Human Trials to Follow
Gene-based Vaccine
A distinguishing feature of Alzheimer's disease are the plaques that develop in the brain as a
result of amyloid protein activity. Until now, attempts at developing a protein-based vaccine
have met with limited success. Recently, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center in
Dallas, have found a new way of stimulating the immune systems of mice to fight against
amyloid proteins.
Researchers have used a gene-based vaccine which avoids stimulating the body's own immune cytotoxic T cells. Stimulation of cytotoxic T cells can lead to a number of unwanted side effects including encephalitis. By contrast, the gene vaccine appears to have increased the level of antibodies in mice without negative effects.
Dr.Roger Rosenberg, a study author stated, “When we vaccinated the mice with the mouse form of the amyloid gene, they made lots of antibodies without stimulating cytotoxic T cells. When we get to human studies, we hope to show that humans can make human antibodies against the amyloid as well.” In terms of when we might expect human trials Dr. Rosenberg explained, “although human clinical trials are still at least two years out, theoretically, we are on the right track,”
The study is published in the Archives of Neurology, Dec 13, 2004
