Daryl S. Spinner

Induction of Toll-Like Receptor 9 Signaling as a Method for Ameliorating Alzheimer's Disease-Related Pathology

The pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease (AD) is thought to be related to the accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) in amyloid deposits and toxic oligomeric species. Immunomodulation is emerging as an effective means of shifting the equilibrium from Aβ accumulation to clearance; however, excessive cell mediated inflammation and cerebral microhemorrhages are two forms of toxicity which can occur with this approach. Vaccination studies have so far mainly targeted the adaptive immune system. In the present study, we have stimulated the innate immune system via the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) with cytosine-guanosine-containing DNA oligodeoxynucleotides in Tg2576 AD model transgenic mice. This treatment produced a 66% and 80% reduction in the cortical (p = 0.0001) and vascular (p = 0.0039) amyloid burden, respectively, compared with nontreated AD mice. This was in association with significant reductions in Aβ42, Aβ40, and Aβ oligomer levels. We also show that treated Tg mice performed similarly to wild-type mice on a radial arm maze. Our data suggest that stimulation of innate immunity via TLR9 is highly effective at reducing the parenchymal and vascular amyloid burden, along with Aβ oligomers, without apparent toxicity.

Clearance and prevention of prion infection in cell culture by anti-PrP antibodies.

Prion diseases are transmissible and invariably fatal neurodegenerative disorders associated with a conformational transformation of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into a self‐replicating and proteinase K (PK)‐resistant conformer, scrapie PrP (PrPSc). Humoral immunity may significantly prolong the incubation period and even prevent disease in murine models of prionoses. However, the mechanism(s) of action of anti‐PrP monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) remain(s) obscure. The murine neuroblastoma N2a cell line, infected with the 22L mouse‐adapted scrapie strain, was used to screen a large library of Mabs with similar binding affinities to PrP, to identify those antibodies which could clear established infection and/or prevent infection de novo. Three Mabs were found capable of complete and persistent clearing of already‐infected N2a cells of PrPSc. These antibodies were 6D11 (generated to PK‐resistant PrPSc and detecting PrP residues 93–109), and 7H6 and 7A12, which were raised against recombinant PrP and react with neighbouring epitopes of PrP residues 130–140 and 143–155, respectively. Mabs were found to interact with PrPSc formation both on the cell surface and after internalization in the cytosol. Treatment with Mabs was not associated with toxicity nor did it result in decreased expression of PrPC. Both preincubation of N2a cells with Mabs prior to exposure to 22L inoculum and preincubation of the inoculum with Mabs prior to infecting N2a cells resulted in a significant reduction in PrPSc levels. Information provided in these studies is important for the rational design of humoral immune therapy for prion infection in animals and eventually in humans.

CpG oligodeoxynucleotide-enhanced humoral immune response and production of antibodies to prion protein PrPSc in mice immunized with 139A scrapie-associated fibrils.

Prion diseases are characterized by conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) to a protease‐resistant conformer, the srapie form of PrP (PrPSc). Humoral immune responses to nondenatured forms of PrPSc have never been fully characterized. We investigated whether production of antibodies to PrPSc could occur in PrP null (Prnp−/−) mice and further, whether innate immune stimulation with the TLR9 agonist CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) 1826 could enhance this process. Whether such stimulation could raise anti‐PrPSc antibody levels in wild‐type (Prnp+/+) mice was also investigated. Prnp−/− and Prnp+/+ mice were immunized with nondenatured 139A scrapie‐associated fibrils (SAF), with or without ODN 1826, and were tested for titers of PrP‐specific antibodies. In Prnp−/− mice, inclusion of ODN 1826 in the immunization regime increased anti‐PrP titers more than 13‐fold after two immunizations and induced, among others, antibodies to an N‐terminal epitope, which were only present in the immune repertoire of mice receiving ODN 1826. mAb 6D11, derived from such a mouse, reacts with the N‐terminal epitope QWNK in native and denatured forms of PrPSc and recombinant PrP and exhibits a Kd in the 10−11 M range. In Prnp+/+ mice, ODN 1826 increased anti‐PrP levels as much as 84% after a single immunization. Thus, ODN 1826 potentiates adaptive immune responses to PrPSc in 139A SAF‐immunized mice. These results represent the first characterization of humoral immune responses to nondenatured, infectious PrPSc and suggest methods for optimizing the generation of mAbs to PrPSc, many of which could be used for diagnosis and treatment of prion diseases.

Accelerated prion disease pathogenesis in Toll-like receptor 4 signaling-mutant mice.

ABSTRACT Prion diseases such as scrapie involve the accumulation of disease-specific prion protein, PrPSc, in the brain. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of proteins that recognize microbial constituents and are central players in host innate immune responses. The TLR9 agonist unmethylated CpG DNA was shown to prolong the scrapie incubation period in mice, suggesting that innate immune activation interferes with prion disease progression. Thus, it was predicted that ablation of TLR signaling would result in accelerated pathogenesis. C3H/HeJ (Tlr4Lps-d) mice, which possess a mutation in the TLR4 intracellular domain preventing TLR4 signaling, and strain-matched wild-type control (C3H/HeOuJ) mice were infected intracerebrally or intraperitoneally with various doses of scrapie inoculum. Incubation periods were significantly shortened in C3H/HeJ compared with C3H/HeOuJ mice, regardless of the route of infection or dose administered. At the clinical phase of disease, brain PrPSc levels in the two strains of mice showed no significant differences by Western blotting. In addition, compared with macrophages from C3H/HeOuJ mice, those from C3H/HeJ mice were unresponsive to fibrillogenic PrP peptides (PrP residues 106 to 126 [PrP106-126] and PrP118-135) and the TLR4 agonist lipopolysaccharide but not to the TLR2 agonist zymosan, as measured by cytokine production. These data confirm that innate immune activation via TLR signaling interferes with scrapie infection. Furthermore, the results also suggest that the scrapie pathogen, or a component(s) thereof, is capable of stimulating an innate immune response that is active in the central nervous system, since C3H/HeJ mice, which lack the response, exhibit shortened incubation periods following both intraperitoneal and intracerebral infections.

A sensitive and quantitative assay for normal PrP in plasma

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies can be transmitted by blood transfusion. The risk of spreading the disease among the human population could be mitigated with the implementation of a blood screening assay. We developed a two-antibody assay for PrP detection in plasma using the ORIGEN technology with a protocol modification to improve the limit of detection and to increase the sample volume assayed. In the standard 200 microL format, the assay had a detection limit of 7-10 pg of recombinant PrP and 3 pg in 1 mL final volume implementation. PrP concentration measured in normal and scrapie-infected hamster brains was 7.5+/-0.9 and 57.3+/-9.6 microg/g, respectively. After a concentration step with an immuno-affinity resin, plasma PrP(c) was detected by Western blot and its concentration was measured at 3.5+/-0.8 ng/mL. From these data and assuming that blood has the same specific infectivity as brain, we estimated the concentration of abnormal PrP in hamster-infected plasma to be 32 f g/mL. The assay also detected abnormal brain PrP spiked into plasma although the limit of detection was affected. This is a novel and sensitive assay for the detection of PrP in plasma that could be developed into a platform for a plasma-based TSE test.

Altered lymphocyte proliferation and innate immune function in scrapie 139A- and ME7-infected mice.

Lymphoid organs play an important role in prion disease development and progression. While the role of lymphoid organs and changes in immune-related genes have been extensively investigated in scrapie-infected animals, innate immunity has not. Previous studies examined lymphocyte function in scrapie-infected C3H/HeJ mice, which exhibit defects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) response now known to result from a mutation in Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4. We examined immune function in scrapie-infected CD1 mice, which are LPS responders. Lymphocyte proliferation from CD1 mice infected with either 139A or ME7 scrapie was measured in response to concanavalin (Con) A or LPS at 1 and 3 months after infection. Following LPS exposure, mice infected 3 months with ME7, but not 139A, demonstrated significantly decreased lymphocyte proliferation compared to controls. After Con A exposure, lymphocyte proliferation in scrapie-infected mice did not differ from controls. Gender-specific comparison of lymphocyte proliferation showed significant decreases in mitogenic responses in females infected 3 months with either 139A or ME7, compared to controls. Males infected for 3 months with ME7, but not 139A, showed significantly decreased proliferation after lymphocyte exposure to LPS, but not Con A. Neither gender showed changes in lymphocyte proliferation after 1 month of scrapie infection. Innate immune activation of peritoneal macrophages was determined via production of nitric oxide (NO), IL-6, and TNF-α after exposure to TLR ligands. TNF-α and IL-6 production were reduced in macrophages from females infected with either scrapie strain for 3 months, while NO production after TLR agonist plus IFN-γ exposure was decreased in both females and males infected for 3 months with 139A, compared to ME7. These data demonstrated altered innate immunity, suggesting hormonal and/or other gender-specific regulation may contribute to gender differences in some immune functions. Our data demonstrate lymphocyte proliferation and innate immune functioning in scrapie-infected mice deteriorate with disease progression.

Stimulation of innate immunity via Toll-like receptor 9 mitigates Alzheimer pathology

Henrieta Scholtzova, Yong Ji, Fernando Goni, Yanjie Sun, Richard Kascsak, Pankaj D. Mehta, Daryl S. Spinner, Thomas Wisniewski, NYU School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, New York, NY, USA; New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, New York, NY, USA; NYU School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Pathology and Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA. Contact e-mail: scholtzova@yahoo.com

P2-405: Induction of toll-like receptor 9 signaling as a method for preventing or ameliorating Alzheimer's disease

the control group. After training, these differences in task-related cortical activation patterns between groups were reduced. Conclusions: The results of our study indicate that a computer assisted training program over 4 weeks may significantly improve visual working memory task-performance in healthy elderly and MCI patients and that this improvement is accompanied by neuroplastical changes, as indicated by altered task-related cortical activation patterns.