Compositions and methods for treatment of neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases
申请人:Massachusetts Institute of Technology
公开号:US20020052407A1
公开(公告)日:2002-05-02
It has been discovered that the stimulation of &bgr;-adrenergic receptors, which activate cAMP formation, give rise to increased APP and GFAP synthesis in astrocytes. Hence, the in vitro or in vivo exposure of neuronal cells to certain compositions comprising &bgr;-adrenergic receptor ligands or agonists, including, e.g., norepinephrine, isoproterenol and the like, increases APP mRNA transcription and consequent APP overproduction. These increases are blocked by &bgr;-adrenergic receptor antagonists, such as propranolol. The in vitro or in vivo treatment of these cells with 8Br-cAMP, prostaglandin E
2
(PG E
2
), forskolin, and nicotine ditartrate also increased APP synthesis, including an increase in mRNA and holoprotein levels, as well as an increase in the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Compositions and methods are disclosed of regulating APP overexpression and mediating reactive astrogliosis through cAMP signaling or the activation of &bgr;-adrenergic receptors. It has further been found that the increase in APP synthesis caused by 8Br-cAMP, PG E
2
, or forskolin is inhibited by immunosuppressants, immunophilin ligands, or anti-inflammatory agents, such as cyclosporin A, and FK-506 (tacrolimus), as well as ion-channel modulators, including ion chelating agents such as EGTA, or calcium/calmodulin kinase inhibitors, such as KN93. The present invention has broad implications in the alleviation, treatment, or prevention of neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease.
研究发现,刺激肾上腺素能受体会激活 cAMP 的形成,从而导致星形胶质细胞中 APP 和 GFAP 的合成增加。因此,在体外或体内将神经元细胞暴露于某些由肾上腺素能受体配体或激动剂(包括去甲肾上腺素、异丙肾上腺素等)组成的组合物中,会增加 APP mRNA 的转录,从而导致 APP 的过量产生。肾上腺素能受体拮抗剂(如普萘洛尔)可阻止这些增加。用 8Br-cAMP、前列腺素 E
2
(PG E
2
) 、福斯可林和酒石酸烟碱也会增加 APP 的合成,包括 mRNA 和全蛋白水平的增加,以及胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)表达的增加。本研究公开了通过 cAMP 信号转导或激活肾上腺素能受体调节 APP 过度表达和介导反应性星形胶质细胞增多的组合物和方法。研究进一步发现,8Br-cAMP、PG E
2
和 FK-506 (他克莫司),以及离子通道调节剂,包括离子螯合剂(如 EGTA)或钙/钙调蛋白激酶抑制剂(如 KN93)。本发明在缓解、治疗或预防神经系统疾病和神经退行性疾病(包括阿尔茨海默病)方面具有广泛的意义。