Journal
NATURE MEDICINE
Volume 6, Issue 8, Pages 916-919Publisher
NATURE AMERICA INC
DOI: 10.1038/78682
Keywords
-
Ask authors/readers for more resources
One hallmark of Alzheimer disease is the accumulation of amyloid beta -peptide in the brain and its deposition as plaques. Mice transgenic for an amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) mini-gene driven by a platelet-derived (PD) growth factor promoter (PDAPP mice), which overexpress one of the disease-linked mutant forms of the human amyloid precursor protein, show many of the pathological features of Alzheimer disease, including extensive deposition of extracellular amyloid plaques, astrocytosis and neuritic dystrophy(1,2). Active immunization of PDAPP mice with human amyloid beta -peptide reduces plaque burden and its associated pathologies(3). Several hypotheses have been proposed regarding the mechanism of this response(4,5). Here we report that peripheral administration of antibodies against amyloid beta -peptide, was sufficient to reduce amyloid burden. Despite their relatively modest serum levels, the passively administered antibodies were able to enter the central nervous system, decorate plaques and induce clearance of preexisting amyloid. When examined in an ex vivo assay with sections of PDAPP or Alzheimer disease brain tissue, antibodies against amyloid beta -peptide triggered microglial cells to clear plaques through Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis and subsequent peptide degradation. These results indicate that antibodies can cross the blood-brain barrier to act directly in the central nervous system and should be considered as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of Alzheimer disease and other neurological disorders.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available