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Ahmed T. Lipid nanoparticle mediated small interfering RNA delivery as a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:2915-2954. [PMID: 38622050 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16336] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition that exhibits a gradual decline in cognitive function and is prevalent among a significant number of individuals globally. The use of small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules in RNA interference (RNAi) presents a promising therapeutic strategy for AD. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been developed as a delivery vehicle for siRNA, which can selectively suppress target genes, by enhancing cellular uptake and safeguarding siRNA from degradation. Numerous research studies have exhibited the effectiveness of LNP-mediated siRNA delivery in reducing amyloid beta (Aβ) levels and enhancing cognitive function in animal models of AD. The feasibility of employing LNP-mediated siRNA delivery as a therapeutic approach for AD is emphasized by the encouraging outcomes reported in clinical studies for other medical conditions. The use of LNP-mediated siRNA delivery has emerged as a promising strategy to slow down or even reverse the progression of AD by targeting the synthesis of tau phosphorylation and other genes linked to the condition. Improvement of the delivery mechanism and determination of the most suitable siRNA targets are crucial for the efficacious management of AD. This review focuses on the delivery of siRNA through LNPs as a promising therapeutic strategy for AD, based on the available literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanvir Ahmed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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2
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Zangiabadi M, Ghosh A, Zhao Y. Nanoparticle Scanners for the Identification of Key Sequences Involved in the Assembly and Disassembly of β-Amyloid Peptides. ACS NANO 2023; 17:4764-4774. [PMID: 36857741 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c11186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The aggregation of β-amyloid peptides (Aβ), implied in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease, is driven by a complex set of intramolecular and intermolecular interactions involving both hydrophobic and polar residues. The key residues responsible for the forward assembling process may be different from those that should be targeted to disassemble already formed aggregates. Molecularly imprinted nanoparticle (MINP) receptors are reported in this work to strongly and selectively bind specific segments of Aβ40. Combined fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy indicate that binding residues 21-30 near the loop region is most effective at inhibiting the aggregation of monomeric Aβ40, but residues 11-20 that include the internal β strand closer to the N-terminal represent the best target for disaggregating already formed aggregates in the polymerization phase. Once the aggregation proceeds to the saturation phase, binding residues 1-10 has the largest effect on the disaggregation, likely because of the accessibility of these amino acids relative to others to the MINP receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Zangiabadi
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-3111, United States
| | - Avijit Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-3111, United States
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-3111, United States
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3
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Sharma S, Modi P, Sharma G, Deep S. Kinetics theories to understand the mechanism of aggregation of a protein and to design strategies for its inhibition. Biophys Chem 2021; 278:106665. [PMID: 34419715 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2021.106665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Protein aggregation phenomenon is closely related to the formation of amyloids which results in many neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In order to prevent and treat these diseases, a clear understanding of the mechanism of misfolding and self-assembly of peptides and proteins is very crucial. The aggregation of a protein may involve various microscopic events. Multiple simulations utilizing the solutions of the master equation have given a better understanding of the kinetic profiles involved in the presence and absence of a particular microscopic event. This review focuses on understanding the contribution of these molecular events to protein aggregation based on the analysis of kinetic profiles of aggregation. We also discuss the effect of inhibitors, which target various species of aggregation pathways, on the kinetic profile of protein aggregation. At the end of this review, some strategies for the inhibition of aggregation that can be utilized by combining the chemical kinetics approach with thermodynamics are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Priya Modi
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Gargi Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Shashank Deep
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
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4
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Salahuddin P, Khan RH, Furkan M, Uversky VN, Islam Z, Fatima MT. Mechanisms of amyloid proteins aggregation and their inhibition by antibodies, small molecule inhibitors, nano-particles and nano-bodies. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 186:580-590. [PMID: 34271045 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.07.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Protein misfolding and aggregation can be induced by a wide variety of factors, such as dominant disease-associated mutations, changes in the environmental conditions (pH, temperature, ionic strength, protein concentration, exposure to transition metal ions, exposure to toxins, posttranslational modifications including glycation, phosphorylation, and sulfation). Misfolded intermediates interact with similar intermediates and progressively form dimers, oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils. In amyloidoses, fibrillar aggregates are deposited in the tissues either as intracellular inclusion or extracellular plaques (amyloid). When such proteinaceous deposit occurs in the neuronal cells, it initiates degeneration of neurons and consequently resulting in the manifestation of various neurodegenerative diseases. Several different types of molecules have been designed and tested both in vitro and in vivo to evaluate their anti-amyloidogenic efficacies. For instance, the native structure of a protein associated with amyloidosis could be stabilized by ligands, antibodies could be used to remove plaques, oligomer-specific antibody A11 could be used to remove oligomers, or prefibrillar aggregates could be removed by affibodies. Keeping the above views in mind, in this review we have discussed protein misfolding and aggregation, mechanisms of protein aggregation, factors responsible for aggregations, and strategies for aggregation inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parveen Salahuddin
- DISC, Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, A.M.U., Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Rizwan Hasan Khan
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, A.M.U., Aligarh 202002, India.
| | - Mohammad Furkan
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, A.M.U., Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Protein Research Group, Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya Str., 7, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia; Department of Molecular Medicine and USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Zeyaul Islam
- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, P.O Box 5825, Doha, Qatar
| | - Munazza Tamkeen Fatima
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
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5
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Anti-Alzheimer's Molecules Derived from Marine Life: Understanding Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:md19050251. [PMID: 33925063 PMCID: PMC8146595 DOI: 10.3390/md19050251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia. It has been confirmed that the pathological processes that intervene in AD development are linked with oxidative damage to neurons, neuroinflammation, tau phosphorylation, amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation, glutamate excitotoxicity, and cholinergic deficit. Still, there is no available therapy that can cure AD. Available therapies only manage some of the AD symptoms at the early stages of AD. Various studies have revealed that bioactive compounds derived from marine organisms and plants can exert neuroprotective activities with fewer adverse events, as compared with synthetic drugs. Furthermore, marine organisms have been identified as a source of novel compounds with therapeutic potential. Thus, there is a growing interest regarding bioactive compounds derived from marine sources that have anti-AD potentials. Various marine drugs including bryostatin-1, homotaurine, anabaseine and its derivative, rifampicins, anhydroexfoliamycin, undecylprodigioisin, gracilins, 13-desmethyl spirolide-C, and dictyostatin displayed excellent bioavailability and efficacy against AD. Most of these marine drugs were found to be well-tolerated in AD patients, along with no significant drug-associated adverse events. In this review, we focus on the drugs derived from marine life that can be useful in AD treatment and also summarize the therapeutic agents that are currently used to treat AD.
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6
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Ng PY, Chang IS, Koh RY, Chye SM. Recent advances in tau-directed immunotherapy against Alzheimer's disease: an overview of pre-clinical and clinical development. Metab Brain Dis 2020; 35:1049-1066. [PMID: 32632666 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-020-00591-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been a worldwide concern for many years now. This is due to the fact that AD is an irreversible and progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects quality of life. Failure of some Phase II/III clinical trials in AD targeting accumulation of β-amyloid in the brain has led to an increase in interest in studying alternative treatments against tubulin-associated unit (Tau) pathology. These alternative treatments include active and passive immunisation. Based on numerous studies, Tau is reported as a potential immunotherapeutic target for tauopathy-related diseases including AD. Accumulation and aggregation of hyperphosphorylated Tau as neuropil threads and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) are pathological hallmarks of AD. Both active and passive immunisation targeting Tau protein have shown the capabilities to decrease or prevent Tau pathology and improve either motor or cognitive impairment in various animal models. In this review, we summarise recent advances in active and passive immunisation targeting pathological Tau protein, and will discuss with data obtained from both animal and human trials. Together, we give a brief overview about problems being encountered in these immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Ying Ng
- School of Postgraduate, International Medical University, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - I Shuen Chang
- School of Health Science, Division of Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, International Medical University, No. 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rhun Yian Koh
- School of Health Science, Division of Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, International Medical University, No. 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Soi Moi Chye
- School of Health Science, Division of Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, International Medical University, No. 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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7
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Plotkin SS, Cashman NR. Passive immunotherapies targeting Aβ and tau in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 144:105010. [PMID: 32682954 PMCID: PMC7365083 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau proteins currently represent the two most promising targets to treat Alzheimer's disease. The most extensively developed method to treat the pathologic forms of these proteins is through the administration of exogenous antibodies, or passive immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the molecular-level strategies that researchers are using to design an effective therapeutic antibody, given the challenges in treating this disease. These challenges include selectively targeting a protein that has misfolded or is pathological rather than the more abundant, healthy protein, designing strategic constructs for immunizing an animal to raise an antibody that has the appropriate conformational selectivity to achieve this end, and clearing the pathological protein species before prion-like cell-to-cell spread of misfolded protein has irreparably damaged neurons, without invoking damaging inflammatory responses in the brain that naturally arise when the innate immune system is clearing foreign agents. The various solutions to these problems in current clinical trials will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven S Plotkin
- University of British Columbia, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Genome Sciences and Technology Program, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada.
| | - Neil R Cashman
- University of British Columbia, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada.
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8
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Kwon S, Iba M, Kim C, Masliah E. Immunotherapies for Aging-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases-Emerging Perspectives and New Targets. Neurotherapeutics 2020; 17:935-954. [PMID: 32347461 PMCID: PMC7222955 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00853-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and vascular dementia (VCID) have no disease-modifying treatments to date and now constitute a dementia crisis that affects 5 million in the USA and over 50 million worldwide. The most common pathological hallmark of these age-related neurodegenerative diseases is the accumulation of specific proteins, including amyloid beta (Aβ), tau, α-synuclein (α-syn), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP43), and repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) peptides, in the intra- and extracellular spaces of selected brain regions. Whereas it remains controversial whether these accumulations are pathogenic or merely a byproduct of disease, the majority of therapeutic research has focused on clearing protein aggregates. Immunotherapies have garnered particular attention for their ability to target specific protein strains and conformations as well as promote clearance. Immunotherapies can also be neuroprotective: by neutralizing extracellular protein aggregates, they reduce spread, synaptic damage, and neuroinflammation. This review will briefly examine the current state of research in immunotherapies against the 3 most commonly targeted proteins for age-related neurodegenerative disease: Aβ, tau, and α-syn. The discussion will then turn to combinatorial strategies that enhance the effects of immunotherapy against aggregating protein, followed by new potential targets of immunotherapy such as aging-related processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somin Kwon
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Molecular Neuropathology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Michiyo Iba
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Molecular Neuropathology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Changyoun Kim
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Molecular Neuropathology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Molecular Neuropathology Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
- Division of Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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9
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Xie J, Gonzalez-Carter D, Tockary TA, Nakamura N, Xue Y, Nakakido M, Akiba H, Dirisala A, Liu X, Toh K, Yang T, Wang Z, Fukushima S, Li J, Quader S, Tsumoto K, Yokota T, Anraku Y, Kataoka K. Dual-Sensitive Nanomicelles Enhancing Systemic Delivery of Therapeutically Active Antibodies Specifically into the Brain. ACS NANO 2020; 14:6729-6742. [PMID: 32431145 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b09991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Delivering therapeutic antibodies into the brain across the blood-brain barrier at a therapeutic level is a promising while challenging approach in the treatment of neurological disorders. Here, we present a polymeric nanomicelle (PM) system capable of delivering therapeutically effective levels of 3D6 antibody fragments (3D6-Fab) into the brain parenchyma for inhibiting Aβ aggregation. PM assembly was achieved by charge-converting 3D6-Fab through pH-sensitive citraconylation to allow complexation with reductive-sensitive cationic polymers. Brain targeting was achieved by functionalizing the PM surface with glucose molecules to allow interaction with recycling glucose transporter (Glut)-1 proteins. Consequently, 41-fold enhanced 3D6-Fab accumulation in the brain was achieved by using the PM system compared to free 3D6-Fab. Furthermore, therapeutic benefits were obtained by successfully inhibiting Aβ1-42 aggregation in Alzheimer's disease mice systemically treated with 3D6-Fab-loaded glucosylated PM. Hence, this nanocarrier system represents a promising method for effectively delivering functional antibody agents into the brain and treating neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinbing Xie
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Functional Imaging, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Daniel Gonzalez-Carter
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
| | - Theofilus A Tockary
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
| | - Noriko Nakamura
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Yonger Xue
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 800 Dongchun Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Makoto Nakakido
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Hiroki Akiba
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Anjaneyulu Dirisala
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
| | - Xueying Liu
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
| | - Kazuko Toh
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
| | - Tao Yang
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
| | - Zengtao Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 800 Dongchun Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Shigeto Fukushima
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
| | - Junjie Li
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
| | - Sabina Quader
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
| | - Kouhei Tsumoto
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Takanori Yokota
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Yasutaka Anraku
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kazunori Kataoka
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0821, Japan
- Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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10
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Cummings J, Ritter A, Zhong K. Clinical Trials for Disease-Modifying Therapies in Alzheimer's Disease: A Primer, Lessons Learned, and a Blueprint for the Future. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 64:S3-S22. [PMID: 29562511 PMCID: PMC6004914 DOI: 10.3233/jad-179901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has no currently approved disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), and treatments to prevent, delay the onset, or slow the progression are urgently needed. A delay of 5 years if available by 2025 would decrease the total number of patients with AD by 50% in 2050. To meet the definition of DMT, an agent must produce an enduring change in the course of AD; clinical trials of DMTs have the goal of demonstrating this effect. AD drug discovery entails target identification followed by high throughput screening and lead optimization of drug-like compounds. Once an optimized agent is available and has been assessed for efficacy and toxicity in animals, it progresses through Phase I testing with healthy volunteers, Phase II learning trials to establish proof-of-mechanism and dose, and Phase III confirmatory trials to demonstrate efficacy and safety in larger populations. Phase III is followed by Food and Drug Administration review and, if appropriate, market access. Trial populations include cognitively normal at-risk participants in prevention trials, mildly impaired participants with biomarker evidence of AD in prodromal AD trials, and subjects with cognitive and functional impairment in AD dementia trials. Biomarkers are critical in trials of DMTs, assisting in participant characterization and diagnosis, target engagement and proof-of-pharmacology, demonstration of disease-modification, and monitoring side effects. Clinical trial designs include randomized, parallel group; delayed start; staggered withdrawal; and adaptive. Lessons learned from completed trials inform future trials and increase the likelihood of success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Cummings
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Aaron Ritter
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Kate Zhong
- Global Alzheimer Platform, Washington, DC, USA
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11
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Boutajangout A, Lindberg H, Awwad A, Paul A, Baitalmal R, Almokyad I, Höidén-Guthenberg I, Gunneriusson E, Frejd FY, Härd T, Löfblom J, Ståhl S, Wisniewski T. Affibody-Mediated Sequestration of Amyloid β Demonstrates Preventive Efficacy in a Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model. Front Aging Neurosci 2019; 11:64. [PMID: 30967771 PMCID: PMC6440316 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Different strategies for treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are currently under investigation, including passive immunization with anti-amyloid β (anti-Aβ) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Here, we investigate the therapeutic potential of a novel type of Aβ-targeting agent based on an affibody molecule with fundamentally different properties to mAbs. We generated a therapeutic candidate, denoted ZSYM73-albumin-binding domain (ABD; 16.8 kDa), by genetic linkage of the dimeric ZSYM73 affibody for sequestering of monomeric Aβ-peptides and an ABD for extension of its in vivo half-life. Amyloid precursor protein (APP)/PS1 transgenic AD mice were administered with ZSYM73-ABD, followed by behavioral examination and immunohistochemistry. Results demonstrated rescued cognitive functions and significantly lower amyloid burden in the treated animals compared to controls. No toxicological symptoms or immunology-related side-effects were observed. To our knowledge, this is the first reported in vivo investigation of a systemically delivered scaffold protein against monomeric Aβ, demonstrating a therapeutic potential for prevention of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allal Boutajangout
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Physiology & Neuroscience, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hanna Lindberg
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Abdulaziz Awwad
- School of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arun Paul
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Rabaa Baitalmal
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ismail Almokyad
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | | | | | | | - Torleif Härd
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - John Löfblom
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Ståhl
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Wisniewski
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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12
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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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13
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Baral PK, Swayampakula M, Aguzzi A, James MNG. Structural characterization of
POM
6 Fab and mouse prion protein complex identifies key regions for prions conformational conversion. FEBS J 2018; 285:1701-1714. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.14438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pravas Kumar Baral
- Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry University of Alberta Edmonton Canada
| | - Mridula Swayampakula
- Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry University of Alberta Edmonton Canada
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology University of Zurich Switzerland
| | - Michael N. G. James
- Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry University of Alberta Edmonton Canada
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14
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15
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Ahsan N, Siddique IA, Gupta S, Surolia A. A routinely used protein staining dye acts as an inhibitor of wild type and mutant alpha-synuclein aggregation and modulator of neurotoxicity. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 143:1174-1184. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2015] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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16
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Cuddy LK, Seah C, Pasternak SH, Rylett RJ. Amino-Terminal β-Amyloid Antibody Blocks β-Amyloid-Mediated Inhibition of the High-Affinity Choline Transporter CHT. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:361. [PMID: 29163036 PMCID: PMC5681948 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common age-related neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by progressive cognitive decline. The deficits in cognition and attentional processing that are observed clinically in AD are linked to impaired function of cholinergic neurons that release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). The high-affinity choline transporter (CHT) is present at the presynaptic cholinergic nerve terminal and is responsible for the reuptake of choline produced by hydrolysis of ACh following its release. Disruption of CHT function leads to decreased choline uptake and ACh synthesis, leading to impaired cholinergic neurotransmission. We report here that cell-derived β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) decrease choline uptake activity and cell surface CHT protein levels in SH-SY5Y neural cells. Moreover, we make the novel observation that the amount of CHT protein localizing to early endosomes and lysosomes is decreased significantly in cells that have been treated with cell culture medium that contains Aβ peptides released from neural cells. The Aβ-mediated loss of CHT proteins from lysosomes is prevented by blocking lysosomal degradation of CHT with the lysosome inhibitor bafilomycin A1 (BafA1). BafA1 also attenuated the Aβ-mediated decrease in CHT cell surface expression. Interestingly, however, lysosome inhibition did not block the effect of Aβ on CHT activity. Importantly, neutralizing Aβ using an anti-Aβ antibody directed at the N-terminal amino acids 1-16 of Aβ, but not by an antibody directed at the mid-region amino acids 22-35 of Aβ, attenuates the effect of Aβ on CHT activity and trafficking. This indicates that a specific N-terminal Aβ epitope, or specific conformation of soluble Aβ, may impair CHT activity. Therefore, Aβ immunotherapy may be a more effective therapeutic strategy for slowing the progression of cognitive decline in AD than therapies designed to promote CHT cell surface levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah K Cuddy
- Molecular Medicine Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Claudia Seah
- Molecular Medicine Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen H Pasternak
- Molecular Medicine Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - R Jane Rylett
- Molecular Medicine Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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17
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Aprile FA, Sormanni P, Perni M, Arosio P, Linse S, Knowles TPJ, Dobson CM, Vendruscolo M. Selective targeting of primary and secondary nucleation pathways in Aβ42 aggregation using a rational antibody scanning method. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2017; 3:e1700488. [PMID: 28691099 PMCID: PMC5479649 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1700488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies targeting Aβ42 are under intense scrutiny because of their therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease. To enable systematic searches, we present an "antibody scanning" strategy for the generation of a panel of antibodies against Aβ42. Each antibody in the panel is rationally designed to target a specific linear epitope, with the selected epitopes scanning the Aβ42 sequence. By screening in vitro the panel to identify the specific microscopic steps in the Aβ42 aggregation process influenced by each antibody, we identify two antibodies that target specifically the primary and the secondary nucleation steps, which are key for the production of Aβ42 oligomers. These two antibodies act, respectively, to delay the onset of aggregation and to block the proliferation of aggregates, and correspondingly reduce the toxicity in a Caenorhabditis elegans model overexpressing Aβ42. These results illustrate how the antibody scanning method described here can be used to readily obtain very small antibody libraries with extensive coverage of the sequences of target proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco A. Aprile
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Pietro Sormanni
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Michele Perni
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sara Linse
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Christopher M. Dobson
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- Corresponding author.
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18
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P. Hurst T, Coleman-Vaughan C, Patwal I, V. McCarthy J. Regulated intramembrane proteolysis, innate immunity and therapeutic targets in Alzheimer’s disease. AIMS MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.3934/molsci.2016.2.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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19
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Ambadipudi S, Zweckstetter M. Targeting intrinsically disordered proteins in rational drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2015; 11:65-77. [DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2016.1107041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susmitha Ambadipudi
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- DFG Research Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), University Medical Center Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
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20
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Hromadkova L, Kolarova M, Jankovicova B, Bartos A, Ricny J, Bilkova Z, Ripova D. Identification and characterization of natural antibodies against tau protein in an intravenous immunoglobulin product. J Neuroimmunol 2015; 289:121-9. [PMID: 26616881 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The latest therapeutic approaches to Alzheimer disease are using intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) products. Therefore, the detailed characterization of target-specific antibodies naturally occurring in IVIG products is beneficial. We have focused on characterization of antibodies isolated against tau protein, a biomarker of Alzheimer's disease, from Flebogamma IVIG product. The analysis of IgG subclass distribution indicated skewing toward IgG3 in anti-tau-enriched IgG fraction. The evaluation of their reactivity and avidity with several recombinant tau forms was performed by ELISA and blotting techniques. Truncated non-phosphorylated tau protein (amino acids 155-421) demonstrated the highest reactivity and avidity index. We provide the first detailed insight into the reactivity of isolated natural antibodies against tau protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Hromadkova
- Department of Neurobiology, AD Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Biological and Biochemical Sciences, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Michala Kolarova
- Department of Neurobiology, AD Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic; Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Barbora Jankovicova
- Department of Biological and Biochemical Sciences, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Ales Bartos
- Department of Neurobiology, AD Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic; Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Ricny
- Department of Neurobiology, AD Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Bilkova
- Department of Biological and Biochemical Sciences, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Ripova
- Department of Neurobiology, AD Center, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
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21
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Panza F, Solfrizzi V, Imbimbo BP, Giannini M, Santamato A, Seripa D, Logroscino G. Efficacy and safety studies of gantenerumab in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Expert Rev Neurother 2014; 14:973-86. [PMID: 25081412 DOI: 10.1586/14737175.2014.945522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Among active and passive anti-β-amyloid (Aβ) immunotherapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD), bapineuzumab and solanezumab, two humanized monoclonal antibodies, failed to show significant clinical benefits in mild-to-moderate AD patients in large Phase III clinical trials. Another ongoing Phase III trial of solanezumab aims to confirm positive findings in mild AD patients. Gantenerumab is the first fully human anti-Aβ monoclonal antibody directed to both N-terminal and central regions of Aβ. A 6-month PET study in 16 AD patients showed that gantenerumab treatment dose-dependently reduced brain Aβ deposition, possibly stimulating microglial-mediated phagocytosis. Two ongoing Phase III trials of gantenerumab in patients with prodromal or mild dementia due to AD will determine if any reduction in brain Aβ levels will translate into clinical benefits. An ongoing secondary prevention trial of gantenerumab in presymptomatic subjects with genetic mutations for autosomal-dominant AD will verify the utility of anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies as prevention therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Panza
- Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, Neurodegenerative Disease Unit, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
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22
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We reviewed clinical trials on active and passive anti-β-amyloid (Aβ) immunotherapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease with a particular focus on monoclonal antibodies against Aβ. RECENT FINDINGS Studies on anti-Alzheimer's disease immunotherapy published in the period from January 2012 to October 2013 were reviewed. SUMMARY Both active and passive anti-Aβ immunotherapies were shown to clear brain Aβ deposits. However, an active anti-Aβ vaccine (AN1792) has been discontinued because it caused meningoencephalitis in 6% of Alzheimer's disease patients treated. Among passive immunotherapeutics, two Phase III clinical trials in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease patients with bapineuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed at the N-terminal sequence of Aβ, were disappointing. Another antibody, solanezumab, directed at the mid-region of Aβ, failed in two Phase III clinical trials in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease patients. A third Phase III study with solanezumab is ongoing in mildly affected Alzheimer's disease patients based on encouraging results in this subgroup of patients. Second-generation active Aβ vaccines (ACC-001, CAD106, and Affitope AD02) and new passive anti-Aβ immunotherapies (gantenerumab and crenezumab) are being tested in prodromal Alzheimer's disease patients, in presymptomatic individuals with Alzheimer's disease-related mutations, or in asymptomatic individuals at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease to definitely test the Aβ cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease.
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23
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Arosio P, Vendruscolo M, Dobson CM, Knowles TPJ. Chemical kinetics for drug discovery to combat protein aggregation diseases. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2014; 35:127-35. [PMID: 24560688 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2013.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Revised: 11/17/2013] [Accepted: 12/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Protein misfolding diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent, yet there are very few effective pharmacological treatments. The onset and progression of these diseases is associated with the aberrant aggregation of normally soluble proteins and peptides into amyloid fibrils. Because genetic and physiological findings suggest that protein aggregation is a key event in pathogenesis, an attractive therapeutic strategy against this class of disorders is the search for compounds able to interfere with this process, in particular by suppressing the formation of soluble toxic oligomeric aggregates. In this review, we discuss how chemical kinetics can contribute to the fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanism of aggregation, and speculate on the implications for the development of therapeutic molecules that inhibit specific steps in the aggregation pathway that are crucial for preventing toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Arosio
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
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24
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Panza F, Solfrizzi V, Imbimbo BP, Tortelli R, Santamato A, Logroscino G. Amyloid-based immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease in the time of prevention trials: the way forward. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2014; 10:405-19. [DOI: 10.1586/1744666x.2014.883921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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25
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Xiao C, Davis FJ, Chauhan BC, Viola KL, Lacor PN, Velasco PT, Klein WL, Chauhan NB. Brain transit and ameliorative effects of intranasally delivered anti-amyloid-β oligomer antibody in 5XFAD mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2013; 35:777-88. [PMID: 23542865 DOI: 10.3233/jad-122419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a global health crisis with limited treatment options. Despite major advances in neurotherapeutics, poor brain penetration due to the blood-brain barrier continues to pose a big challenge in overcoming the access of therapeutics to the central nervous system. In that regard, the non-invasive intranasal route of brain targeting is gaining considerable attention. The nasal mucosa offers a large surface area, rapid absorption, and avoidance of first-pass metabolism increasing drug bioavailability with less systemic side effects. Intranasal delivery is known to utilize olfactory, rostral migratory stream, and trigeminal routes to reach the brain. This investigation confirmed that intranasal delivery of oligomeric amyloid-β antibody (NU4) utilized all three routes to enter the brain with a resident time of 96 hours post single bolus intranasal administration, and showed evidence of perikaryal and parenchymal uptake of NU4 in 5XFAD mouse brain, confirming the intranasal route as a non-invasive and efficient way of delivering therapeutics to the brain. In addition, this study demonstrated that intranasal delivery of NU4 antibody lowered cerebral amyloid-β and improved spatial learning in 5XFAD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Xiao
- Neuroscience Research, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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26
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Rivera-Hernández G, Marin-Argany M, Blasco-Moreno B, Bonet J, Oliva B, Villegas S. Elongation of the C-terminal domain of an anti-amyloid β single-chain variable fragment increases its thermodynamic stability and decreases its aggregation tendency. MAbs 2013; 5:678-89. [PMID: 23924802 DOI: 10.4161/mabs.25382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid β (Aβ) immunotherapy is considered a promising approach to Alzheimer disease treatment. In contrast to the use of complete antibodies, administration of single-chain variable fragments (scFv) has not been associated with either meningoencephalitis or cerebral hemorrhage. ScFv-h3D6 is known to preclude cytotoxicity of the Aβ 1-42 peptide by removing its oligomers from the amyloid pathway. As is the case for other scFv molecules, the recombinant production of scFv-h3D6 is limited by its folding and stability properties. Here, we show that its urea-induced unfolding pathway is characterized by the presence of an intermediate state composed of the unfolded VL domain and the folded VH domain, which suggests the VL domain as a target for thermodynamic stability redesign. The modeling of the 3D structure revealed that the VL domain, located at the C-terminal of the molecule, was ending before its latest β-strand was completed. Three elongation mutants, beyond VL-K107, showed increased thermodynamic stability and lower aggregation tendency, as determined from urea denaturation experiments and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Because the mutants maintained the capability of removing Aβ-oligomers from the amyloid pathway, we expect these traits to increase the half-life of scFv-h3D6 in vivo and, consequently, to decrease the effective doses. Our results led to the improvement of a potential Alzheimer disease treatment and may be extrapolated to other class-I scFv molecules of therapeutic interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geovanny Rivera-Hernández
- Protein Folding and Stability Group; Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular; Unitat de Biociències; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Barcelona, Spain
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27
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Cattepoel S, Schaub A, Ender M, Gaida A, Kropf A, Guggisberg U, Nolte MW, Fabri L, Adlard PA, Finkelstein DI, Bolli R, Miescher SM. Intravenous immunglobulin binds beta amyloid and modifies its aggregation, neurotoxicity and microglial phagocytosis in vitro. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63162. [PMID: 23696796 PMCID: PMC3656042 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been proposed as a potential therapeutic for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its efficacy is currently being tested in mild-to-moderate AD. Earlier studies reported the presence of anti-amyloid beta (Aβ) antibodies in IVIG. These observations led to clinical studies investigating the potential role of IVIG as a therapeutic agent in AD. Also, IVIG is known to mediate beneficial effects in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions by interfering with various pathological processes. Therefore, we investigated the effects of IVIG and purified polyclonal Aβ -specific antibodies (pAbs-Aβ) on aggregation, toxicity and phagocytosis of Aβ in vitro, thus elucidating some of the potential mechanisms of action of IVIG in AD patients. We report that both IVIG and pAbs-Aβ specifically bound to Aβ and inhibited its aggregation in a dose-dependent manner as measured by Thioflavin T assay. Additionally, IVIG and the purified pAbs-Aβ inhibited Aβ-induced neurotoxicity in the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line and prevented Aβ binding to rat primary cortical neurons. Interestingly, IVIG and pAbs-Aβ also increased the number of phagocytosing cells as well as the amount of phagocytosed fibrillar Aβ by BV-2 microglia. Phagocytosis of Aβ depended on receptor-mediated endocytosis and was accompanied by upregulation of CD11b expression. Importantly, we could also show that Privigen dose-dependently reversed Aβ-mediated LTP inhibition in mouse hippocampal slices. Therefore, our in vitro results suggest that IVIG may have an impact on different processes involved in AD pathogenesis, thereby promoting further understanding of the effects of IVIG observed in clinical studies.
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28
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Roher AE, Cribbs DH, Kim RC, Maarouf CL, Whiteside CM, Kokjohn TA, Daugs ID, Head E, Liebsack C, Serrano G, Belden C, Sabbagh MN, Beach TG. Bapineuzumab alters aβ composition: implications for the amyloid cascade hypothesis and anti-amyloid immunotherapy. PLoS One 2013; 8:e59735. [PMID: 23555764 PMCID: PMC3605408 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 02/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The characteristic neuropathological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other lines of evidence support the amyloid cascade hypothesis. Viewing amyloid deposits as the prime instigator of dementia has now led to clinical trials of multiple strategies to remove or prevent their formation. We performed neuropathological and biochemical assessments of 3 subjects treated with bapineuzumab infusions. Histological analyses were conducted to quantify amyloid plaque densities, Braak stages and the extent of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Amyloid-β (Aβ) species in frontal and temporal lobe samples were quantified by ELISA. Western blots of amyloid-β precursor protein (AβPP) and its C-terminal (CT) fragments as well as tau species were performed. Bapineuzumab-treated (Bapi-AD) subjects were compared to non-immunized age-matched subjects with AD (NI-AD) and non-demented control (NDC) cases. Our study revealed that Bapi-AD subjects exhibited overall amyloid plaque densities similar to those of NI-AD cases. In addition, CAA was moderate to severe in NI-AD and Bapi-AD patients. Although histologically-demonstrable leptomeningeal, cerebrovascular and neuroparenchymal-amyloid densities all appeared unaffected by treatment, Aβ peptide profiles were significantly altered in Bapi-AD subjects. There was a trend for reduction in total Aβ42 levels as well as an increase in Aβ40 which led to a corresponding significant decrease in Aβ42:Aβ40 ratio in comparison to NI-AD subjects. There were no differences in the levels of AβPP, CT99 and CT83 or tau species between Bapi-AD and NI-AD subjects. The remarkable alteration in Aβ profiles reveals a dynamic amyloid production in which removal and depositional processes were apparently perturbed by bapineuzumab therapy. Despite the alteration in biochemical composition, all 3 immunized subjects exhibited continued cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex E Roher
- The Longtine Center for Neurodegenerative Biochemistry, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, United States of America.
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29
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Demattos RB, Lu J, Tang Y, Racke MM, Delong CA, Tzaferis JA, Hole JT, Forster BM, McDonnell PC, Liu F, Kinley RD, Jordan WH, Hutton ML. A plaque-specific antibody clears existing β-amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease mice. Neuron 2013; 76:908-20. [PMID: 23217740 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Aβ Immunotherapy is a promising therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease. Preclinical studies demonstrate that plaque prevention is possible; however, the more relevant therapeutic removal of existing plaque has proven elusive. Monoclonal antibodies in development target both soluble and insoluble Aβ peptide. We hypothesized that antibody specificity for deposited plaque was critical for plaque removal since soluble Aβ peptide would block recognition of deposited forms. We developed a plaque-specific antibody that targets a modified Aβ peptide (Aβ(p3-42)), which showed robust clearance of pre-existing plaque without causing microhemorrhage. Interestingly, a comparator N-terminal Aβ antibody 3D6, which binds both soluble and insoluble Aβ(1-42), lacked efficacy for lowering existing plaque but manifested a significant microhemorrhage liability. Mechanistic studies suggested that the lack of efficacy for 3D6 was attributed to poor target engagement in plaques. These studies have profound implications for the development of therapeutic Aβ antibodies for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald B Demattos
- Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA.
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30
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Akoury E, Gajda M, Pickhardt M, Biernat J, Soraya P, Griesinger C, Mandelkow E, Zweckstetter M. Inhibition of Tau Filament Formation by Conformational Modulation. J Am Chem Soc 2013; 135:2853-62. [DOI: 10.1021/ja312471h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elias Akoury
- Department for NMR-based Structural
Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen,
Germany
| | - Michal Gajda
- Department for NMR-based Structural
Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen,
Germany
| | - Marcus Pickhardt
- German Center for
Neurodegenerative
Diseases (DZNE), Ludwig−Erhard−Allee 2, 53175 Bonn,
Germany
| | - Jacek Biernat
- German Center for
Neurodegenerative
Diseases (DZNE), Ludwig−Erhard−Allee 2, 53175 Bonn,
Germany
| | - Pornsuwan Soraya
- RG Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy,
Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077
Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Griesinger
- Department for NMR-based Structural
Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen,
Germany
| | - Eckhard Mandelkow
- German Center for
Neurodegenerative
Diseases (DZNE), Ludwig−Erhard−Allee 2, 53175 Bonn,
Germany
- CAESAR Research Center,
Ludwig−Erhard−Allee
2, 53175 Bonn, Germany
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- Department for NMR-based Structural
Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen,
Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative
Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
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31
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Valera E, Masliah E. Immunotherapy for neurodegenerative diseases: focus on α-synucleinopathies. Pharmacol Ther 2013; 138:311-22. [PMID: 23384597 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2013.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is currently being intensively explored as much-needed disease-modifying treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. While Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been the focus of numerous immunotherapeutic studies, less attention has been paid to Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. The reason for this difference is that the amyloid beta (Aβ) protein in AD is a secreted molecule that circulates in the blood and is readably recognized by antibodies. In contrast, α-synuclein (α-syn), tau, huntingtin and other proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases have been considered to be exclusively of intracellular nature. However, the recent discovery that toxic oligomeric versions of α-syn and tau accumulate in the membrane and can be excreted to the extracellular environment has provided a rationale for the development of immunotherapeutic approaches for PD, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and other neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the abnormal accumulation of these proteins. Active immunization, passive immunization, and T cell-mediated cellular immunotherapeutic approaches have been developed targeting Aβ, α-syn and tau. Most advanced studies, including results from phase III clinical trials for passive immunization in AD, have been recently reported. Results suggest that immunotherapy might be a promising therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases that progress with the accumulation and propagation of toxic protein aggregates. In this manuscript we provide an overview on immunotherapeutic advances for neurodegenerative disorders, with special emphasis on α-synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Valera
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Hall D, Edskes H. Computational modeling of the relationship between amyloid and disease. Biophys Rev 2012; 4:205-222. [PMID: 23495357 PMCID: PMC3595053 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-012-0091-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 06/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid is a title conferred upon a special type of linear protein aggregate that exhibits a common set of structural features and dye binding capabilities. The formation of amyloid is associated with over twenty-seven distinct human diseases which are collectively referred to as the amyloidoses. Although there is great diversity amongst the amyloidoses with regard to the polypeptide monomeric precursor, targeted tissues and the nature and time course of disease development, the common underlying link of a structurally similar amyloid aggregate has prompted the search for a unified theory of disease progression in which amyloid production is the central element. Computational modeling has allowed the formulation and testing of scientific hypotheses for exploring this relationship. However, the majority of computational studies on amyloid aggregation are pitched at the atomistic level of description, in simple ideal solution environments, with simulation time scales of the order of microseconds and system sizes limited to a hundred monomers (or less). The experimental reality is that disease related amyloid aggregation processes occur in extremely complex reaction environments (i.e. the human body), over time-scales of months to years with monitoring of the reaction achieved using extremely coarse or indirect experimental markers that yield little or no atomistic insight. Clearly a substantial gap exists between computational and experimental communities with a deficit of 'useful' computational methodology that can be directly related to available markers of disease progression. This Review will place its focus on the development of these latter types of computational models and discuss them in relation to disease onset and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Hall
- Institute of Basic Medical Science, University of Tsukuba, Lab 225-B, Building D. 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken 305-8577 Japan
| | - Herman Edskes
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-0830 USA
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Rumbaugh JA, Bachani M, Li W, Butler TR, Smith KJ, Bianchet MA, Wang T, Prendergast MA, Sacktor N, Nath A. HIV immune complexes prevent excitotoxicity by interaction with NMDA receptors. Neurobiol Dis 2012; 49:169-76. [PMID: 22940423 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2012.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2012] [Revised: 07/18/2012] [Accepted: 08/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is a neurodegenerative disease for which there is no available neuroprotective therapy. Viral proteins, such as Tat, have been implicated as agents of neurotoxicity via multiple mechanisms, including effects by directly binding to the NMDA receptor. We evaluated the ability of the immune response against Tat to modulate neurotoxicity at glutamate receptors. METHODS Neurotoxicity was measured in primary neuronal-glial cultures and in hippocampal slice cultures. We used immunoprecipitation experiments to demonstrate interaction between Tat, NMDA receptor, and anti-Tat antibody. Using known structures of Tat and NMDA receptors, we developed a model of their interactions. RESULTS Antibodies to Tat attenuated Tat-mediated neurotoxicity. Interestingly, Tat immune complexes also blocked neurotoxicity caused by NMDA receptor agonists but not kainate/AMPA receptor agonists. Neither Tat nor antibody alone blocked the excitotoxic effect, nor did an unrelated antigen-antibody complex. The protective effect of the Tat immune complexes was also lost when Tat was modified by nitrosylation or by using a deletion mutant of Tat. CONCLUSIONS The ability of viral immune complexes to interact with NMDA receptors and prevent excitotoxicity represents a novel host defense mechanism. Host immune responses may influence host susceptibility to various effects of viral proteins, modulating HIV complications, such as onset of HAND. These observations provide rationale for development of vaccine therapies targeting Tat for prevention of HAND.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Muznabanu Bachani
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Wenxue Li
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tracy R Butler
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Katherine J Smith
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Mario A Bianchet
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biophysics & Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tongguang Wang
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Ned Sacktor
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Avindra Nath
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Safieh-Garabedian B, Mayasi Y, Saadé NE. Targeting neuroinflammation for therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative pathologies: a role for the peptide analogue of thymulin (PAT). Expert Opin Ther Targets 2012; 16:1065-73. [DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2012.714773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Targeting mutant huntingtin for the development of disease-modifying therapy. Drug Discov Today 2012; 17:1217-23. [PMID: 22772050 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2012.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2012] [Revised: 06/09/2012] [Accepted: 06/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease, and the most common inherited CAG repeat disorder. A polyglutamine expansion in the N-terminus of the huntingtin protein (HTT) leads to protein misfolding and downstream pathogenic processes culminating in widespread functional impairment and neurodegeneration in the striatum, cortex and other brain areas. To date, only symptomatic treatments are available that address motor, psychiatric and cognitive deficits. Here we review recent strategies for developing disease-modifying therapies designed to limit or abolish the pathogenic activities of the primary molecular target in HD, the mutant HTT protein itself.
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Panza F, Frisardi V, Solfrizzi V, Imbimbo BP, Logroscino G, Santamato A, Greco A, Seripa D, Pilotto A. Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease: from anti-β-amyloid to tau-based immunization strategies. Immunotherapy 2012; 4:213-38. [PMID: 22339463 DOI: 10.2217/imt.11.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The exact mechanisms leading to Alzheimer's disease (AD) are largely unknown, limiting the identification of effective disease-modifying therapies. The two principal neuropathological hallmarks of AD are extracellular β-amyloid (Aβ), peptide deposition (senile plaques) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau protein. During the last decade, most of the efforts of the pharmaceutical industry were directed against the production and accumulation of Aβ. The most innovative of the pharmacological approaches was the stimulation of Aβ clearance from the brain of AD patients via the administration of Aβ antigens (active vaccination) or anti-Aβ antibodies (passive vaccination). Several active and passive anti-Aβ vaccines are under clinical investigation. Unfortunately, the first active vaccine (AN1792, consisting of preaggregate Aβ and an immune adjuvant, QS-21) was abandoned because it caused meningoencephalitis in approximately 6% of treated patients. Anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies (bapineuzumab and solanezumab) are now being developed. The clinical results of the initial studies with bapineuzumab were equivocal in terms of cognitive benefit. The occurrence of vasogenic edema after bapineuzumab, and more rarely brain microhemorrhages (especially in Apo E ε4 carriers), has raised concerns on the safety of these antibodies directed against the N-terminus of the Aβ peptide. Solanezumab, a humanized anti-Aβ monoclonal antibody directed against the midregion of the Aβ peptide, was shown to neutralize soluble Aβ species. Phase II studies showed a good safety profile of solanezumab, while studies on cerebrospinal and plasma biomarkers documented good signals of pharmacodynamic activity. Although some studies suggested that active immunization may be effective against tau in animal models of AD, very few studies regarding passive immunization against tau protein are currently available. The results of the large, ongoing Phase III trials with bapineuzumab and solanezumab will tell us if monoclonal anti-Aβ antibodies may slow down the rate of deterioration of AD. Based on the new diagnostic criteria of AD and on recent major failures of anti-Aβ drugs in mild-to-moderate AD patients, one could argue that clinical trials on potential disease-modifying drugs, including immunological approaches, should be performed in the early stages of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Panza
- Geriatric Unit & Gerontology-Geriatric Research Laboratory, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Foggia, Italy.
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Imbimbo BP, Ottonello S, Frisardi V, Solfrizzi V, Greco A, Seripa D, Pilotto A, Panza F. Solanezumab for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2012; 8:135-49. [PMID: 22288451 DOI: 10.1586/eci.11.93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Solanezumab (LY2062430) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the central region of β-amyloid, a peptide believed to play a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Eli Lilly & Co is developing an intravenous formulation of solanezumab for the treatment of mild-to-moderate AD. Acute and subchronic treatment with solanezumab of transgenic mice attenuated or reversed memory deficits with no effects on incidence or severity of cerebral amyloid angiopathy-associated microhemorrhages, a severe side effect associated with bapineuzumab, another monoclonal antibody. Phase II studies in AD patients have shown a good safety profile with encouraging indications on cerebrospinal and plasma biomarkers. The drug is currently being investigated in Phase III trials. While there is a strong hope that solanezumab may represent the first effective passive vaccine for AD treatment, skepticism still exists on the ability of the drug to slow the rate of deterioration in patients with fully established disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno P Imbimbo
- Research and Development Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy.
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Delrieu J, Ousset PJ, Vellas B. Gantenerumab for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2012; 12:1077-86. [DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2012.688022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Bales KR. The value and limitations of transgenic mouse models used in drug discovery for Alzheimer's disease: an update. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2012; 7:281-97. [DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2012.666234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Härd T, Lendel C. Inhibition of amyloid formation. J Mol Biol 2012; 421:441-65. [PMID: 22244855 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.12.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2011] [Revised: 12/28/2011] [Accepted: 12/29/2011] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid is aggregated protein in the form of insoluble fibrils. Amyloid deposition in human tissue-amyloidosis-is associated with a number of diseases including all common dementias and type II diabetes. Considerable progress has been made to understand the mechanisms leading to amyloid formation. It is, however, not yet clear by which mechanisms amyloid and protein aggregates formed on the path to amyloid are cytotoxic. Strategies to prevent protein aggregation and amyloid formation are nevertheless, in many cases, promising and even successful. This review covers research on intervention of amyloidosis and highlights several examples of how inhibition of protein aggregation and amyloid formation has been achieved in practice. For instance, rational design can provide drugs that stabilize a native folded state of a protein, protein engineering can provide new binding proteins that sequester monomeric peptides from aggregation, small molecules and peptides can be designed to block aggregation or direct it into non-cytotoxic paths, and monoclonal antibodies have been developed for therapies towards neurodegenerative diseases based on inhibition of amyloid formation and clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torleif Härd
- Department of Molecular Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Lynch MA, Mills KHG. Immunology meets neuroscience--opportunities for immune intervention in neurodegenerative diseases. Brain Behav Immun 2012; 26:1-10. [PMID: 21664452 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2011.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2011] [Revised: 05/05/2011] [Accepted: 05/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammatory changes are characteristic of many, if not all, neurodegenerative diseases but the extent to which the immune system is involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases is unclear. The findings of several studies during the past decade has established that there is a well-developed communication between the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral immune system, but also has revealed that the immune system in the CNS is much more sophisticated that previously acknowledged. In this mini-review, we discuss two major neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS), and consider whether the therapies most likely to succeed are those that are identified by studying the marriage of neuroscience and immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina A Lynch
- Trinity Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
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Zhang Z, Goldschmidt T, Salter H. Possible allelic structure of IgG2a and IgG2c in mice. Mol Immunol 2011; 50:169-71. [PMID: 22177661 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2011.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2011] [Revised: 11/10/2011] [Accepted: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Earlier publication suggested that IgG2a and IgG2c (coding for Igh-1a and Igh-1b) are organized in tandem on the same chromosome as two distinct loci in mice. Our data suggest that IgG2a and IgG2c are not physically linked on the chromosome and are allelic - single locus in majority strains of mice. In another word, IgG2b-IgG2c-IgG2a haplotype proposed by Morgado et al. (1989) may exist in some strains of mice, but IgG2b-IgG2a and IgG2b-IgG2c are likely to be most common haplotypes in mice. Therefore, inbred mice may produce different IgG2a isotypes dependent on their origin (strain); C57B/6 and SJL mice secrete IgG2c while NMRI and DBA/2 mice secrete IgG2a only. The situation is more complicated for Swiss Webster mice (outbred) and Alzheimer's disease transgenic (AD/Tg) mice with multi-genetic backgrounds; mice may secrete only IgG2a, or IgG2c, or both IgG2a and IgG2c. IgG2a and IgG2c likely have different immune profile (response, immune-decoration) in mice due to their divergence of protein sequence. If antibodies based on IgG2a (or IgG2c) are used in chronic studies for preclinical evaluation of antibody efficacy, characterization of IgG2a isotypes in advance becomes critical in the design of such biopharmaceutical projects in order to avoid immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiping Zhang
- Biochemical Biomarkers Lab, CNSP iMed iScience, AstraZeneca R & D, Södertälje S-15185, Sweden
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