Columbia University

Shi Du Yan

David M Stern

Ann Marie Schmidt

Berislav V Zlokovic

Ira B Lamster

Hao Wu

Joyce W Lustbader

Kevan Herold

Ira Lamster

We have discovered that LRG-47 (also called p47 GTPase), plays a central role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, and that inhibition of LRG-47 activity by anti-LRG-47 antibodies or of LRG-47 expression by siRNA dramatically reduce the pathology and symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Certain embodiments of the invention are directed to the therapeutic use of anti-LRG-47 antibodies (mouse or rabbit or other antibodies that are humanized or human antibodies to LRG-47, preferably antibodies made against human LRG-47) or siRNA or antisense nucleotides that specifically hybridize with the gene or mRNA or cDNA encoding human LRG-47 to treat or prevent multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases that are T-cell-mediated. Other embodiments are directed to methods for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis or to determining the aggressiveness of multiple sclerosis by determining the amount of human LRG-47 or LRG-47 mRNA in a biological sample from the patient.

Methods for treating and preventing multiple sclerosis

This invention provides methods, compositions and articles of manufacture for inhibiting binding between A&#x3b2; protein and ABAD in cells. Uses of this invention include, for example, treating Alzheimer's disease; reducing free radical generation, DNA fragmentation, and cytochrome C release in cells; and preserving cell viability by preventing LDH release from a cell.

Compositions for inhibiting ABAD/ABeta protein interaction

The present invention provides for a transgenic non-human animal whose cells contain a DNA sequence comprising: (a) a nerve tissue specific promoter; and (b) a DNA sequence which encodes a receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE), wherein the promoter and the DNA sequence which encodes the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) are operatively linked to each other and integrated in the genome of the non-human animal, and wherein said non-human animal exhibits a reduced amount of cerebral tissue infarcted following a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion compared to an identical non-human animal lacking said DNA sequence.

Transgenic mice over-expressing receptor for advanced glycation endproduct (RAGE) in brain and uses thereof

The present invention provides a method for treating inflammation in a subject which comprises administering to the subject soluble receptor for advanced glycation endproduct (sRAGE) in an amount effective to inhibit binding of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) to RAGE thereby treating inflammation in the subject. The present invention also provides for a method for treating inflammation in a subject which comprises administering to the subject an agent in an amount effective to inhibit the interaction between receptor for advanced glycation endproduct (RAGE) and its ligand thereby treating inflammation in the subject.

Rage-related methods for treating inflammation

The present invention provides for a transgenic non-human animal whose cells contain a DNA sequence comprising: (a) a nerve tissue specific promoter operatively linked to a DNA sequence which encodes amyloid-beta peptide alcohol dehydrogenase (ABAD), and (b) a nerve tissue specific promoter operatively linked to a DNA sequence encoding a mutant human amyloid precursor protein hAPP695, hAPP751 and hAPP770 bearing mutations linked to familial Alzheimer's disease in humans, wherein the non-human animal exhibits at least one phenotype from the group consisting of: reduced basal synaptic transmission; inhibited synaptic plasticity; increased neuronal stress; elevated 4-hydroxynonenal in cerebral cortex; increased heme oxygenase type I in cerebral cortex; decreased synaptophysin in cerebral cortex; decreased micortubule-associated protein 2 in cerebral cortex; and increased levels of activated caspase 3 antigen in cortical neurons.

Transgenic mice over-expressing ABAD and mutant APP in brain as model of Alzheimer's disease and uses thereof

The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding an endoplasmic reticulum associated amyloid-beta peptide binding (ERAB) polypeptide. The ERAB polypeptide may comprise human ERAB polypeptide. The present invention provides a purified ERAB polypeptide, as well as a method for treating a neurodegenerative condition in a subject which comprises administering to the subject an agent in amount effective to inhibit ERAB polypeptide binding to amyloid-beta peptide so as to thereby treat the neurodegenerative condition.

Intracellular amyloid-beta binding (ERAB) polypeptide-related assays

The present invention provides for a transgenic non-human animal whose cells contain a recombinant DNA sequence comprising a nerve tissue specific promoter operatively linked to a DNA sequence which encodes amyloid-beta peptide alcohol dehydrogenase (ABAD), and exhibits at least one phenotype from the group consisting of: overexpression of ABAD, elevated levels of basal ATP; protection from metabolic or ischemic stress.

Transgenic mice over-expressing amyloid-beta alcohol dehydrogenase (ABAD) in brain as model of alzheimer's disease and uses thereof

The present invention provides a method for decreasing cerebral vasoconstriction in a subject suffering from chronic or acute cerebral amyloid angiopathy which comprises administering to the subject an inhibitor of receptor for advanced glycation endproduct (RAGE) in an effective amount to inhibit transcytosis of amyloid &bgr; peptides across the blood-brain barrier in the subject, thereby decreasing cerebral vasoconstriction in the subject. The invention further provides for a method for ameliorating neurovascular stress in a subject which comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of an inhibitor of receptor for advanced glycation endproduct (RAGE), so as to increase cerebral blood flow in the subject, thereby ameliorating neurovascular stress in the subject.

Method to increase cerebral blood flow in amyloid angiopathy

The invention provides for a non-human transgenic animal whose cells contain a recombinant DNA sequence comprising: (a) a nerve tissue specific promoter operatively linked to a DNA sequence which encodes human receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE), and (b) a nerve tissue specific promoter operatively linked to a DNA sequence encoding a mutant human amyloid precursor protein hAPP695, hAPP751 and hAPP770 bearing mutations linked to familial Alzheimer's disease in humans, wherein said non-human transgenic animal exhibits at least one phenotype from the group consisting of: increased expression of M-CSF gene in cerebral cortex; increased expression of IL-6 gene in cerebral cortex; increased neuronal stress; increased neurotoxicity; neuron loss; increased level of activated form of caspase 3 in brain; and increased level of phosphorylated tau protein in brain.

Transgenic mice over-expressing receptor for advanced glycation endproduct (RAGE) and mutant APP in brain and uses thereof

The present method provides for an isolated peptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to the amino acid sequence of a V-domain of a receptor for advanced glycation endproduct (RAGE). The present invention also provides for an isolated peptide having an amino acid sequence A-Q-N-I-T-A-R-I-G-E-P-L-V-L-K-C-K-G-A-P-K-K-P-P-Q-R-L-E-W-K (SEQ. ID No: 1). The present invention provides for a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effect amount of an isolated peptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to the amino acid sequence of a V-domain of RAGE. The present invention also provides for a method for inhibiting interaction of an amyloid-&bgr; peptide with a receptor for advanced glycation end product which is on the surface of a cell, which comprises contacting the cell with the peptide or a functionally equivalent agent, wherein the peptide or agent is capable of inhibiting interaction of the amyloid-&bgr; peptide with the receptor for advanced glycation end product, and the peptide or agent is present in an amount effective to inhibit interaction of the amyloid-&bgr; peptide with the receptor for advanced glycation endproduct.

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New York, NY, United States of America

Shi Du Yan