Immune responses to methamphetamine by active immunization with peptide-based, molecular adjuvant-containing vaccines

Vaccine. 2009 May 14;27(22):2981-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.02.105. Epub 2009 Mar 10.

Abstract

Vaccines to methamphetamine (meth) were designed by covalently attaching a meth hapten (METH) to peptide constructs that contained a conformationally biased, response-selective molecular adjuvant, YSFKPMPLaR (EP54). Rats immunized with EP54-containing meth vaccines generated serum antibody titers to authentic meth, an immune outcome that altered meth self-administration. Immunization increased meth self-administration suggesting pharmacokinetic antagonism. The ability of immune sera to bind a METH-modified target protein dramatically decreased during and shortly after the meth self-administration assay, suggesting effective sequestration of free meth. However, the binding ability of immune sera to the METH-modified target protein was recovered 34 days after meth-free clearance time.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology
  • Amphetamine-Related Disorders / immunology*
  • Amphetamine-Related Disorders / prevention & control*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies / blood
  • Complement C5a / administration & dosage
  • Complement C5a / pharmacology
  • Haptens / immunology*
  • Male
  • Methamphetamine / immunology*
  • Peptide Fragments / administration & dosage
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Self Administration
  • Substance-Related Disorders / immunology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / prevention & control*
  • Vaccines, Subunit / immunology*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies
  • Haptens
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Vaccines, Subunit
  • complement C5a, (65-74), Tyr(65)-Phe(67)-Pro(69,71)-Ala(73)-
  • Methamphetamine
  • Complement C5a