Abstract
Drug targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders reside in the central nervous system (CNS). However, the routes of drug transfer from the periphery to the CNS include the blood-brain barrier and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, which stand as big walls in the construction of treatment strategies. A number of antibodies targeting various biological molecules have recently been developed. Antibodies targeting amyloid-β have attracted attention as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, and are expected to be applied to other CNS diseases in the future. By contrast, antibodies do not easily pass through those barriers due to their characteristics. Therefore, the development of efficient delivery methods for antibodies to the CNS is an important topic. We have focused on intranasal administration as a means of delivery to the CNS and have confirmed its usefulness in various antibodies. This talk will present an antibody therapy targeting type I interferon receptor (IFNR), a molecule that contributes to emotional abnormalities in mice with chronic pain stress. In conclusion, we suggest that antibodies against IFNR may be useful for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders and present a new therapeutic strategy for neuropsychiatric disorders based on intranasal administration.
