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Abeta species removal after abeta42 immunization
Nicoll JA, Barton E, Boche D, Neal JW, Ferrer I, Thompson P, Vlachouli C, Wilkinson D et al.. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology, 2006-11-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Neuropathologic examination of 3 patients with Alzheimer disease in the Elan Pharmaceuticals trial using antibodies specific for different Abeta species showed in one case, 4 months after the immunization, evidence of a stage of active plaque clearance with "moth-eaten" plaques and abundant Abeta phagocytosis by microglia. At 1 to 2 years after immunization, 2 cases showed extensive areas cleared of plaques (69% and 86% of the temporal cortex was plaque-free). Cortex cleared of plaques in all 3 cases had a characteristic constellation of features, including a very low plaque burden, sparse residual dense plaque cores, and phagocytosed Abeta within microglia.
Key findings
- At 1 to 2 years after immunization, 2 cases showed extensive areas cleared of plaques (69% and 86% of the temporal cortex was plaque-free).
- Cortex cleared of plaques in all 3 cases had a characteristic constellation of features, including a very low plaque burden, sparse residual dense plaque cores, and phagocytosed Abeta within microglia.
- There was resolution of tau-containing dystrophic neurites, although other features of tau pathology (tangles and neuropil threads) remained and cerebral amyloid angiopathy persisted.
- Although most antibodies generated by Abeta42 immunization in humans bind the intact N-terminus, immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies showed clearance of all major species of Abeta (Abeta40, Abeta42, and N-terminus truncated Abeta).
Why it matters
Brain examination of 3 people with Alzheimer's from the Elan Abeta42 immunization trial found plaque-free areas after immunization (69% and 86% of the temporal cortex in two cases, 1 to 2 years later). Although most antibodies made by the immunization bind one end of Abeta (the intact N-terminus), the study reports that all major forms (Abeta40, Abeta42 and N-terminus truncated Abeta) were cleared. Tau tangles, neuropil threads and amyloid in blood vessel walls remained, and this 3-person post-mortem series reports tissue changes only, not any improvement in symptoms.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology: journal h-index 239 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2006 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 266 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 12.1 citations a year over 22 year(s) since 2006 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 13.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 21 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 13 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Clive Holmes: h-index 79 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Southampton: institution h-index 938 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 17086100) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Nicoll, J. A., Barton, E., Boche, D., Neal, J. W., Ferrer, I., Thompson, P., et al. (2006). Abeta species removal after abeta42 immunization. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jnen.0000240466.10758.ce
Vancouver
Nicoll JA, Barton E, Boche D, Neal JW, Ferrer I, Thompson P, et al. Abeta species removal after abeta42 immunization. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology. 2006. doi:10.1097/01.jnen.0000240466.10758.ce. PMID: 17086100.
BibTeX
@article{nicoll2006-17086100,
author = {Nicoll, J. A. and Barton, E. and Boche, D. and Neal, J. W. and Ferrer, I. and Thompson, P. and Vlachouli, C. and Wilkinson, D. and others},
title = {{Abeta species removal after abeta42 immunization}},
journal = {Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.1097/01.jnen.0000240466.10758.ce},
pmid = {17086100},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jnen.0000240466.10758.ce}
}
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