Zehava and Chezy Vered Chair for the Study of Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Ph.D.: Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Post-doctorate: Harvard University, USA
Position: Senior Lecturer
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Faculty of Health Sciences
E-mail: alonmon@bgu.ac.il
Novel approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases
Background
Our laboratory is interested in the characterization of key regulatory factors that maintain immune homeostasis and protection from self-originated neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. In contrast to current therapeutics that mostly offer an anti-inflammatory approach, our goals for cure and prevention are aimed at immunotherapy, designed to strengthen endogenous beneficial immune reactions.
Current research
- Neurodegenerative diseases – Our research is focused on characterizing how immune alterations associated with aging affect neurodegenerative processes like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), studying: a) migration of bone marrow derived cells to the brain; b) cytokines enhancing neuronal recovery; c) the role of brain-specific antibodies entering the brain; d) immune regulation and homeostasis.
These aspects of the immune system can mediate neuronal recovery by affecting the clearance of toxic forms of amyloid from the brain and by inducing a local milieu supportive of neurogenesis. We have developed a unique AD mouse model that lends itself to the development of safe vaccination approaches aimed at prevention and therapy of the disease.
- Autoimmunity – Currently, in collaboration with Prof. Smadar Cohen, two approaches are being taken to intervene with the progression of the autoimmune diseases type-1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis, with the aim of enhancing regulatory mechanisms via: a) the use of 3D-scaffolds to generate a transplantable lymphoid-like tissue with local immuno-regulatory properties; b) the use of peptide- or siRNA-containing microparticles to target cells of the immune system, inducing peripheral immunoregulatory properties.
These approaches offer a platform for the design of immune-based therapies to a variety of autoimmune disorders, whether they originate from immune deficient (e.g. cancer, neurodegenerative diseases) or hyper-immune responses (e.g. autoimmune diseases, allergies).
Selected publications
Monsonego A., Zota V., Karni A., Krieger J.I., Bar-Or A., Bitan G., Budson A.E., Sperling R., Selkoe D.J. and Weiner H.L. (2003) Increased T cell reactivity to amyloid beta protein in older humans and patients with Alzheimer’s disease. J. Clin. Invest., 112:415-422
Monsonego A., Imitola J., Petrovic S., Zota V., Nemirovsky A., Baron R., Fisher Y., Owens T. and Weiner H.L. (2006) A beta-induced meningoencephalitis is IFN-g dependent and is associated with T cell dependent clearance of A-beta in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 103:5048-5053.
Mor F. and Monsonego A. (2006) Immunization therapy in Alzheimer’s disease. Expert Rev. Neurotherapeutics, 6:653–659.