title: Reduction of amyloid beta-peptide accumulation in Tg2576 transgenic mice by oral vaccination.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is pathologically characterized by the presence of extracellular senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) is the main component of senile plaques, and the pathological load of Abeta in the brain has been shown to be a marker of the severity of AD. Abeta is produced from the amyloid precursor protein by membrane proteases and is known to aggregate. Recently, immune-mediated cerebral clearance of Abeta has been studied extensively as potential therapeutic strategy. In previous studies that used a purified Abeta challenge in a mouse model of AD, symptomatic improvement was reported. However, a clinical Alzheimer's vaccine trial in the United States was stopped because of severe side effects. Immunization with the strong adjuvant used in these trials might have activated an inflammatory Th1 response. In this study, to establish a novel, safer, lower-cost therapy for AD, we tested an oral vaccination in a wild-type and a transgenic mouse model of AD administered via green pepper leaves expressing GFP-Abeta. Anti-Abeta antibodies were effectively induced after oral immunization. We examined the immunological effects in detail and identified no inflammatory reactions. Furthermore, we demonstrated a reduction of Abeta in the immunized AD-model mice. These results suggest this edible vehicle for Abeta vaccination has a potential clinical application in the treatment of AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ishii-Katsuno
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katsuno
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nojima
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Futai
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasagawa
authors.forename: Taiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishiura
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D023582:Alzheimer Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002212:Capsicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D023582:Alzheimer Vaccines; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000906:Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G