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S5‐03–02: Encephalitis and anti‐Aβ vaccination
Author(s) -
Ferrer Isidro
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2008.05.573
Subject(s) - meningoencephalitis , immunization , immune system , active immunization , vaccination , medicine , cerebral amyloid angiopathy , immunology , disease , encephalitis , amyloid (mycology) , antibody , pathology , dementia , virus
Background: Passive and active A immunization were tested in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) murine models in an attempt to provoke immune responses geared to reducing -amyloid aggregation and cerebral -amyloid burden. Preliminary results in murine models prompted the application of A immunization in AD. Methods: Positive results in terms of improved behavior and reduced plaque formation were found following active and passive A immunization in AD transgenic mice. Results: Pioneering trials in moderate AD cases showed variable clinical improvement and decreased -amyloid plaques, but maintained -amyloid angiopathy and hyperphosphorylated tau pathology. However, the trial was stopped because of the appearance of meningoencephalitis in a subset of patients. This was due to T-cell-mediated immune responses in addition to the expected antibody-related immune response. Conclusions: These results have prompted the development of new approaches aimed to reducing side-effects such as encephalitis and microhemorrhages, and to optimizing immunization. Together, experimental designs have delineated A immunization as a potent therapeutic tool at early stages of the disease, either administered alone, or more probably, in combination with other drugs.