Microglia Facilitated Amyloidogenesis Assay
AssigneePfizer Inc.
InventorsJames Edward Finley, Robert Brelsford Nelson, Charles Edmond Nolan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention describes methods to identify compounds that prevents or treat amyloid accumulation in the brain, as mediated by microglia or cells of macrophage lineage. The present invention further describes compositions containing such compounds, methods of preparing such compositions and methods of using such compositions. The compositions are useful for treating or preventing diseases caused by or associated with cell-mediated amyloid formation, and are particularly useful in treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Claims21
A method of identifying a compound useful for suppressing amyloid formation mediated by a cell, comprising contacting the cell with a candidate compound, adding amyloidogenic peptides, and comparing the level of amyloid formation mediated by the cell in the presence and absence of the candidate compound.
A method of identifying a compound that suppresses or inhibits cell-mediated amyloid formation, comprising
- (a) preparing at least one cell capable of mediating amyloid formation from amyloidogenic peptides,
- (b) mixing the cell with an effective amount of a candidate compound and amyloidogenic peptides,
- (c) incubating the mixture for a sufficient length of time to allow amyloid formation,
- (d) measuring the level of amyloid formation, and
- (e) comparing the level of amyloid formation to the level in the absence of a candidate compound.
A method of suppressing or inhibiting cell-mediated amyloid formation in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an enhancer of intracellular cAMP, an inhibitor of cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase, and an agonist of prostaglandin E2 receptors.
A method of suppressing or inhibiting cell-mediated amyloid formation in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of at least one enhancer of intracellular cAMP.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.