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A Nicotine Conjugate Vaccine Reduces Nicotine Distribution to Brain and Attenuates Its Behavioral and Cardiovascular Effects in Rats

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Abstract

Vaccination of animals to elicit drug-specific antibodies, or the passive transfer of such antibodies from other animals, can reduce the behavioral effects of drugs such as cocaine and heroin. To study the potential application of this approach to treating nicotine dependence, IgG was isolated from rabbits immunized with a nicotine–protein conjugate vaccine. Anesthetized rats received immune IgG containing nicotine-specific antibodies (Nic-IgG) or control-IgG IV. Thirty minutes later, rats received nicotine at 0.03 mg/kg IV, equivalent on an mg/kg basis to the nicotine intake from two cigarettes by a smoker. Compared to control-IgG, Nic-IgG reduced the brain nicotine concentration in a dose-related manner (65% reduction at the highest IgG dose). Pretreatment with Nic-IgG also reduced the distribution to brain of five repeated doses of nicotine (equivalent to the nicotine intake from 10 cigarettes) administered over 80 min. To study blood pressure effects, rats received control-IgG or Nic-IgG 1 day prior to administering nicotine. Nicotine-induced systolic blood pressure increases were attenuated by Nic-IgG in a dose-related manner, and were almost completely blocked by the highest Nic-IgG dose. Pretreatment with Nic-IgG also completely prevented the nicotine-induced stimulation of locomotor activity observed in rats receiving control-IgG. Nic-IgG did not prevent locomotor activation from cocaine, demonstrating its specificity for nicotine. These data demonstrate that the administration of nicotine-specific antibodies can reduce or prevent some of the pharmacokinetic, cardiovascular, and behavioral consequences of nicotine in rats. Effects were observed at nicotine doses and nicotine serum concentrations equal to or exceeding those typically associated with nicotine exposure in cigarette smokers. A potential role for immunization in the treatment of nicotine dependence is suggested.

Section snippets

Drugs and Reagents

(−)-Nicotine bitartrate, (−)-cotinine, (−)-methyl-3H-nicotine 81 Ci/mmol, and goat anti-IgG-peroxidase conjugate were obtained from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO). Internal standards for the nicotine/cotinine assay were a gift form Dr. Peyton Jacob. (−)-Nicotine-N-oxide was a gift from Professor John Gorrod. Nicotine was administered to rats as nicotine bitartrate, but all doses and measured concentrations are expressed as the base.

Synthesis of Immunogen

The hapten trans-3′-aminomethylnicotine was prepared by

Experiment 1. Effects of Nic–IgG (Passive Immunization) on the Distribution of a Single Dose of Nicotine

The ability of pretreatment with Nic-IgG to bind nicotine in serum and reduce nicotine distribution to the brain was evaluated.

Discussion

Most existing or candidate treatments for drug abuse target brain receptors or neurotransmitter pathways. Because these targets also mediate normal brain function, side effects and lack of specificity are common. Drug-specific antibodies can bind drug outside of the central nervous system, reducing drug acces to receptor sites 12, 31. This peripheral site of action, as well as the high specificity of antibody-drug binding, makes the use of drug-specific antibodies potentially attractive as an

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by NIDA Grant DA10714 (P.R.P.) and grants from Nabi (D.H.M., P.R.P.).

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