Protein isoforms and uses thereof

A method for screening for or diagnosis or prognosis of a neurological disorder in a subject, for determining the stage or severity of such a neurological disorder in a subject, for identifying a subject at risk of developing such a neurological disorder, or for monitoring the effect of therapy administered to a subject having such a neurological disorder, said method comprising:

• comparing the abundance of a Protein Isoform(s) selected from the following Protein Isoform Families:
• PIF-1 and PIF-2 in the CSF or brain tissue of a test subject with the abundance of said Protein Isoform(s) in the CSF or brain tissue of one or more persons free from neurological disorder, or with a previously determined reference range for said Protein Isoform(s) in subjects free from neurological disorder, wherein a diagnosis of or a positive result in screening for or a prognosis of a more advanced condition of said neurological disorder is indicated by an increased abundance of said Protein Isoform(s) in the CSF or brain tissue of the test subject relative to the abundance of said Protein Isoform(s) in the CSF or brain tissue of the one or more persons free from neurological disorder, or with the previously determined reference range for that Protein Isoform in subjects free from neurological disorder.

A pharmaceutical preparation comprising one Protein Isoform selected from one of the following Protein Isoform Families:

• PIF-1 and PIF-2.

An antibody (or other affinity reagent such as an Affibody) capable of immunospecific binding to one Protein Isoform selected from one of the following Protein Isoform Families:

• PIF-1 and PIF-2.

A method of treating or preventing neurological disorder comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment or prevention a therapeutically effective amount of a nucleic acid encoding a Protein Isoform selected from one of the following Protein Isoform Families:

• PIF-1 and PIF-2.

A method of treating or preventing neurological disorder comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment or prevention a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that modulates the function of a Protein Isoform selected from one of the following Protein Isoform Families:

• PIF-1 and PIF-2.

A method of screening for agents that interact with a Protein Isoform, a Protein Isoform fragment, or a Protein Isoform-related polypeptide, said method comprising:

• (a) contacting a Protein Isoform, a biologically active portion of a Protein Isoform, or a Protein Isoform-related polypeptide with a candidate agent;
• and
• (b) determining whether or not, the candidate agent interacts with the Protein Isoform, the Protein Isoform fragment, or the Protein Isoform-related polypeptide.

A method of screening for or identifying agents that interact with a Protein Isoform or a Protein Isoform-related polypeptide, said Protein Isoform selected from the following Protein Isoform Families:

• PIF-1 and PIF-2, comprising
• (a) contacting a candidate agent with the Protein Isoform or Protein Isoform-related polypeptide, and
• (b) quantitatively detecting binding, if any, between the agent and the Protein Isoform or Protein Isoform-related polypeptide.

A method of screening for or identifying agents that modulate the activity of a Protein Isoform or a Protein Isoform-related polypeptide, said Protein Isoform selected from the following Protein Isoform Families:

• PIF-1 and PIF-2, comprising
• (a) in a first aliquot, contacting a candidate agent with the Protein Isoform or Protein Isoform-related polypeptide, and
• (b) comparing the activity of the Protein Isoform or Protein Isoform-related polypeptide in the first aliquot after addition of the candidate agent with the activity of the Protein Isoform or Protein Isoform-related polypeptide in a control aliquot, or with a previously determined reference range.

Use of a nucleic acid encoding a Protein Isoform selected from one of the following Protein Isoform Families:

• PIF-1 and PIF-2 in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of a neurological disorder.

Use of a Protein Isoform selected from one of the following Protein Isoform Families:

• PIF-1 and PIF-2 in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of a neurological disorder.

A method of treating or preventing neurological disorder comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment or prevention a therapeutically effective amount of a Protein Isoform selected from one of the following Protein Isoform Families:

• PIF-1 and PIF-2.