Researchers have produced an anti-cocaine lasting immunity in mice by giving them a safe vaccine, a combination of bit parts with a common cold virus particles that mimic cocaine.
In their study, published online in the January 4 issue of Molecular Therapy and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the researchers say that this strategy may be the first new offering in cocaine addicts a fairly simple way to stop and reverse their habits, and may also be useful in treating other addictions such as nicotine, heroin and other opiates.
"Our data shows very dramatically that we were able to protect mice against the effects of cocaine, and we think this approach could be very promising in the fight against addiction in humans," said the study's lead researcher, Dr.. Ronald G. Crystal, chairman and professor of genetic medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.
He said that the resulting antibody immune response in laboratory mice by this vaccine is binding, and lock up, the molecules of cocaine before the drug reaches the brain of this animal - and prevent any sort associated with hyperactivity of cocaine. The impact of this vaccine lasts for at least 13 weeks, longest time point evaluated.
"While other efforts in producing immunity to cocaine has been sought, this is the first one probably will not need a lot of expensive infusion, and can move quickly into human trials," said Dr.. Crystal. "There is currently no FDA-approved vaccines for drug addiction."
"A successful approach is indispensable for cocaine addiction, which is a compromise issues around the world," he added. "There is no current therapy."
New from this treatment may be related to chemical structure very similar to cocaine, to the components of adenovirus, the common cold virus. In this way, the human immune system to be vigilant against infectious agents (viruses), but also learn to "see" the crack cocaine as well as an intruder, he said. Crystal. Having recently recognized the intruder structure, built of natural immunity against cocaine particles, so that every time he snorted cocaine or used in any way, antibodies against the substance is quickly produced and ingested cocaine by the antibody molecule and preventing it from reaching the brain.
"The human immune system does not naturally recognize cocaine as something to be destroyed - just like all small molecule drugs are not eliminated by antibodies," he said. "We have engineered this response so that it can fight the cocaine."
In this study, a team of researchers - scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University in Ithaca, and the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California - unload an adenovirus, just take the components that cause immune reactions and discard the parts that produce disease. They then link the analogue of cocaine on these proteins to make vaccines. "We're using an analog of cocaine as a bit more stable than cocaine, and also led to better immunity," said Dr.. Crystal.
Researchers then injected the virus into the billions of potions in the laboratory rat "parks" (rats are not genetically engineered). They found a strong immune response generated against the vaccine, and these antibodies, if placed in the test tube, capable of devouring cocaine.
They then tested the vaccine effect on behavior, and found that mice that received the vaccine before it was given less hyperactive cocaine to the drug than mice not vaccinated. The effect was even seen in rats that received cocaine repeatedly in large doses. Proportionately, reflecting the number of cocaine doses that can be used by humans.
This vaccine should be tested in humans, of course, he said. Crystal, but he predicts that if successful, will serve very well to people already addicted to cocaine and who try to stop using drugs. "This vaccine can help them get rid of the habit, because if they use cocaine, the immune response to destroy the drug before it reaches the brain's pleasure center."
In addition to Dr.. Crystal, author of the study include Martin J. Hicks, Bishnu P. De, Jonathan B. Rosenberg, Jesse T. Davidson, Neil R. Hackett, Stephen M. Kaminsky and Miklos Toth from Weill Cornell Medical College; Jason G. Mezey of Weill Cornell Medical College and Cornell University in Ithaca, NY; Amira Y. Moreno, Kim D. Widow, Sunmee Wee and George F. Koob of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California
The study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) from the National Institutes of Health.
In their study, published online in the January 4 issue of Molecular Therapy and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the researchers say that this strategy may be the first new offering in cocaine addicts a fairly simple way to stop and reverse their habits, and may also be useful in treating other addictions such as nicotine, heroin and other opiates.
"Our data shows very dramatically that we were able to protect mice against the effects of cocaine, and we think this approach could be very promising in the fight against addiction in humans," said the study's lead researcher, Dr.. Ronald G. Crystal, chairman and professor of genetic medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.
He said that the resulting antibody immune response in laboratory mice by this vaccine is binding, and lock up, the molecules of cocaine before the drug reaches the brain of this animal - and prevent any sort associated with hyperactivity of cocaine. The impact of this vaccine lasts for at least 13 weeks, longest time point evaluated.
"While other efforts in producing immunity to cocaine has been sought, this is the first one probably will not need a lot of expensive infusion, and can move quickly into human trials," said Dr.. Crystal. "There is currently no FDA-approved vaccines for drug addiction."
"A successful approach is indispensable for cocaine addiction, which is a compromise issues around the world," he added. "There is no current therapy."
New from this treatment may be related to chemical structure very similar to cocaine, to the components of adenovirus, the common cold virus. In this way, the human immune system to be vigilant against infectious agents (viruses), but also learn to "see" the crack cocaine as well as an intruder, he said. Crystal. Having recently recognized the intruder structure, built of natural immunity against cocaine particles, so that every time he snorted cocaine or used in any way, antibodies against the substance is quickly produced and ingested cocaine by the antibody molecule and preventing it from reaching the brain.
"The human immune system does not naturally recognize cocaine as something to be destroyed - just like all small molecule drugs are not eliminated by antibodies," he said. "We have engineered this response so that it can fight the cocaine."
In this study, a team of researchers - scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University in Ithaca, and the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California - unload an adenovirus, just take the components that cause immune reactions and discard the parts that produce disease. They then link the analogue of cocaine on these proteins to make vaccines. "We're using an analog of cocaine as a bit more stable than cocaine, and also led to better immunity," said Dr.. Crystal.
Researchers then injected the virus into the billions of potions in the laboratory rat "parks" (rats are not genetically engineered). They found a strong immune response generated against the vaccine, and these antibodies, if placed in the test tube, capable of devouring cocaine.
They then tested the vaccine effect on behavior, and found that mice that received the vaccine before it was given less hyperactive cocaine to the drug than mice not vaccinated. The effect was even seen in rats that received cocaine repeatedly in large doses. Proportionately, reflecting the number of cocaine doses that can be used by humans.
This vaccine should be tested in humans, of course, he said. Crystal, but he predicts that if successful, will serve very well to people already addicted to cocaine and who try to stop using drugs. "This vaccine can help them get rid of the habit, because if they use cocaine, the immune response to destroy the drug before it reaches the brain's pleasure center."
In addition to Dr.. Crystal, author of the study include Martin J. Hicks, Bishnu P. De, Jonathan B. Rosenberg, Jesse T. Davidson, Neil R. Hackett, Stephen M. Kaminsky and Miklos Toth from Weill Cornell Medical College; Jason G. Mezey of Weill Cornell Medical College and Cornell University in Ithaca, NY; Amira Y. Moreno, Kim D. Widow, Sunmee Wee and George F. Koob of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California
The study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) from the National Institutes of Health.