New Implant Turns Immune System Against Alzheimer’s
One of the hypothesized causes of Alzheimer’s is the over-accumulation of the protein amyloid beta (Abeta) in different areas of the brain. This results in the deposition of aggregated protein plaques, which are toxic to neurons. One of the most promising ways to fight the plaques is to “tag” the Abeta proteins with antibodies that signal the patient’s own immune system to attack and clear them. To be most effective, this treatment has to be given as early as possible, before the first signs of cognitive decline. But this requires repeated vaccine injections, which can cause side effects. EPFL scientists have now solved the problem with an implant that can deliver a steady and safe flow of antibodies to the patient’s brain to clear Abeta proteins. The work is published in the journal Brain.
The lab of Patrick Aebischer at EPFL has developed a bioactive capsule containing cells that have been genetically engineered to produce antibodies against Abeta. The capsule is implanted in the tissue under the skin, and over time the cells produce and release a steady flow of antibodies into the bloodstream, from where they cross over into the brain to target the Abeta plaques.
“A subcutaneous cellular implant for passive immunization against amyloid-β reduces brain amyloid and tau pathologies” by Aurélien Lathuilière, Vanessa Laversenne, Alberto Astolfo, Erhard Kopetzki, Helmut Jacobsen, Marco Stampanoni, Bernd Bohrmann, Bernard L. Schneider, and Patrick Aebischer in Brain. Published online March 8 2016 doi:10.1093/brain/aww036
This is an infographic of how the implanted capsule releases antibodies to the brain. Credit: Patrick Aebischer (EPFL).
