Partial MHC/neuroantigen peptide constructs: a potential neuroimmune-based treatment for methamphetamine addiction

PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e56306. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056306. Epub 2013 Feb 27.

Abstract

Relapse rates following current methamphetamine abuse treatments are very high (∼40-60%), and the neuropsychiatric impairments (e.g., cognitive deficits, mood disorders) that arise and persist during remission from methamphetamine addiction likely contribute to these high relapse rates. Pharmacotherapeutic development of medications to treat addiction has focused on neurotransmitter systems with only limited success, and there are no Food and Drug Administration approved pharmacotherapies for methamphetamine addiction. A growing literature shows that methamphetamine alters peripheral and central immune functions and that immune factors such as cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules play a role in the development and persistence of methamphetamine induced neuronal injury and neuropsychiatric impairments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new immunotherapy, partial MHC/neuroantigen peptide construct (RTL551; pI-A(b)/mMOG-35-55), in treating learning and memory impairments induced by repeated methamphetamine exposure. C57BL/6J mice were exposed to two different methamphetamine treatment regimens (using repeated doses of 4 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg, s.c.). Cognitive performance was assessed using the Morris water maze and CNS cytokine levels were measured by multiplex assay. Immunotherapy with RTL551 improved the memory impairments induced by repeated methamphetamine exposure in both mouse models of chronic methamphetamine addiction. Treatment with RTL551 also attenuated the methamphetamine induced increases in hypothalamic interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels. Collectively, these initial results indicate that neuroimmune targeted therapies, and specifically RTL551, may have potential as treatments for methamphetamine-induced neuropsychiatric impairments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Antigens / pharmacology
  • Antigens / therapeutic use*
  • Cognition / drug effects
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Major Histocompatibility Complex / immunology*
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / complications
  • Memory Disorders / drug therapy
  • Memory Disorders / physiopathology
  • Methamphetamine / administration & dosage
  • Methamphetamine / adverse effects*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neuropeptides / immunology
  • Neuropeptides / pharmacology
  • Neuropeptides / therapeutic use*
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Substance-Related Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Cytokines
  • Neuropeptides
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Methamphetamine