title: Induction of toll-like receptor 9 signaling as a method for ameliorating Alzheimer's disease-related pathology.
abstract: The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is thought to be related to the accumulation of amyloid beta (Abeta) in amyloid deposits and toxic oligomeric species. Immunomodulation is emerging as an effective means of shifting the equilibrium from Abeta accumulation to clearance; however, excessive cell mediated inflammation and cerebral microhemorrhages are two forms of toxicity which can occur with this approach. Vaccination studies have so far mainly targeted the adaptive immune system. In the present study, we have stimulated the innate immune system via the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) with cytosine-guanosine-containing DNA oligodeoxynucleotides in Tg2576 AD model transgenic mice. This treatment produced a 66% and 80% reduction in the cortical (p = 0.0001) and vascular (p = 0.0039) amyloid burden, respectively, compared with nontreated AD mice. This was in association with significant reductions in Abeta42, Abeta40, and Abeta oligomer levels. We also show that treated Tg mice performed similarly to wild-type mice on a radial arm maze. Our data suggest that stimulation of innate immunity via TLR9 is highly effective at reducing the parenchymal and vascular amyloid burden, along with Abeta oligomers, without apparent toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Henrieta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scholtzova
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kascsak
authors.forename: Kristyn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: Allal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boutajangout
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Harry C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Meeker
authors.forename: Pankaj D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Daryl S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Spinner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wisniewski
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C495371:TLR9 protein, human; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9