title: Brain delivery of AAV9 expressing an anti-PrP monovalent antibody delays prion disease in mice.
abstract: Prion diseases are caused by a conformational modification of the cellular prion protein (PrP (C)) into disease-specific forms, termed PrP (Sc), that have the ability to interact with PrP (C) promoting its conversion to PrP (Sc). In vitro studies demonstrated that anti-PrP antibodies inhibit this process. In particular, the single chain variable fragment D18 antibody (scFvD18) showed high efficiency in curing chronically prion-infected cells. This molecule binds the PrP (C) region involved in the interaction with PrP (Sc) thus halting further prion formation. These findings prompted us to test the efficiency of scFvD18 in vivo. A recombinant Adeno-Associated Viral vector serotype 9 was used to deliver scFvD18 to the brain of mice that were subsequently infected by intraperitoneal route with the mouse-adapted scrapie strain RML. We found that the treatment was safe, prolonged the incubation time of scrapie-infected animals and decreased the burden of total proteinase-resistant PrP (Sc) in the brain, suggesting that scFvD18 interferes with prion replication in vivo. This approach is relevant for designing new therapeutic strategies for prion diseases and other disorders characterized by protein misfolding.
authors: Division of Neuropathology and Neurology 5, IRCCS Foundation Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Moda
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Vimercati
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Campagnani
authors: Margherita
authors: M
authors: Ruggerone
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Giaccone
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Morbin
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Zentilin
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Giacca
authors: Ileana
authors: I
authors: Zucca
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Legname
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Tagliavini
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011328:Prions / Q000276:immunology*; D012608:Scrapie / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D057127:Single-Chain Antibodies / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011328:Prions; D057127:Single-Chain Antibodies