α4 β2 δGABA-A receptors as a strategy for PMS and alcoholism
AssigneeThe Research Foundation of State University of New York
InventorsSheryl Smith, Keith Williams
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a screening mechanism for identifying members of the general population at increased risk for alcoholism and premenstrual syndrome. The screening mechanisms may be used to measure the expression of the α4β2δ GABAA receptors, in order to identify members of the general population as having an increased sensitivity to lower concentrations alcohol coupled with a decrease sensitivity to higher concentrations of alcohol, a scenario frequently found in patients suffering from alcoholism and premenstrual anxiety. Methods of screening for drugs which decrease expression of the α4β2δ subunit of GABAA are also provided.
Claims1
A method of screening for a drug which decreases expression of the α4β2δ GABAA receptor, said method comprising:
- (a) expressing α4, β2 and δ subunits of the GABAA receptor in cultured eukaryotic cells;
- (b) applying a drug to the cultured eukaryotic cells of (a);
- (c) measuring the levels of the δ subunit of said GABAA receptor from the treated cultured eukaryotic cells of step (b);
- (d) determining whether the drug applied in step (b) decreases expression of said δ subunit of said GABAA receptor;
- and (e) correlating a decrease in expression of said δ subunit of the GABAA receptor found in the treated cultured eukaryotic cells of step (b) when compared to control cultured eukaryotic cells expressing α4, β2, and δ subunits of the GABAA receptor having no drug application, with the identification of a drug which decreases expression of the α4β2δ GABAA receptor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.