Alzheimer’s disease Aβ vaccine reduces central nervous system Aβ levels in a non-human primate, the Caribbean vervet


BIBLIOGRAPHIC THERAPEUTIC AGENT ANIMAL MODEL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN OUTCOMES

Bibliographic

Year of Publication:
2004
Contact PI Name:
Cynthia A. Lemere
Contact PI Affiliation:
Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Co-Authors:
Amy Beierschmitt, Melitza Iglesias, Edward T. Spooner, Jeanne K. Bloom, Jodi F. Leverone, Jessica B. Zheng, Timothy J. Seabrook, Dora Louard, Diana Li, Dennis J. Selkoe, Roberta M. Palmour, Frank R. Ervin
Primary Reference (PubMED ID):
Funding Source:
Foundation for Neurologic Diseases
St. Kitts Behavioral Science Foundation
Study Goal and Principal Findings:

Amyloid β (Aβ) protein immunotherapy lowers cerebral Aβ and improves cognition in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here we show that Caribbean vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops, SK) develop cerebral Aβ plaques with aging and that these deposits are associated with gliosis and neuritic dystrophy. Five aged vervets were immunized with Aβ peptide over 10 months. Plasma and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected periodically from the immunized vervets and five aged controls; one monkey per group expired during the study. By Day 42, immunized animals generated plasma Aβ antibodies that labeled Aβ plaques in human, AD transgenic mouse and vervet brains; bound Aβ1–7; and recognized monomeric and oligomeric Aβ but not full-length amyloid precursor protein nor its C-terminal fragments. Low anti-Aβ titers were detected in CSF. Aβx-40 levels were elevated ~2- to 5-fold in plasma and decreased up to 64% in CSF in immunized vervets. Insoluble Aβx-42 was decreased by 66% in brain homogenates of the four immunized animals compared to archival tissues from 13 age-matched control vervets. Aβ42-immunoreactive plaques were detected in frontal cortex in 11 of the 13 control animals, but not in six brain regions examined in each of the four immunized vervets. No T cell response or inflammation was observed. Our study is the first to demonstrate age-related Aβ deposition in the vervet monkey as well as the lowering of cerebral Aβ by Aβ vaccination in a non-human primate. The findings further support Aβ immunotherapy as a potential prevention and treatment of AD.

Therapeutic Agent

Therapeutic Information:
Therapy Type:
Biologic - Immunotherapy(active)
Therapeutic Agent:
beta Amyloid Peptide
Therapeutic Target:
beta Amyloid Peptide
Therapeutic Notes:
A cocktail of Aβ peptides (3 parts Aβ1-40, 1 part Aβ1-42) was used for immunization.

Animal Model

Model Information:
Species:
Non Human Primate
Model Type:
Non-transgenic
Strain/Genetic Background:
Not Applicable

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
Experiment Notes

Number of Premature Deaths: One immunized male (25 years) and one control female (22 years) died between Days 42 and 100, due to natural causes associated with aging (i.e.: pneumonia).

Outcomes

Outcome Measured
Outcome Parameters
Histopathology
Activated Astrocytes
Activated Microglia
beta Amyloid Deposits
beta Amyloid Load
Fibrillar Plaques
Neuritic Plaques
Vascular beta Amyloid Deposits
Colocalization-Astrocytes/Microglia/Amyloid Plaques
Dystrophic Neurites
Lymphocytic Infiltration
Microhemorrhages
phospho-Tau
Biochemical
Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)
APP-CTFs
Brain-Buffer Soluble beta Amyloid Peptide 40
Brain-Buffer Soluble beta Amyloid Peptide 42
Brain-Buffer Insoluble beta Amyloid Peptide 40
Brain-Buffer Insoluble beta Amyloid Peptide 42
Immunochemistry
Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)
Brain-beta Amyloid Deposits
Brain-beta Amyloid Peptide 40
Brain-beta Amyloid Peptide 42
B Lymphocyte Antigen CD20 (CD20)
CD5
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP)
Microglia
phospho-Tau
Immunology
Anti-beta Amyloid Antibody Isotypes
Anti-beta Amyloid Antibody Titers
Antibody Target Specificity
Epitope Mapping
Cellular Immune Response
T Cell Response
Biomarker
CSF-beta Amyloid Peptide 40
CSF-beta Amyloid Peptide 42
Plasma-beta Amyloid Peptide 40
Plasma-beta Amyloid Peptide 42
Pharmacokinetics
Antibody Concentration-CSF
Antibody Concentration-Plasma
Pharmacodynamics
Target Engagement (Reduction beta Amyloid Deposits)
Target Engagement (Reduction beta Amyloid Peptide 42-Brain)

Source URL: http://alzped.nia.nih.gov/alzheimer’s-disease-aβ-vaccine