DNA Vaccine Developed
For Alzheimer's Disease - Japanese Researchers Say Genetic Based Vaccine
Could Reverse Plaque Buildup in Brain
June 14th 2006
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Japanese researchers say that they have promising new results with mice
studies that may benefit Alzheimer’s disease patients. They have been
able to cut levels of key amyloid proteins thought to cause the disease,
by up to 50% in some parts of the brain by using a DNA vaccine.
The over-production of amyloid proteins are thought to trigger symptoms
of Alzheimer's by forming clumps that litter the brain, according to the
BBC. Previous research has shown that it is possible to stimulate the
immune system of mice to attack these plaques, if they are immunized
with amyloid protein. But when this was done in humans the immune
response was so great that the brain began to swell. The clinical trial
for a vaccine had to be called off in 2003 after 18 of the 298 patients
developed swelling in their brains.
Now the researchers are trying to mobilize the immune system response in
a less aggressive manner. They hope this avoids brain swelling while
still destroying the plaque.
In the earlier trial, doctors speculated that exposing the human immune
system to small amounts of beta-amyloid could cause it to destroy the
"rogue" protein. Beta-amyloid is a protein thought to initiate the
buildup of plaques in the brain that is the primary finding in
Alzheimer's disease, according to FoodConsumer.org.
The team at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience has been
working on a technique that would stimulate the body to produce smaller
amounts of the amyloid protein. The mice are injected with naked DNA
that codes for these proteins. This may be a better approach than
relying on a virus to get the gene-based vaccine to the cell.
They say this has a more gentle effect on the immune response. The DNA
has also been designed so that it can not replicate by incorporating
itself into the human genome.
The scientists report that the latest vaccine reduced the deposition of
amyloid proteins by between 15.5% and 38.5% compared with untreated
mice. Also the deposition in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus was
reduced 40%-50%.
It is hoped this DNA vaccine will provide a low cost and effective
treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Currently there is no cure for the
disease. Lead researcher, Dr. Yoh Matsumoto, said that the vaccine
could be a milestone provided it does not cause side effects like the
other vaccines.
It is important to note that not all scientists agree that the
overproduction of amyloid-beta peptides is the main cause of Alzheimer’s
disease. The findings appear in this week's issue of the Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences.
Dan Wilson
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