Peptide-Based Vaccines for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Recent Endeavors and Future Perspectives
Vyronia Vassilakopoulou,
Chrysoula-Evangelia Karachaliou,
Alexandra Evangelou,
Christos Zikos,
Evangelia Livaniou
Affiliations
Vyronia Vassilakopoulou
Immunopeptide Chemistry Lab., Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety (INRASTES), National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Patr. Grigoriou E’ & 27 Neapoleos St., 15341 Agia Paraskevi, Greece
Chrysoula-Evangelia Karachaliou
Immunopeptide Chemistry Lab., Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety (INRASTES), National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Patr. Grigoriou E’ & 27 Neapoleos St., 15341 Agia Paraskevi, Greece
Alexandra Evangelou
Department of Wine, Vine and Beverage Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Christos Zikos
Immunopeptide Chemistry Lab., Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety (INRASTES), National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Patr. Grigoriou E’ & 27 Neapoleos St., 15341 Agia Paraskevi, Greece
Evangelia Livaniou
Immunopeptide Chemistry Lab., Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety (INRASTES), National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Patr. Grigoriou E’ & 27 Neapoleos St., 15341 Agia Paraskevi, Greece
The development of peptide-based vaccines for treating human neurodegenerative diseases has been the eventual aim of many research endeavors, although no active immunotherapies have been approved for clinical use till now. A typical example of such endeavors is the effort to develop vaccines for Alzheimer’s disease based on the beta-amyloid peptide, which continues to be intensively investigated despite previous setbacks. In this paper, recent developments in peptide-based vaccines which target beta-amyloid as well as tau protein and α-synuclein are presented. Particular focus has been directed toward peptide epitopes and formulation systems selected/developed and employed to enhance vaccine efficacy and safety. Results from both, human clinical trials and animal preclinical studies conducted mainly in transgenic mice have been included. Future perspectives on the topic are also briefly discussed.
