Neprilysin gene transfer reduces human amyloid pathology in transgenic mice


BIBLIOGRAPHIC THERAPEUTIC AGENT ANIMAL MODEL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN OUTCOMES

Bibliographic

Year of Publication:
2003
Contact PI Name:
Inder M. Verma
Contact PI Affiliation:
Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA
Co-Authors:
Robert A. Marr, Edward Rockenstein, Atish Mukherjee, Mark S. Kindy, Louis B. Hersh, Fred H. Gage, Eliezer Masliah
Primary Reference (PubMED ID):
Funding Source:
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Alzheimer's Association
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Study Goal and Principal Findings:

The degenerative process of Alzheimer’s disease is linked to a shift in the balance between amyloid-β (Aβ) production, clearance, and degradation. Neprilysin has recently been implicated as a major extracellular Aβ degrading enzyme in the brain. However, there has been no direct demonstration that neprilysin antagonizes the deposition of amyloid-β in vivo. To address this issue, a lentiviral vector expressing human neprilysin (Lenti-Nep) was tested in transgenic mouse models of amyloidosis. We show that unilateral intracerebral injection of Lenti-Nep reduced amyloid-β deposits by half relative to the untreated side. Furthermore, Lenti-Nep ameliorated neurodegenerative alterations in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of these transgenic mice. These data further support a role for neprilysin in regulating cerebral amyloid deposition and suggest that gene transfer approaches might have potential for the development of alternative therapies for Alzheimer’s disease.

Bibliographic Notes:
Inder M. Verma (Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA) and Fred H. Gage (Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA) are corresponding authors on this paper.

Therapeutic Agent

Therapeutic Information:
Therapy Type:
Biologic - Gene
Therapeutic Agent:
Lentivirus-Human Neprilysin (NEP)
Therapeutic Target:
beta Amyloid Peptide

Animal Model

Model Information:
Species:
Mouse
Model Type:
APP
Strain/Genetic Background:
Not Reported
Species:
Mouse
Model Type:
APP
Strain/Genetic Background:
Not Reported

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
beta Amyloid Deposits
beta Amyloid Load
Neurodegeneration
Biochemical
Neprilysin
Immunochemistry
Brain-beta Amyloid Deposits
Neprilysin
Microtubule-Associated Protein 2 (MAP2)
Cell Biology
Flow Cytometry
beta Amyloid Peptide Degradation
Neprilysin Activity
Pharmacodynamics
Target Engagement (Reduction beta Amyloid Deposits)

Source URL: http://alzped.nia.nih.gov/neprilysin-gene-transfer