Method of detecting and preventing Alzheimer's disease, particularly at prodromal and early stages
AssigneeUnited States of America Department of Veterans Affairs
InventorsZhiming Suo, Barry W. Festoff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of detecting Alzheimer's disease includes detecting a disruption or alteration in normal sub-cellular distribution of G-protein receptor kinases (GRKs), particularly GRK2 and GRK5. The disruption is caused by abnormal accumulation of soluble β-amyloid. The prevention or suppression of the disease progression at prodromal or early stages includes correction of GRK dysfunction.
Claims10
A method of detecting a disruption in normal cellular distribution of a G-protein receptor kinase 5 (GRK5) in a brain cell in vitro, comprising the steps of:
- a) estimating normal distribution of GRK5 in the cell;
- b) treating the cell with soluble beta-amyloid peptide to disrupt normal GRK5 distribution;
- c) estimating GRK5 distribution in the cell after step b);
- d) comparing the data of steps a) and c) to detect disruption in normal GRK5 distribution.
A method of detecting Alzheimer's pathogenesis in a transgenic mouse with increased soluble Aβ or an Alzheimer's Disease patient comprising measuring the content of G-protein receptor kinase 5 (GRK5) in membrane fractions from the brain of said patient or mouse and comparing the content to that of an unaffected control, wherein a decrease in membrane content of GRK5 indicated Alzheimer's pathogenesis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.