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Abstract

Alzheimer�s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that gradually destroys a person�s Memory& cognition. Research efforts derived from our lab from past ten years along with others across the globe, strongly suggests that: amyloid beta (Aβ) and the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) play a crucial role in AD pathogenesis. RAGE, facilitates the translocation of Aβ from the periphery into the brain, mediates Aβ-induced neurotoxicity, and enhances the release of proinflammatory cytokines triggering an inflammatory response. It has been shown that AGEs also regulate RAGE gene expression in blood vessels, and that the AGE-RAGE interaction enables a sustained and upwardly spiraling inflammatory component preventing the completion of normal tissue repair mechanisms. Aβ also binds with α7 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) which are crucial for memory and cognitive functions of the brain ( Mruthinti et al.,2006). RAGE-Aβ complexes are more immunogenic compared to either RAGE or Aβ and their long-term presence potentiates Aβ aggregation, oxidative stress, inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and autoimmunity. We prepared a simple and safe water-based oral vaccine for AD, incorporating an in-vitro prepared RAGE-Aβ complex antigen. Our data clearly suggested that, RAGE-Aβ immunogen induced: a) significantly higher antibody IgG serum titers and b) improved their cognitive test scores in AD-Tg mice and Primates; compared to either Aβ or RAGE alone (Webster et al., 2012). We conclude that, an oral vaccine therapy using water based RAGEAβ complex immunogen may be more effective treatment for AD than vaccination with Aβ or RAGE alone.

Biography

Shyamala Mruthinti received B.Sc., M.A., M.S. and Ph.D. from Osmania and M. S. University of Baroda, India. She was hired as a Post-Doctoral Fellow & as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Immunology, Medical College of GA from 1987-1996. She joined Veterans Medical Administration in 1996 as Research Pharmacologist and received Career Development award and Merit Review award as Principle Investigator from 2000-2010 on AD research. She has 6 grants, 25 publications. She received �Outstanding-Performance & Research- Excellence-Awards� in 2010 from VA. She is the founding member of Immuno-Rx & currently CEO of Datta ImmunoChem. Inc.