Immunotherapeutic Approaches to Alzheimer's Disease

Alon Monsonego, Howard L. Weiner

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

217 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease are not classically considered mediated by inflammation or the immune system, in some instances the immune system may play an important role in the degenerative process. Furthermore, it has become clear that the immune system itself may have beneficial effects in nervous system diseases considered neurodegenerative. Immunotherapeutic approaches designed to induce a humoral immune response have recently been developed for the treatment of of Alzheimer's disease. These studies have led to human trials that resulted in both beneficial and adverse effects. In animal models, it has also been shown that immunotherapy designed to induce a cellular immune response may be of benefit in central nervous system injury, although T cells may have either a beneficial or detrimental effect depending on the type of T cell response induced. These areas provide a new avenue for exploring immune system-based therapy of neurodegenerative diseases and will be discussed here with a primary focus on Alzheimer's disease. We will also discuss how these approaches affect microglia activation, which plays a key role in therapy of such diseases.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)834-838
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume302
Issue number5646
DOIs
StatePublished - 31 Oct 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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