The present invention relates generally to the preparation and use of retinoid N-retinylidene-N-retinyl-ethanolamine (A2E) conjugated to a carrier polypeptide and to the preparation and use of antibodies that bind specifically to A2E. The invention relates to the use of A2E conjugates as immunogens or vaccines and to the use of A2E specific antibodies for treatment of ophthalmic diseases. Provided herein are methods for enhancing retinal neuronal cell survival, including photoreceptor cell survival, using antibodies that specifically bind to A2E or by inducing an immune response using an A2E immunoconjugate. Enhancing survival of photoreceptor cells or decreasing accumulation of A2E in the eye using the A2E immunoconjugates or A2E specific antibodies is useful for treatment of ophthalmic diseases such as macular degeneration.
本发明一般涉及与载体
多肽共轭的
维甲酸 N-视黄基-N-视黄基-
乙醇胺(A2E)的制备和使用,以及与 A2E 特异性结合的
抗体的制备和使用。本发明涉及 A2E 共轭物作为免疫原或疫苗的用途,以及 A2E 特异性
抗体用于治疗眼科疾病的用途。本发明提供了使用与 A2E 特异性结合的
抗体或使用 A2E 免疫共轭物诱导免疫反应来提高视网膜神经细胞存活率(包括感光细胞存活率)的方法。使用A2E免疫轭合物或A2E特异性
抗体提高感光细胞的存活率或减少A2E在眼内的蓄积有助于治疗黄斑变性等眼科疾病。