[Immunotherapy Against Misfolded Proteins in ALS]

Brain Nerve. 2019 Nov;71(11):1289-1301. doi: 10.11477/mf.1416201439.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Protein misfolding crucially underlies the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and TAR DNA-binding protein 43kDa (TDP-43) are major causal proteins for familial and sporadic ALS, respectively, provoking diverse pathogenic pathways in both intracellular and extracellular environments. Of note, cell-to-cell spreading behavior is implicated in the progression of neurodegeneration, suggesting application in immunotherapies including vaccination, and antibody application as a molecular targeting therapy, due to strict antigen-specificity. Although immunotherapy of intravenous application of full-length immunoglobulin is aimed at targeting the extracellular proteins because of low access to the cytosol, it is therefore necessary to generate expression vectors for variable single chain fragments (scFv) that target intracellular proteins. Despite the advantages of scFv, such as low molecular size and the ability to apply molecular modifications adding proteolytic signals, safety and efficacy should be cautiously estimated in preclinical studies, using appropriate animal models. In ALS, we firstly succeeded in the vaccination of mutant SOD1 transgenic mice, which was followed by accumulating evidence showing the efficacy of immunization against misfolded SOD1. In TDP-43 proteinopathy, we are developing immunotherapy using intrabodies with proteolytic properties against mislocalized or aggregated forms of TDP-43 inside cells.

MeSH terms

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / therapy*
  • Animals
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Immunotherapy*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Protein Folding
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1 / genetics

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • TDP-43 protein, mouse
  • Sod1 protein, mouse
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1