NR AWNK
AU Schulz,G.; Heit,A.; Hammerschmidt,F.; Gilch,S.; Wagner,H.; Schätzl,H.M.
TI Vaccination approaches against prion infections
QU International Conference - Prion 2006: Strategies, advances and trends towards protection of society - 3.10.-6.10.2006, Torino, Italy, Lingotto Conference Centre - Poster sessions THE-16
PT Konferenz-Poster
AB Prion diseases are neurodegenerative infectious disorders for which no prophylactic regimens are known. In order to induce antibodies/auto-antibodies directed against surface-located PrPc, we used a covalently linked dimer of mouse prion protein expressed recombinantly in E. coli. Employing dimeric PrP as an immunogen in combination with adjuvant CpG, we were able to effectively overcome auto-tolerance against murine PrP in PrP wild-type mice without inducing obvious side effects. Treatment of prion-infected mouse cells with polyclonal anti-PrP antibodies generated in rabbit or auto-antibodies produced in mice significantly inhibited the endogenous PrPsc synthesis. In addition, we found immune responses against different epitopes when comparing antibodies induced in rabbits and PrP wild-type mice. Only in the auto-antibody situation in mice an immune reaction against a region of PrP is found that was reported to be involved in the PrPsc conversion process. Our data clearly show that we also induce a Th1-type T-cell response in this auto-immunization situation. Studies on improved antigen application and the efficacy of tolerance breakers like anti-OX40 antibody are ongoing. Our data point to the possibility of developing an active immunoprophylaxis against prion diseases.
AD G. Schulz, F. Hammerschmidt, S. Gilch, H.M. Schätzl: Institut of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; A. Heit, H. Wagner: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, TU-Munich, Munich, Germany. E-mail: schaetzl@lrz.tum.de
SP englisch
PO Italien