Novel method for down-regulation of amyloid

Abstract

Disclosed are novel methods for combatting diseases characterized by deposition of amyloid. The methods generally rely on immunization against amyloid precursor protien (APP) or beta amyloid (Abeta). Immunization is preferably effected by administration of analogues of autologous APP or Abeta, said analogues being capable of inducing antibody production against the autologous amyloidogenic polypeptides. Especially preferred as an immunogen is autologous Abeta which has been modified by introduction of one single or a few foreign, immunodominant and promiscuous T-cell epitopes. Also disclosed are nucleic acid vaccination against APP or Abeta and vaccination using live vaccines as well as methods and means useful for the vaccination. Such methods and means include methods for the preparation of analogues and pharmaceutical formulations, as well as nucleic acid fragments, vectors, transformed cells, polypeptides and pharmaceutical formulations.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to improvements in therapy and prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other diseases characterized by deposition of amyloid, e.g. characterized by amyloid deposits in the central nervous system (CNS). More specifically, the present invention provides a method for down-regulating (undesired) deposits of amyloid by enabling the production of antibodies against a relevant protein (APP or A.beta.) or components thereof in subjects suffering from or in danger of suffering from diseases having a pathology involving amyloid deposition. The invention also provides for methods of producing polypeptides useful in this method as well as for the modified polypeptides as such. Also encompassed by the present invention are nucleic acid fragments encoding the modified polypeptides as well as vectors incorporating these nucleic acid fragments and host cells and cell lines transformed therewith. Finally, the present invention also provides for a new type of c...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

There is no specific treatment for amyloid deposition and these diseases are usually fatal.

These losses are related to the death of brain cells and the breakdown of the connections between them.

Later in the disease, they may forget how to do even simple tasks.

Eventually, people with AD lose all reasoning ability and become dependent on other people for their everyday care.

Ultimately, the disease becomes so debilitating that patients are bedridden and likely to develop other illnesses and infections.

This disruption ultimately causes many nerve cells to stop functioning, lose connections with other nerve cells, and die.

As nerve cells in the hippocampus stop functioning properly, short-term memory fails, and often, a person's ability to do easy and familiar tasks begins to decline.

It presents a major health problem because of its enormous impact on individuals, families, the health care system, and society as a whole.

AD puts a heavy economic burden on society.

It is believed that A.beta. is toxic to neurons.

However, in AD tau is changed chemically, and this altered tau can no longer stabilize the microtubules, causing them to fall disintegrate.

This collapse of the transport system may at first result in malfunctions in communication between nerve cells and may later lead to neuronal death.

Several neurodegenerative diseases, other than AD, are characterized by the aggregation of tau into insoluble filaments in neurons and glia, leading to dysfunction and death.

In these families, mutations in the tau gene cause neuronal cell death and dementia.

Further, the deposits are located in a compartment (the CNS) normally separated from the immune system, both facts suggesting that any vaccine or immunotherapeutical approach would be unsuccessful.

Furthermore, because the mouse model is not a complete representation of AD (the animals do not develop neurofibrillary tangles nor do many of their neurons die), additional studies will be necessary to determine whether humans have a similar or different reaction from mice.

Another issue to consider is that the method may perhaps "cure" amyloid deposition but fail to stop development of dementia.

Technical issues present major challenges as well.

For example it is unlikely that it is even possible, using this technology, to create a vaccine which enables humans to raise antibodies against their own proteins.

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