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A multimeric immunogen for the induction of immune memory to beta‐amyloid
Author(s) -
Mantile Francesca,
Basile Carla,
Cicatiello Valeria,
De Falco Diana,
Caivano Antonella,
De Berardinis Piergiuseppe,
Prisco Antonella
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1038/icb.2010.134
Subject(s) - immunogen , immune system , antibody , immunology , immunotherapy , beta (programming language) , amyloid beta , virology , antigen , biology , medicine , peptide , chemistry , biochemistry , monoclonal antibody , computer science , programming language
The development of active immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD) requires the identification of immunogens that can ensure a high titer antibody response toward beta‐amyloid, whereas minimizing the risks of a cell‐mediated adverse reaction. We describe here two novel anti‐beta‐amyloid vaccines that consist of ‘virus like particles’ formed by a domain of the bacterial protein E2 that is able to self‐assemble into a 60‐mer peptide. Peptides 1–11 and 2–6 of beta‐amyloid were displayed as N terminal fusions on the surface of the E2 particles. E2‐based vaccines induced a fast‐rising, robust and persistent antibody response to beta‐amyloid in all vaccinated mice. The immune memory induced by a single administration of vaccine (1–11) E2 can be rapidly mobilized by a single booster injection, leading to a very high serum concentration of anti‐beta‐amyloid antibodies (above 1 mg ml −1 ). E2 vaccination polarizes the immune response toward the production of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐4 and does not induce a T cell response to beta‐amyloid. Thus, E2‐based vaccines are promising candidates for the development of immunotherapy protocols for AD.