Loading patent…
AssigneeThe Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
InventorsChristopher J. Phiel, Christina A. Wilson, Virginia M-Y. Lee, Peter S. Klein
Estimating the term…
Provided is a novel use of therapeutic concentrations of an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), including lithium or any other GSK-3 inhibitor, to block, reduce or inhibit processing of amyloid precursor proteins to beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptides, which are now believed to be the principal cause of Alzheimer's disease, thereby providing methods useful for the prevention, inhibition or reversal of the disease. Also provided are methods of using agents that specifically target the α isoforn of GSK-3, which is responsible for APP processing, making such selective GSK-3α-specific inhibitors especially useful in the treatment, prevention, and possible reversal of Alzheimer's disease. Further provided are kits and screening methods associated with the present methods.
A method of inhibiting or reducing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in a patient, comprising the step of administering to the Alzheimer's disease patient a therapeutically effective composition, comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable amount of a GSK-3 inhibitor or GSK-3α-specific inhibitor, respectively, that is sufficient to block or inhibit activity of GSK-3 or GSK-3α in the patient.
A method for treating a condition, disease or disorder mediated by GSK-3α activity, comprising the step of administering a selective inhibitor of GSK-3α.
A method of stabilizing a patient susceptible to a condition, disease or disorder mediated by GSK-3α activity, comprising the step of administering to the patient a therapeutically effective composition, comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable amount of GSK-3α-specific inhibitor that is sufficient to block or inhibit activity of GSK-3α.
A method of preventing a condition, disease or disorder mediated by GSK-3α activity, comprising the step of administering to the patient a therapeutically effective composition, comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable amount of GSK-3α-specific inhibitor that is sufficient to block, inhibit or reduce activity of GSK-3α.
A method of delaying onset of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in a patient, comprising the step of administering to the patient susceptible to the onset of Alzheimer's disease a therapeutically effective composition, comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable amount of GSK-3α-specific inhibitor that is sufficient to block or inhibit activity of GSK-3α in the patient leading to the onset of the disease.
A kit for selectively inhibiting GSK-3 or GSK-3α, respectively, comprising a therapeutically effective composition, comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable amount of GSK-3 inhibitor or GSK-3α-specific inhibitor, respectively, that is sufficient to block or inhibit activity of GSK-3 or GSK-3α, respectively, and an instructional material regarding the use thereof to treat a condition, disease or disorder mediated by GSK-3 or GSK-3α activity in a patient, or in the brain cells or tissues of the patient.
A method of detecting a composition of matter that blocks or inhibits GSK-3 kinase activity, comprising testing the composition in brain cells or brain tissue in vitro from a subject for its capability of blocking, reducing or inhibiting the processing of amyloid precursor proteins to beta-amyloid peptides of the type characterizing Alzheimer's disease and comparing the effectiveness of such composition for disrupting the production of the Aβ peptides with the effectiveness of lithium or other known GSK-3 inhibitors to do so, and selecting the composition having such effective blocking, inhibiting or reducing capability.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.