Methods of diagnosing and treating motor neuron diseases
AssigneeYeda Research and Development Co. Ltd.
InventorsEran Hornstein, Alon Chen, Sharon Haramati, Elik Chapnik
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Abstract
Use of an agent which upregulates an activity or amount of miRNA-9 or miRNA-9* is disclosed for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a motor neuron disease (MND).
Claims19
1-8. (canceled)
A method of diagnosing a motor neuron disease (MND), the method comprising analyzing an activity or expression of miRNA-9 or miRNA-9* in a sample of a subject in need thereof, wherein a down-regulation of said activity or said expression of said miRNA-9 or miRNA-9* is indicative of the MND.
A method of treating a motor neuron disease (MND), the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an agent which upregulates an activity or amount of miRNA-9 or miRNA-9*, thereby treating the MND.
16-18. (canceled)
A transgenic non-human mammal, comprising a cholinergic-specific knock-out of DICER, wherein the mammal exhibits muscular atrophy compared to a wild-type mammal.
A method of identifying an agent for the treatment of a MND, the method comprising:
- (a) contacting a motor neuron with a candidate agent;
- (b) assessing miR-9 or miR-9* activity or expression in said motor neuron;
- and
- (c) comparing said activity or expression in step (b) with an activity or expression in the absence of said candidate agent, wherein an up-regulation of activity or expression of miR-9 or miR-9* indicates that the candidate compound is a therapeutic agent for the treatment of MND.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.