title: Oral administration of a fusion protein between the cholera toxin B subunit and the 42-amino acid isoform of amyloid-β peptide produced in silkworm pupae protects against Alzheimer's disease in mice.
abstract: A key molecule in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a 42-amino acid isoform of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ42), which is the most toxic element of senile plaques. In this study, to develop an edible, safe, low-cost vaccine for AD, a cholera toxin B subunit (CTB)-Aβ42 fusion protein was successfully expressed in silkworm pupae. We tested the silkworm pupae-derived oral vaccination containing CTB-Aβ42 in a transgenic mouse model of AD. Anti-Aβ42 antibodies were induced in these mice, leading to a decreased Aβ deposition in the brain. We also found that the oral administration of the silk worm pupae vaccine improved the memory and cognition of mice, as assessed using a water maze test. These results suggest that the new edible CTB-Aβ42 silkworm pupae-derived vaccine has potential clinical application in the prevention of AD.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Si
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Animal Center of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Animal Center of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yanhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhengbing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aging Research, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qiaohong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yongfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D023582:Alzheimer Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D012831:Bombyx / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D051379:Mice; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011679:Pupa / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D023582:Alzheimer Vaccines; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42); D002772:Cholera Toxin