Neuroprotective natural antibodies to assemblies of amyloidogenic peptides decrease with normal aging and advancing Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract

A number of distinct beta-amyloid (Abeta) variants or multimers have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and antibodies recognizing such peptides are in clinical trials. Humans have natural Abeta-specific antibodies, but their diversity, abundance, and function in the general population remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate with peptide microarrays the presence of natural antibodies against known toxic Abeta and amyloidogenic non-Abeta species in plasma samples and cerebrospinal fluid of AD patients and healthy controls aged 21-89 years. Antibody reactivity was most prominent against oligomeric assemblies of Abeta and pyroglutamate or oxidized residues, and IgGs specific for oligomeric preparations of Abeta1-42 in particular declined with age and advancing AD. Most individuals showed unexpected antibody reactivities against peptides unique to autosomal dominant forms of dementia (mutant Abeta, ABri, ADan) and IgGs isolated from plasma of AD patients or healthy controls protected primary neurons from Abeta toxicity. Aged vervets showed similar patterns of plasma IgG antibodies against amyloid peptides, and after immunization with Abeta the monkeys developed high titers not only against Abeta peptides but also against ABri and ADan peptides. Our findings support the concept of conformation-specific, cross-reactive antibodies that may protect against amyloidogenic toxic peptides. If a therapeutic benefit of Abeta antibodies can be confirmed in AD patients, stimulating the production of such neuroprotective antibodies or passively administering them to the elderly population may provide a preventive measure toward AD.

• Authors: M Britschgi, C E Olin, H T Johns, Y Takeda-Uchimura, M C LeMieux, K Rufibach, J Rajadas, H Zhang, B Tomooka, W H Robinson, C M Clark, A M Fagan, D R Galasko, D M Holtzman, M Jutel, J A Kaye, C A Lemere, J Leszek, G Li, E R Peskind, J F Quinn, J A Yesavage, J A Ghiso, T Wyss-Coray
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A) Vol. 106 Issue 29 Pg. 12145-50 (Jul 21 2009) ISSN: 1091-6490 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19581601 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Amyloid beta-Peptides
• Antibodies
• Immunoglobulin G
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Peptides

Topics

• Aging (drug effects, immunology)
• Alzheimer Disease (blood, complications, immunology, pathology)
• Amyloid beta-Peptides (chemistry, immunology, toxicity)
• Animals
• Antibodies (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, immunology)
• Cytoprotection (drug effects)
• Dementia (complications, immunology)
• Disease Progression
• Genes, Dominant
• Immunization
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Mice
• Molecular Weight
• Neurons (cytology, drug effects)
• Neuroprotective Agents (immunology)
• Peptides (chemistry, immunology)
• Primates (immunology)
• Protein Processing, Post-Translational (drug effects)
• Protein Structure, Quaternary