[Abeta vaccine therapy for Alzheimer's disease]

Abstract

In 1999, Schenk et al reported that vaccination of PDAPP-transgenic mice with synthetic Abeta42 in complete Freund's adjuvant showed markedly decrease of the amyloid burden in the brain. The second trial of vaccine, AN1792, for Alzheimer's patients was halted because of meningoencephalitis found in 6% of patients and one autopsy case was reported. Here, we comment the methods and the immunological mechanisms of Abeta vaccine therapy and discuss the pathological changes in the brain and side effects after AN1792 treatment. Furthermore, we present an oral Abeta vaccine therapy for Alzheimer's disease with the recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector that we developed.