Patent ID: 6475745
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: A61K,G01N

Abstract:
A method of screening for an agent that inhibits the effect on a neuron of a neurotoxin from a mononuclear phagocyte activated by &bgr;-amyloid or fragments of &bgr;-amyloid, wherein said fragments at a concentration of from about 0.001 to about 1 &mgr;mole/liter induce significant neuron injury in neuron cultures containing microglia as compared to neuronal injury in cultures lacking microglia, said method comprising:contacting a monuclear phagocyte with &bgr;-amyloid or said fragments of &bgr;-amyloid effective to activate said mononuclear phagocyte to produce a neurotoxin, wherein said neurotoxin has a molecular mass of less than 1000 daltons, lacks peptide bonds, and is isolatable in aqueous solution from tissue or tissue culture media in active form; separating said neurotoxin from said mononuclear phagocytes; and contacting a culture of neurons with an amount of said neurotoxin effective to produce a disruption of neuron cell metabolism in the neurons in the presence of an agent suspected of inhibiting the effect of the neurotoxin, wherein a decrease in disruption of neuronal cell metabolism in the presence of said agent compared to a culture lacking said agent is indicative of an agent that inhibits the effect on a neuron of a neurotoxin from said activated mononuclear phagocyte.