Model for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases
US6803233B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2800/2821
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a model for studying the development of, and/or pathologies associated with neurodegenerative diseases, and agents that can alter such development and/or pathologies. The model of the invention is especially useful as an Alzheimer's disease model. The model of the invention provides brain cells and a method for increasing neurodegenerative disease characteristics in such cells, especially, induction of neurofibrillary tangles and/or phosphorylated tau and/or tau fragments and/or the production and/or release of cytokines and/or microglia reactions and/or activations and/or inflammation and/or conversion of p35 to p25 and/or the levels and activities of protein kinases by selectively increasing the concentration of cathepsin D to an effective level, and/or by lowering the concentration of cholesterol in such cells. The model also provides a method of reversing such effects, by inhibiting cysteine protease and mitogen activated kinase activity, and especially, by inhibiting calpain, and/or MAP kinase.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.