MultiTEP platform-based DNA epitope vaccine targeting N-terminus of tau induces strong immune responses and reduces tau pathology in THY-Tau22 mice


BIBLIOGRAPHIC THERAPEUTIC AGENT ANIMAL MODEL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN OUTCOMES

Bibliographic

Year of Publication:
2017
Contact PI Name:
Anahit Ghochikyan
Contact PI Affiliation:
The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, California, USA
Co-Authors:
Hayk Davtyan, Wesley W. Chen, Karen Zagorski, Joy Davis, Irina Petrushina, Konstantin Kazarian, David H. Cribbs, Michael G. Agadjanyan, Mathew Blurton-Jones
Primary Reference (PubMED ID):
Funding Source:
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Study Goal and Principal Findings:

By the time clinical symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) manifest in patients there is already substantial tau pathology in the brain. Recent evidence also suggests that tau pathology can become self-propagating, further accelerating disease progression. Over the last decade several groups have tested the efficacy of protein-based anti-tau immunotherapeutics in various animal models of tauopathy. This study reports on the immunological and therapeutic potency of the first anti-tau DNA vaccine based on the MultiTEP platform, AV-1980D, in THY Tau22 transgenic mice. Starting at 3 months of age, mice were immunized intramuscularly with AV-1980D vaccine targeting a tau B cell epitope spanning aa2-18 followed by electroporation (EP). Humoral and cellular immune responses in vaccinated animals were analyzed by ELISA and ELISpot, respectively. Neuropathological changes in the brains of experimental and control mice were then analyzed by biochemical (WB and ELISA) and immunohistochemical (IHC) methods at 9 months of age. EP-mediated AV-1980D vaccinations of THY-Tau22 mice induced activation of Th cells specific to the MultiTEP vaccine platform and triggered robust humoral immunity response specific to tau. Importantly, no activation of potentially harmful autoreactive Th cell responses specific to endogenous tau species was detected. The maximum titers of anti-tau antibodies were reached after two immunizations and remained slightly lower, but steady during five subsequent monthly immunizations. Vaccinations with AV-1980D followed by EP significantly reduced total tau and pS199 and AT180 phosphorylated tau levels in the brains extracts of vaccinated mice, but produced on subtle non-significant effects on other phosphorylated tau species. These data demonstrate that MultiTEP-based DNA epitope vaccination targeting the N-terminus of tau is highly immunogenic and therapeutically potent in the THY-Tau22 mouse model of tauopathy and indicate that EP-mediated DNA immunization is an attractive alternative to protein-based adjuvanted vaccines for inducing high concentrations of anti-tau antibodies.

Therapeutic Agent

Therapeutic Information:
Therapy Type:
Biologic - Immunotherapy(active)
Therapeutic Agent:
AV-1980D (DNA Epitope Vaccine)
Therapeutic Target:
Tau Protein

Animal Model

Model Information:
Species:
Mouse
Model Type:
Tau
Strain/Genetic Background:
C57Bl6/J

Experimental Design

Is the following information reported in the study?:
Power/Sample Size Calculation
Randomized into Groups
Blinded for Treatment
Blinded for Outcome Measures
Pharmacokinetic Measures
Pharmacodynamic Measures
Toxicology Measures
ADME Measures
Biomarkers
Dose
Formulation
Route of Delivery
Duration of Treatment
Frequency of Administration
Age of Animal at the Beginning of Treatment
Age of Animal at the End of Treatment
Sex as a Biological Variable
Study Balanced for Sex as a Biological Variable
Number of Premature Deaths
Number of Excluded Animals
Statistical Plan
Genetic Background
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Included
Conflict of Interest

Outcomes

Outcome Measured
Outcome Parameters
Histopathology
Neurofibrillary Tau Tangles
Biochemical
Plasma-Interferon (IFN) gamma
phospho-Tau
Total Tau Protein
Immunochemistry
phospho-Tau
PHF Tau
Immunology
Antibody Isotypes
Antibody Titers
T Cell Response
Antibody Target Specificity
Pharmacodynamics
Target Engagement (Reduction Tau)

Source URL: http://alzped.nia.nih.gov/multitep-platform-based-dna