brillouin spectra of heterogeneous materials such as biomedical samples, peaks are likely the result of multiple contributions, more or less overlaid on a spatial and spectral scale. The ability to disentangle these contributions is very important as it may give access to discrete components that would otherwise be buried within the Brillouin peak envelope. Here, we applied an unsupervised non-negative matrix factorization method to analyse the spontaneous Brillouin microscopy maps of Aβ plaques in transgenic mouse hippocampal sections. The method has already been proven successful in decomposing chemical images and is applied here for the first time to acoustic maps acquired with a Fabry-Perot Brillouin microscope. We extracted and visualised a decrease in tissue rigidity from the core through to the periphery of the plaque, with spatially distinct components that we assigned to specific entities. This work demonstrates that it is possible to reveal the structure and mechanical properties of Aβ plaques, with details visualized by the projection of the mechanical contrast into a few relevant channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Palombo
- University of Exeter, School of Physics and Astronomy, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK.
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36
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Lewczuk P, Riederer P, O’Bryant SE, Verbeek MM, Dubois B, Visser PJ, Jellinger KA, Engelborghs S, Ramirez A, Parnetti L, Jack CR, Teunissen CE, Hampel H, Lleó A, Jessen F, Glodzik L, de Leon MJ, Fagan AM, Molinuevo JL, Jansen WJ, Winblad B, Shaw LM, Andreasson U, Otto M, Mollenhauer B, Wiltfang J, Turner MR, Zerr I, Handels R, Thompson AG, Johansson G, Ermann N, Trojanowski JQ, Karaca I, Wagner H, Oeckl P, van Waalwijk van Doorn L, Bjerke M, Kapogiannis D, Kuiperij HB, Farotti L, Li Y, Gordon BA, Epelbaum S, Vos SJB, Klijn CJM, Van Nostrand WE, Minguillon C, Schmitz M, Gallo C, Mato AL, Thibaut F, Lista S, Alcolea D, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Kornhuber J, Riederer P, Gallo C, Kapogiannis D, Mato AL, Thibaut F. Cerebrospinal fluid and blood biomarkers for neurodegenerative dementias: An update of the Consensus of the Task Force on Biological Markers in Psychiatry of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry. World J Biol Psychiatry 2018; 19:244-328. [PMID: 29076399 PMCID: PMC5916324 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2017.1375556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the 12 years since the publication of the first Consensus Paper of the WFSBP on biomarkers of neurodegenerative dementias, enormous advancement has taken place in the field, and the Task Force takes now the opportunity to extend and update the original paper. New concepts of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the conceptual interactions between AD and dementia due to AD were developed, resulting in two sets for diagnostic/research criteria. Procedures for pre-analytical sample handling, biobanking, analyses and post-analytical interpretation of the results were intensively studied and optimised. A global quality control project was introduced to evaluate and monitor the inter-centre variability in measurements with the goal of harmonisation of results. Contexts of use and how to approach candidate biomarkers in biological specimens other than cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), e.g. blood, were precisely defined. Important development was achieved in neuroimaging techniques, including studies comparing amyloid-β positron emission tomography results to fluid-based modalities. Similarly, development in research laboratory technologies, such as ultra-sensitive methods, raises our hopes to further improve analytical and diagnostic accuracy of classic and novel candidate biomarkers. Synergistically, advancement in clinical trials of anti-dementia therapies energises and motivates the efforts to find and optimise the most reliable early diagnostic modalities. Finally, the first studies were published addressing the potential of cost-effectiveness of the biomarkers-based diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Lewczuk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, and Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Neurodegeneration Diagnostics, Medical University of Białystok, and Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, University Hospital of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Peter Riederer
- Center of Mental Health, Clinic and Policlinic of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sid E. O’Bryant
- Institute for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
| | - Marcel M. Verbeek
- Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud Alzheimer Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud Alzheimer center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bruno Dubois
- Institut de la Mémoire et de la Maladie d’Alzheimer (IM2A), Salpêtrièrie Hospital, INSERM UMR-S 975 (ICM), Paris 6 University, Paris, France
| | - Pieter Jelle Visser
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Sebastiaan Engelborghs
- Reference Center for Biological Markers of Dementia (BIODEM), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Neurology and Memory Clinic, Hospital Network Antwerp (ZNA) Middelheim and Hoge Beuken, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Alfredo Ramirez
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lucilla Parnetti
- Section of Neurology, Center for Memory Disturbances, Lab of Clinical Neurochemistry, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Charlotte E. Teunissen
- Neurochemistry Lab and Biobank, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Harald Hampel
- AXA Research Fund & UPMC Chair, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (ICM), Département de Neurologie, Institut de la Mémoire et de la Maladie d’Alzheimer (IM2A), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Boulevard de l’hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Alberto Lleó
- Department of Neurology, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau - Hospital de Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Spain
| | - Frank Jessen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Lidia Glodzik
- Center for Brain Health, Department of Psychiatry, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mony J. de Leon
- Center for Brain Health, Department of Psychiatry, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anne M. Fagan
- Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - José Luis Molinuevo
- Barcelonabeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Willemijn J. Jansen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Bengt Winblad
- Karolinska Institutet, Department NVS, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Leslie M. Shaw
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ulf Andreasson
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Brit Mollenhauer
- Paracelsus-Elena-Klinik, Kassel and University Medical Center Göttingen, Department of Neurology, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jens Wiltfang
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
- iBiMED, Medical Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Martin R. Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Inga Zerr
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
- Clinical Dementia Centre, Department of Neurology, University Medical School, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ron Handels
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Karolinska Institutet, Department NVS, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Huddinge, Sweden
| | | | - Gunilla Johansson
- Karolinska Institutet, Department NVS, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Natalia Ermann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, and Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - John Q. Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ilker Karaca
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Holger Wagner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Patrick Oeckl
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Linda van Waalwijk van Doorn
- Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud Alzheimer Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud Alzheimer center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Bjerke
- Reference Center for Biological Markers of Dementia (BIODEM), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dimitrios Kapogiannis
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health (NIA/NIH), Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - H. Bea Kuiperij
- Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud Alzheimer Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud Alzheimer center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lucia Farotti
- Section of Neurology, Center for Memory Disturbances, Lab of Clinical Neurochemistry, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Yi Li
- Center for Brain Health, Department of Psychiatry, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian A. Gordon
- Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stéphane Epelbaum
- Institut de la Mémoire et de la Maladie d’Alzheimer (IM2A), Salpêtrièrie Hospital, INSERM UMR-S 975 (ICM), Paris 6 University, Paris, France
| | - Stephanie J. B. Vos
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Catharina J. M. Klijn
- Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud Alzheimer Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Carolina Minguillon
- Barcelonabeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Matthias Schmitz
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
- Clinical Dementia Centre, Department of Neurology, University Medical School, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carla Gallo
- Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares/Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Andrea Lopez Mato
- Chair of Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology, Maimonides University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Florence Thibaut
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cochin-Site Tarnier 89 rue d’Assas, INSERM 894, Faculty of Medicine Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Simone Lista
- AXA Research Fund & UPMC Chair, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (ICM), Département de Neurologie, Institut de la Mémoire et de la Maladie d’Alzheimer (IM2A), Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Boulevard de l’hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Daniel Alcolea
- Department of Neurology, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques Sant Pau - Hospital de Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Spain
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, and Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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37
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Greene D, Po T, Pan J, Tabibian T, Luo R. Computational Analysis for the Rational Design of Anti-Amyloid Beta (Aβ) Antibodies. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:4521-4536. [PMID: 29617557 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b01837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that lacks effective treatment options. Anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) antibodies are the leading drug candidates to treat AD, but the results of clinical trials have been disappointing. Introducing rational mutations into anti-Aβ antibodies to increase their effectiveness is a way forward, but the path to take is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate the use of computational fragment-based docking and MMPBSA binding free energy calculations in the analysis of anti-Aβ antibodies for rational drug design efforts. Our fragment-based docking method successfully predicts the emergence of the common EFRH epitope. MD simulations coupled with MMPBSA binding free energy calculations are used to analyze scenarios described in prior studies, and we computationally introduce rational mutations into PFA1 to predict mutations that can improve its binding affinity toward the pE3-Aβ3-8 form of Aβ. Two out of our four proposed mutations are predicted to stabilize binding. Our study demonstrates that a computational approach may lead to an improved drug candidate for AD in the future.
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Hampel H, Vergallo A, Aguilar LF, Benda N, Broich K, Cuello AC, Cummings J, Dubois B, Federoff HJ, Fiandaca M, Genthon R, Haberkamp M, Karran E, Mapstone M, Perry G, Schneider LS, Welikovitch LA, Woodcock J, Baldacci F, Lista S. Precision pharmacology for Alzheimer’s disease. Pharmacol Res 2018; 130:331-365. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Kimmelman J. Better to be in The Placebo Arm for Trials of Neurological Therapies? Cell Transplant 2018; 27:677-681. [PMID: 29855198 PMCID: PMC6041887 DOI: 10.1177/0963689718755708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with progressive neurodegenerative diseases often pursue trial entry seeking to access cutting edge therapies. However, cutting edge therapies for neurodegenerative diseases tend to have higher adverse event rates and underperform placebo. This essay argues that patients seeking trial entry are probably better off, medically, by being assigned to the placebo arm. Because trials involve extra clinic visits and research procedures, patients may be still better off medically by skipping trial participation altogether. I close by arguing that the Neurology research community might better honor the contributions of research subjects by pressing sponsors to promptly publish the results of non-positive trials, minimizing the use of uneven randomization ratios that favor assignment to the investigational treatment, and by fostering systematic collection of data on the risk/benefit balance of trial participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Kimmelman
- Studies of Translation, Ethics, and Medicine (STREAM), Biomedical Ethics
Unit / Social Studies of Medicine at McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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40
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Wang Q, Delva L, Weinreb PH, Pepinsky RB, Graham D, Veizaj E, Cheung AE, Chen W, Nestorov I, Rohde E, Caputo R, Kuesters GM, Bohnert T, Gan LS. Monoclonal antibody exposure in rat and cynomolgus monkey cerebrospinal fluid following systemic administration. Fluids Barriers CNS 2018; 15:10. [PMID: 29558954 PMCID: PMC5861715 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-018-0093-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Many studies have focused on the challenges of small molecule uptake across the blood–brain barrier, whereas few in-depth studies have assessed the challenges with the uptake of antibodies into the central nervous system (CNS). In drug development, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling is routinely used as a surrogate for assessing CNS drug exposure and biomarker levels. In this report, we have studied the kinetic correlation between CSF and serum drug concentration–time profiles for five humanized monoclonal antibodies in rats and cynomolgus monkeys and analyzed factors that affect their CSF exposure. Results Upon intravenous (IV) bolus injection, antibodies entered the CNS slowly and reached maximum CSF concentration (CSFTmax) in one to several days in both rats and monkeys. Antibody serum and CSF concentration–time curves converged until they became parallel after CSFTmax was reached. Antibody half-lives in CSF (CSFt½) approximated their serum half-lives (serumt½). Although the intended targets of these antibodies were different, the steady-state CSF to serum concentration ratios were similar at 0.1–0.2% in both species. Independent of antibody target and serum concentration, CSF-to-serum concentration ratios for individual monkeys ranged by up to tenfold from 0.03 to 0.3%. Conclusion Upon systemic administration, average antibodies CSF-to-serum concentration ratios in rats and monkeys were 0.1–0.2%. The CSFt½ of the antibodies was largely determined by their long systemic t½ (systemict½).
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Wang
- Biogen, Inc., 250 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
| | - Luisette Delva
- Biogen, Inc., 250 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Paul H Weinreb
- Biogen, Inc., 250 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | | | | | - Elvana Veizaj
- Biogen, Inc., 250 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Anne E Cheung
- Biogen, Inc., 250 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.,Ribon Therapeutic, 99 Hayden Ave #100, Lexington, MA, 02421, USA
| | - Weiping Chen
- Biogen, Inc., 250 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Ivan Nestorov
- Biogen, Inc., 250 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Ellen Rohde
- Biogen, Inc., 250 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.,Intellia Therapeutics, 40 Erie St, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Robin Caputo
- Biogen, Inc., 250 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.,Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, 790 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Kuesters
- Biogen, Inc., 250 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.,Merrimack pharmaceuticals, 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Tonika Bohnert
- Biogen, Inc., 250 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Liang-Shang Gan
- Biogen, Inc., 250 Binney Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.,Foresee pharmaceuticals, 1 Innovation Way, Suite 100, Newark, DE, 19711, USA
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van Dyck CH. Anti-Amyloid-β Monoclonal Antibodies for Alzheimer's Disease: Pitfalls and Promise. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:311-319. [PMID: 28967385 PMCID: PMC5767539 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 351] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The majority of putative disease-modifying treatments in development for Alzheimer's disease are directed against the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. Among the anti-Aβ therapeutic approaches, the most extensively developed is immunotherapy-specifically, passive immunization through administration of exogenous monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Although testing of mAbs has been fraught with failure and confusing results, the experience gained from these trials has provided important clues for better treatments. This review summarizes the experience to date with anti-Aβ mAbs to enter clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease and examines the evidence for clinical efficacy and the major problems with safety-i.e., amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. As mAbs differ considerably with regard to their epitopes and the conformations of Aβ that they recognize (monomers, oligomers, protofibrils, fibrils), the consequences of targeting different species are also considered. An often-cited explanation for the failure of anti-Aβ mAb trials is that they are set too late in the disease process. New trials are indeed evaluating treatments at prodromal and preclinical stages. We should expect to see additional studies of presymptomatic Alzheimer's disease to join the ongoing prevention trials, for which mAbs continue to serve as the mainstay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher H. van Dyck
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit and Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Innes KE, Selfe TK, Brundage K, Montgomery C, Wen S, Kandati S, Bowles H, Khalsa DS, Huysmans Z. Effects of Meditation and Music-Listening on Blood Biomarkers of Cellular Aging and Alzheimer's Disease in Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline: An Exploratory Randomized Clinical Trial. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 66:947-970. [PMID: 30320574 PMCID: PMC6388631 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere length (TL), telomerase activity (TA), and plasma amyloid-β (Aβ) levels have emerged as possible predictors of cognitive decline and dementia. OBJECTIVE To assess the: 1) effects of two 12-week relaxation programs on TL, TA, and Aβ levels in adults with subjective cognitive decline; and 2) relationship of biomarker changes to those in cognitive function, psychosocial status, and quality of life (QOL). METHODS Participants were randomized to a 12-week Kirtan Kriya meditation (KK) or music listening (ML) program and asked to practice 12 minutes/day. Plasma Aβ(38/40/42) and peripheral blood mononuclear cell TL and TA were measured at baseline and 3 months. Cognition, stress, sleep, mood, and QOL were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. RESULTS Baseline blood samples were available for 53 participants (25 KK, 28 ML). The KK group showed significantly greater increases in Aβ40 than the ML group. TA rose in both groups, although increases were significant only among those with higher practice adherence and lower baseline TA. Changes in both TL and TA varied by their baseline values, with greater increases among participants with values ≤50th percentile (ps-interaction <0.006). Both groups improved in cognitive and psychosocial status (ps ≤0.05), with improvements in stress, mood, and QOL greater in the KK group. Rising Aβ levels were correlated with gains in cognitive function, mood, sleep, and QOL at both 3 and 6 months, associations that were particularly pronounced in the KK group. Increases in TL and TA were also correlated with improvements in certain cognitive and psychosocial measures. CONCLUSION Practice of simple mind-body therapies may alter plasma Aβ levels, TL, and TA. Biomarker increases were associated with improvements in cognitive function, sleep, mood, and QOL, suggesting potential functional relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim E. Innes
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, West Virginia University (WVU) Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Terry Kit Selfe
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, West Virginia University (WVU) Morgantown, WV, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Information Services, Health Science Center Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kathleen Brundage
- Department of Microbiology, Flow Cytometry & Single Cell Core Facility, Immunology & Cell Biology, School of Medicine, WVU Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Caitlin Montgomery
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, West Virginia University (WVU) Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Sijin Wen
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, WVU, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Sahiti Kandati
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, West Virginia University (WVU) Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Hannah Bowles
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, West Virginia University (WVU) Morgantown, WV, USA
| | | | - Zenzi Huysmans
- College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, WVU, Morgantown, WV, USA
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Shahpasand K, Sepehri Shamloo A, Nabavi SM, Ping Lu K, Zhen Zhou X. "Tau immunotherapy: Hopes and hindrances". Hum Vaccin Immunother 2017; 14:277-284. [PMID: 29049003 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1393594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder having two major pathological hallmarks: the extracellular senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles composed of amyloid beta protein and hyperphosphorylated tau respectively. Removal of protein deposits from AD brains are the newer attempts for treating AD. The major developments in this direction have been the amyloid and tau based therapeutics. While senile plaque removal employing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) restore brain function in mouse models of AD, tau has been recently introduced as the major neurodegenerative factor mediating neural cell death. So, several research groups have focused on tau therapy. So far, the outcome of tau immunotherapy has been promising and clearance of hyperphosphorylated tau has been shown to restore the brain function in animal models. But the point is which phosphorylated tau is the most critical form to be removed from the brain, especially because removal of physiologic tau can cause neurodegenerative consequence. Recently, we have shown that phosphorylated tau at Thr231 in the cis conformation is a very early driver of neurodegeneration and cis mAb treatment efficiently restores brain structure and function in TBI models. Because of efficient therapeutic effects in mice model of TBI and considering cis pT231-tau accumulation in AD brains, it could be a very good candidate for tau immunotherapy upon several tauopathy disorders including AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koorosh Shahpasand
- a Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences , Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR , Tehran , Iran
| | - Alireza Sepehri Shamloo
- a Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences , Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR , Tehran , Iran
| | - Seyed Massood Nabavi
- a Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences , Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR , Tehran , Iran
| | - Kun Ping Lu
- b Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Medicine , Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.,c Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Xiao Zhen Zhou
- b Division of Translational Therapeutics, Department of Medicine , Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.,c Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
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45
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Amyloid β oligomers (AβOs) in Alzheimer's disease. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2017; 125:177-191. [PMID: 29196815 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-017-1820-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The causative role of amyloid β 1-42 (Aβ42) aggregation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been under debate for over 25 years. Primarily, scientific efforts have focused on the dyshomeostasis between production and clearance of Aβ42. This imbalance may result from mutations either in genes for the substrate, i.e., amyloid precursor protein or in genes encoding presenilin, the enzyme of the reaction that generates Aβ42. Currently, it is supposed that soluble oligomers of amyloid beta (AβOs) and not fibrillar Aβ42 within neuritic plaques may be the toxic factors acting on a very early stage of AD, perhaps even initiating pathological cascade. For example, soluble AβOs isolated from AD patients' brains reduced number of synapses, inhibited long-term potentiation, and enhanced long-term synaptic depression in brain regions responsible for memory in animal models of AD. Concentrations of AβOs in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD patients are often reported higher than in non-demented controls, and show a negative correlation with mini-mental state examination scores. Furthermore, increased Aβ42/oligomer ratio in the CSF of AD/MCI patients indicated that the presence of soluble AβOs in CSF may be linked to lowering of natively measured monomeric Aβ42 by epitopes masking, and hence, concentrations of AβOs in the CSF are postulated to as useful AD biomarkers.
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Panza F, Seripa D, Lozupone M, Solfrizzi V, Imbimbo BP, Barulli MR, Tortelli R, Capozzo R, Bisceglia P, Dimitri A, Stallone R, Dibello V, Quaranta N, Daniele A, Bellomo A, Greco A, Logroscino G. The potential of solanezumab and gantenerumab to prevent Alzheimer’s disease in people with inherited mutations that cause its early onset. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2017; 18:25-35. [DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2018.1389885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Panza
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Basic Medicine Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’ at ‘Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico’, Tricase, Italy
- Geriatric Unit and Gerontology-Geriatrics Research Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Davide Seripa
- Geriatric Unit and Gerontology-Geriatrics Research Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Madia Lozupone
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Basic Medicine Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Solfrizzi
- Geriatric Medicine-Memory Unit and Rare Disease Centre, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
| | - Bruno P. Imbimbo
- Research & Development Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Barulli
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’ at ‘Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico’, Tricase, Italy
| | - Rosanna Tortelli
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’ at ‘Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico’, Tricase, Italy
| | - Rosa Capozzo
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’ at ‘Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico’, Tricase, Italy
| | - Paola Bisceglia
- Geriatric Unit and Gerontology-Geriatrics Research Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Andrea Dimitri
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
| | - Roberta Stallone
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Basic Medicine Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
| | - Vittorio Dibello
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine (DIM), Section of Dentistry, University of Bari Aldo, Moro, Italy
| | - Nicola Quaranta
- Otolaryngology Unit, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Daniele
- Institute of Neurology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Bellomo
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Greco
- Geriatric Unit and Gerontology-Geriatrics Research Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Basic Medicine Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’ at ‘Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico’, Tricase, Italy
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Gallardo G, Holtzman DM. Antibody Therapeutics Targeting Aβ and Tau. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2017; 7:cshperspect.a024331. [PMID: 28062555 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a024331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The astonishing findings that active and passive immunization against amyloid-β (Aβ) in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dramatically decreased amyloid burden led to a rapid initiation of human clinical trials with much enthusiasm. However, methodological issues and adverse effects relating to these clinical trials arose, challenging the effectiveness and safety of these reagents. Efforts are now underway to develop safer immunotherapeutic approaches toward Aβ and the treatment of individuals at risk for AD before or in the earliest stages of cognitive decline with new hopes. Furthermore, several studies have shown tau as a potential immunotherapeutic target for the treatment of tauopathy-related diseases including frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD). Both active and passive immunization targeting tau in mouse models of tauopathy effectively decreased tau pathology while improving cognitive performance. These preclinical studies have highlighted tau as an alternative target with much anticipation of clinical trials to be undertaken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert Gallardo
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, and Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - David M Holtzman
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, and Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
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Wang Y, Yan T, Lu H, Yin W, Lin B, Fan W, Zhang X, Fernandez-Funez P. Lessons from Anti-Amyloid-β Immunotherapies in Alzheimer Disease: Aiming at a Moving Target. NEURODEGENER DIS 2017; 17:242-250. [DOI: 10.1159/000478741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 06/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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49
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Freskgård PO, Urich E. Antibody therapies in CNS diseases. Neuropharmacology 2017; 120:38-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug delivery to the brain is a major roadblock to treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Recent results of the PRIME study indicate that increasing brain penetration of antibody drugs improves Alzheimer's treatment outcomes. New approaches are needed to better accomplish this goal. Based on prior evidence, the hypothesis that glycan modification alters antibody blood-brain barrier permeability was tested here. METHODS The blood-brain barrier permeability coefficient Pe of different glycosylated states of anti-amyloid IgG was measured using in vitro models of brain microvascular endothelial cells. Monoclonal antibodies 4G8, with sialic acid, and 6E10, lacking sialic acid, were studied. The amount of sialic acid was determined using quantitative and semi-quantitative surface plasmon resonance methods. RESULTS Influx of IgG was not saturable and was largely insensitive to IgG species and glycosylation state. By contrast, efflux of 4G8 efflux was significantly lower than both albumin controls and 6E10. Removal of α2,6-linked sialic acid group present on 12% of 4G8 completely restored efflux to that of 6E10 but increasing the α2,6-sialylated fraction to 15% resulted in no change. Removal of the Fc glycan from 4G8 partially restored efflux. Alternate sialic acid groups with α2,3 and α2,8 linkages, nor on the Fc glycan, were not detected at significant levels on either 4G8 or 6E10. CONCLUSIONS These results support a model in which surface-sialylated 4G8 inhibits its own efflux and that of asialylated 4G8. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Glycan modification has the potential to increase antibody drug penetration into the brain through efflux inhibition.
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