Therapeutic DNA vaccination as a repair strategy following spinal cord injury

Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2010 Mar;30(2):275-82. doi: 10.1007/s10571-009-9449-4. Epub 2009 Sep 16.

Abstract

Myelin-derived proteins, such as tenascin-R (TN-R), myelin associate glycoprotein (MAG), oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (OMgp), and Nogo-A, inhibit the central nervous system regeneration. In this study, the DNA vaccine encoding for oligodendrocyte and myelin-related antigens was employed to attenuate the axonal growth inhibitory properties of myelin in the setting of spinal cord injury. Using a rat spinal cord dorsal hemisection model, the vaccine directed against the inhibitory epitopes of Nogo-A, MAG, OMgp, and TN-R was administered intramuscularly once a week following spinal cord injury, supplemented with local application of specific anti-sera against the four antigens. Anterograde labeling of dorsal column fibers showed active axonal regeneration through the lesion site at the eighth week following the treatment in experimental group but not in control groups. Light microscopic and ultrastructural analysis revealed that vaccination with these myelin-related antigens did not lead to demyelinating disease. OMgp and TN-R levels were down-regulated at the lesion site together with a parallel increase in growth-associated protein 43 levels in the treatment groups. This study reveals the effective approach of a DNA vaccine strategy by attaining the special antibody to direct neutralization of the myelin inhibitors during spinal cord injury.

Publication types

  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / physiology*
  • Axons / ultrastructure
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / pathology
  • Epitopes / genetics
  • Female
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Immunization, Passive
  • Motor Activity
  • Myelin Proteins / genetics
  • Myelin Proteins / immunology
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / genetics
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / immunology
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / metabolism
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein
  • Nerve Regeneration
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / pathology
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / therapy*
  • Tenascin / genetics
  • Tenascin / immunology
  • Tenascin / metabolism
  • Vaccines, DNA / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Epitopes
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Mog protein, rat
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Omg protein, rat
  • Rtn4 protein, rat
  • Tenascin
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • tenascin R