Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. It elicits a broad range of debilitating motor and as well as non-motor symptoms, both of which can lead to serious disability. There is currently no available agent with disease modifying properties. Immunotherapy is increasingly being investigated as a disease modifying treatment for PD based on our improved understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease. Current evidence points to a causal role of misfolded alpha-synuclein (α-syn) in the development and progression of PD and it has therefore become a primary focus for immunotherapy. Today, two principal approaches are being pursued: active and passive immunization. This chapter first addresses progress in active and passive immunotherapeutic approaches targeting α-syn for Parkinson’s disease in animal models. We then discuss clinical progress of α-syn immunotherapy including ongoing clinical trials. Finally, we address challenges and future perspectives for PD immunotherapy.
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Abbreviations
- α-syn:
-
Alpha-synuclein
- β-syn:
-
Beta-synuclein
- DA:
-
Dopamine
- DLB:
-
Dementia with Lewy bodies
- DOPAC:
-
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid
- GCI:
-
Glial cytoplasmatic inclusions
- h:
-
Human
- HVA:
-
Homovanillic acid
- LB:
-
Lewy body
- mAb:
-
Monoclonal antibody
- MSA:
-
Multiple system atrophy
- PD:
-
Parkinson’s disease
- PDD:
-
Parkinson’s disease dementia
- REM:
-
Rapid eye movement
- MWM:
-
Morris water maze
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Schneeberger, A., Hendrix, S., Mandler, M. (2016). Immunotherapy of Parkinson’s Disease. In: Ingelsson, M., Lannfelt, L. (eds) Immunotherapy and Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3560-4_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3560-4_7
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