摘要:
The present invention provides polypeptides that suppresses neuronal death associated with Alzheimer's disease. Using a neuronal cell system, wherein the expression of familial Alzheimer's disease mutant APP can be induced by ecdysone treatment, a gene that protects the neurons from cell death was successfully isolated. The gene encodes a secretory polypeptide consisting of 24 amino acids, and this polypeptide suppresses neuronal death caused by the expression of APP mutants and presenilin mutants. The polypeptide also suppressed cell death of primary neuronal culture caused by Aβ. Furthermore, by mutating the amino acids of the polypeptide, the neuronal death suppression activity of the polypwptide was successfully and significantly enhanced. These polypeptides and derivatives thereof are useful as pharamaceuticals to prevent neuronal death associated with Alzheimer's disease, and as seed compounds for developing novel pharmaceuticals for Alzheimer's disease.
摘要:
A polypeptide which inhibits nerve cell death in association with Alzheimer's disease. By using a nerve cell system capable of inducing the expression of familial Alzheimer's disease variant APP by treating with ecdysone, a gene having an activity of protecting the nerve cells from cell death is successfully isolated. This gene encodes a secretory polypeptide consisting of 24 amino acids. This polypeptide shows an activity of inhibiting nerve cell death caused by the expression of an APP variant and a presenilin variant. This polypeptide also inhibits cell death caused by A beta in primary nerve culture. By modifying the amino acids of this polypeptide, moreover, the cell death inhibitory activity can be significantly elevated. These polypeptides and derivatives thereof are useful as medicines for preventing nerve cell death in association with Alzheimer's disease and as seed compounds for developing novel medicines for Alzheimer's disease.