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US 2002/0166135 A1Published application
Modulators of the hypocretin system and methods of screening therefor
OwnerNahid S. Waleh, Thomas S. Kilduffinventors
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OwnerNahid S. Waleh, Thomas S. Kilduffinventors
Estimating the term…
Methods for modulating the hypocretin system, as well as methods for identifying compounds that act as hypocretin-system modulators are provided. In modulating the hypocretin system, the method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a preprohypocretin-expression modulator to an individual, wherein the preprohypocretin-expression modulator alters preprohypocretin expression in preprohypocretin-expressing cells. The method for identifying compounds comprises contacting a test compound to cells equipped with the 5′ flanking promoter of the preprohypocretin gene operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence and determining whether the test compound alters transcription of the nucleic acid sequence in the cell, wherein the test compound's ability to alter transcription is indicative of a compound that modulates the hypocretin system. The invention also provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, nucleic acid sequences, expression vectors, transformed host cells, and the like for carrying out the methods.
A method for modulating the hypocretin system in an individual comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a preprohypocretin-expression modulator to the individual, wherein the preprohypocretin-expression modulator alters preprohypocretin expression in preprohypocretin-expressing cells.
A method of treating a narcoleptic patient comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a preprohypocretin-expression modulator to the individual, wherein the preprohypocretin-expression modulator enhances preprohypocretin expression in preprohypocretin-expressing cells located in the posterior lateral hypothalamus.
A method for identifying a compound that modulates the hypocretin system comprising contacting a test compound to cells equipped with the 5′ flanking promoter of the preprohypocretin gene operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence and determining whether the test compound alters transcription of the nucleic acid sequence in the cells, wherein the test compound's ability to alter transcription is indicative of a compound that modulates the hypocretin system.
An isolated DNA fragment coding for the 5′ flanking promoter of the preprohypocretin gene.
A compound that modulates the hypocretin system, wherein the compound is identified by the steps comprising contacting a preprohypocretin-expressing cell with the compound and determining whether the compound alters preprohypocretin expression in the preprohypocretin-expressing cell, wherein the compound's ability to alter preprohypocretin expression is indicative of a compound that modulates the hypocretin system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.