Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Smoking \/ Quit Smoking Also Included In: Immune System \/ Vaccines Article Date: 28 Jun 2012 - 2:00 PDT <\/p>\n
Current ratings for: New Smoking Vaccine Using Gene Therapy Being Developed <\/p>\n
4 (2 votes) <\/p>\n
In a study reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine this week, Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City show how a single dose of the vaccine protected mice, over their lifetime, against nicotine addiction. <\/p>\n
The addictive properties of the nicotine in tobacco smoke is a huge barrier to success with current smoking cessation approaches, say the authors in their paper. <\/p>\n
Previous work using gene therapy vaccination in mice to treat certain eye disorders and tumors, gave them the idea a similar approach might work against nicotine. <\/p>\n
The new anti-nicotine vaccine is based on an adeno-associated virus (AAV) engineered to be harmless. The virus carries two pieces of genetic information: one that causes anti-nicotine monoclonal antibodies to be created, and the other that targets its insertion into the nucleus of specific cells in the liver, the hepatocytes. <\/p>\n
The result is the animal's liver becomes a factory continuously producing antibodies that gobble up the nicotine as soon as it enters the bloodstream, denying it the opportunity to enter the brain. <\/p>\n
The researchers write: <\/p>\n
\"In mice treated with this vector, blood concentrations of the anti-nicotine antibody were dose-dependent, and the antibody showed high specificity and affinity for nicotine.\" <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Read more here: <\/p>\n
New Smoking Vaccine Using Gene Therapy Being Developed<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Smoking \/ Quit Smoking Also Included In: Immune System \/ Vaccines Article Date: 28 Jun 2012 - 2:00 PDT Current ratings for: New Smoking Vaccine Using Gene Therapy Being Developed 4 (2 votes) In a study reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine this week, Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City show how a single dose of the vaccine protected mice, over their lifetime, against nicotine addiction. The addictive properties of the nicotine in tobacco smoke is a huge barrier to success with current smoking cessation approaches, say the authors in their paper. Continue reading