An anti-Aβ (amyloid β) single-chain variable fragment prevents amyloid fibril formation and cytotoxicity by withdrawing Aβ oligomers from the amyloid pathway

Biochem J. 2011 Jul 1;437(1):25-34. doi: 10.1042/BJ20101712.

Abstract

Aβ (amyloid β) immunotherapy has been revealed as a possible tool in Alzheimer's disease treatment. In contrast with complete antibodies, the administration of scFvs (single-chain variable fragments) produces neither meningoencephalitis nor cerebral haemorrhage. In the present study, the recombinant expression of scFv-h3D6, a derivative of an antibody specific for Aβ oligomers, is presented, as well as the subsequent proof of its capability to recover the toxicity induced by the Aβ1-42 peptide in the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. To gain insight into the conformational changes underlying the prevention of Aβ toxicity by this antibody fragment, the conformational landscape of scFv-h3D6 upon temperature perturbation is also described. Heating the native state does not lead to any extent of unfolding, but rather directly to a β-rich intermediate state which initiates an aggregation pathway. This aggregation pathway is not an amyloid fibril pathway, as is that followed by the Aβ peptide, but rather a worm-like fibril pathway which, noticeably, turns out to be non-toxic. On the other hand, this pathway is thermodynamically and kinetically favoured when the scFv-h3D6 and Aβ1-42 oligomers form a complex in native conditions, explaining how the scFv-h3D6 withdraws Aβ1-42 oligomers from the amyloid pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a conformational mechanism by which a scFv prevents Aβ-oligomer cytotoxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Amyloid / ultrastructure
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / immunology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / toxicity*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Protein Folding
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / chemistry*
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / metabolism
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Single-Chain Antibodies