Systemic administration of Abeta mAb reduces retinal deposition of Abeta and activated complement C3 in age-related macular degeneration mouse model

PLoS One. 2013 Jun 14;8(6):e65518. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065518. Print 2013.

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of legal blindness in the Western world. There are effective treatments for the vascular complications of neo-vascular AMD, but no effective therapies are available for the dry/atrophic form of the disease. A previously described transgenic CFH-gene deficient mouse model, (cfh-/-), shows hallmarks of early AMD. The ocular phenotype has been further analysed to demonstrate amyloid beta (Aβ) rich basement membrane deposits associated with activated complement C3. Cfh-/- mice were treated systemically in both prophylactic and therapeutic regimes with an anti-Aβ monoclonal antibody (mAb), 6F6, to determine the effect on the cfh-/- retinal phenotype. Prophylactic treatment with 6F6 demonstrated a dose dependent reduction in the accumulation of both Aβ and activated C3 deposition. A similar reduction in the retinal endpoints could be seen after therapeutic treatment. Serum Aβ levels after systemic administration of 6F6 show accumulation of Aβ in the periphery suggestive of a peripheral sink mechanism. In summary, anti-Aβ mAb treatment can partially prevent or reverse ocular phenotypes of the cfh-/- mouse. The data support this therapeutic approach in humans potentially modulating two key elements in the pathogenesis of AMD - Aβ and activated, complement C3.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / immunology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / administration & dosage*
  • Complement C3 / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Hybridomas
  • Macular Degeneration / drug therapy*
  • Macular Degeneration / immunology
  • Macular Degeneration / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Retina / metabolism*
  • Retina / pathology

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Complement C3
  • Peptide Fragments
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)

Grants and funding

JHK, PLvL, PC & GJ received funding from GSK for this work which was performed collaboratively by Institute of Ophthalmology and GSK researchers. The funders were actively involved in study design, some aspects of experimental end point analysis and in rigorous statistical analysis of the data and jointly decided to publish and prepare the manuscript with their academic colleagues.