Anti-Nicotine Antibody for Smoking Cessation..!!

Nicotine is a highly addictive drug found in cigarettes and current strategies to help tobacco smokers quit have limited success because of this addictive power. An anti-nicotine vaccine could give smokers a boost in quitting, new research suggests. 

The study in Weill Cornell Medical College,New York 

• on mice conducted by Hicks et al ...indicates that the Anti-Nicotine vaccine can deliver a gene that stops nicotine before it reaches the brain, protecting the mice from the nicotine "high" for their entire lives with just one dose.

Past Experience with Such Vaccines.. 

• In the past, researchers have tried to link nicotine to molecules like the cholera toxin which is usually not fully attacked ny immune system... but the result still didn't make enough antibodies to protect against nicotine's effects in the brain.

• Previous attempts at creating a nicotine vaccine have failed because the immune system was not triggered fully against nicotine to result in antibody production — something these vaccines depended on.

Gene Therapy: Anti-Nicotine Gene Introduction in Mice

• Hicks and team (Science Translation Medicine 27 June 2012: Vol. 4, Issue 140, p. 140) worked on this study for 18 weeks for introducing..Anti-nicotine gene..and the resultant Antibodies..!! 

• Via genetic therapy safe virus carrying desired gene for production of antibody which targets nicotine is inserted into the mouse's liver cells.

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• After gene delivery liver cells started making this antibody actively.

Antibody Production and its action

• Now Vaccinated mice, were given the amount of nicotine found in two cigarettes.

• They didn't experience the heart rate slowdown or the blood pressure drop that usually accompany the drug.

• It was then seen that the antibody was able to attach to nicotine and stop it from reaching the mouse's brain. 

• Once attached to the nicotine, the mice showed No behavioral or physiological reactions to injections of nicotine.

• Based on previous results, the researchers think the results should last for a long time, possibly even a human's entire life.

• These antibodies wouldn't rid someone of their nicotine cravings, but would basically make it impossible to satisfy them with cigarettes.

Future Prospects..

• Animal safety and efficacy trials will go on for few years before human trials on this nicotine vaccine begin.

• This team has also developed vaccines against cocaine using similar techniques, which have shown promise in monkey and mouse trials...So chances are very bright.

So..If this degree of efficacy translates to humans, these Anti-Nicotine Antibodies could be an effective preventative therapy for nicotine addiction...!!

Related article: How to Get Freedom from Smoking??