Patent Description:
The present invention belongs to the field of medicine specifically, relates to a method for the down-regulation of PI4KIIIα kinase and membrane protein complexes thereof formed with RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein and TTC7 protein using related inhibitors so as to treat Alzheimer's disease. Further disclosed is a method for screening medicines and therapeutic targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease according to whether Aβ secretion from cells is facilitated or not.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease in elderly people, characterized in by a progressive loss of learning and memory abilities. Synaptic dysfunction and loss occurs in the early stages of AD which is widely recognized as a major cellular mechanism of learning and memory dysfunction in AD wherein accumulation of Aβ (particularly Aβ<NUM>) plays an important role. Although a variety of clinical trials on compounds or molecules intended for inhibiting Aβ production and for enhance Aβ clearance were conducted, it is not yet to find a compound or molecule that may improve learning and memory or prevent the further deterioration of learning and memory dysfunction. One possible explanation is that these medicines or treatment methods failed to change the key pathogenesis causing learning and memory dysfunction of AD. More deep understanding is required in all aspects of Aβ accumulation in AD.

Aβ not only accumulates in extracellular space, but also accumulates in neurons. Mounting evidences suggest that Aβ accumulates within various intracellular organs in neuron, and participates in AD pathogenesis changes such as synaptic deficits, amyloid plaque formation, neuronal death and the like. In addition, oligomeric Aβ, which is believed to be the most deleterious effect on synaptic and cognitive functions, forms intracellularly and accumulates in brain neurons or cell membranes of AD patients and APP transgenic mice. Such membrane-associated Aβ may reside on cell membrane of neurons or membrane of intracellular organs. There are certain possibilities that may result in neuronal Aβ accumulation, e.g., endocytosis of extracellular Aβ, retention caused by reduced secretion of intracellularly generated Aβ, Aβ production and accumulation in autophagosome, and reduction of intracellular Aβ degradation.

Although Aβ accumulates both intra- and extracellularly, Aβ<NUM> concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD patients or early stage AD patients are reduced by about half of control population. In AD model mice, Aβ<NUM> concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and brain interstitial fluid (ISF) shows an age-dependent reduction, while Aβ dimers are not detectable in ISF. It is presumed that the reduction of Aβ<NUM> concentration in CSF is possibly caused by the sequestering effect of extracellular amyloid plaque, decline of Aβ<NUM> secretion, and Aβ<NUM> accumulation in neurons or cerebral cell membranes.

Studies have demonstrated that phospholipids and their metabolizing enzymes may contribute to AD pathogenesis via its interaction with Aβ or participation in AD-related changes through various cellular and molecular processes, including: <NUM>) Aβ<NUM> insert into lipid membrane and bind to acidic phospholipids, which in turn induces the conversion of random coil into β-structure in Aβ<NUM>, leading to Aβ<NUM> aggregation in or on the membrane; <NUM>) plasmalemmal phosphatidylinositol-<NUM>,<NUM>-phosphate (PIP<NUM>) level inversely correlates Aβ<NUM> secretion from cultured cells; <NUM>) Aβ<NUM>-expression induces neuronal dysfunction and learning and memory dysfunction in flies, which can be rescued by the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol <NUM>-kinase (PI3K); <NUM>) recent discovery that the product of phosphatidylinositol <NUM>-kinase (PI4KIIIα), Phosphatidylinositol-<NUM>-phosphate (PI<NUM>P) increases significantly in cerebral cortex in AD patients, and the increased level is closely related to the degree of cognitive disorder in AD patients (<NPL>).

In Drosophila , rolling blackout (rbo) gene encodes a plasma membrane protein RBO, which has a certain homology with diacylglycerol lyase. RBO protein functions in phospholipids metabolism, phototransduction, synaptic transmission and bulk endocytosis in Drosophila. RBO protein is conservative from yeast to human. The homologs of RBO in yeast (EFR3) and mouse (EFR3A and EFR3B) form a complex with phosphatidylinositol <NUM>-kinase IIIα (PI4KIIIα) and a scaffold protein (referred to as Tetratricopeptide repeat domain <NUM>, TTC7, see <NPL>; <NPL>) on cell membrane so as to anchor PI4KIIIα on the cell membrane, and further regulate plasmalemmal levels of phosphatidylinositol <NUM>-phosphate (PI<NUM>P) and PIP<NUM>.

In Drosophila, pan-neuronal expressed Aβ<NUM> fused to a secretory signal peptide induces intraneuronal Aβ accumulation and neural deficits. The inventors have shown previously that expression of Aβ<NUM> containing a secretory signal peptide in a simple neural pathway, the Drosophila giant fiber (GF) pathway, causes intraneuronal Aβ accumulation and age dependent synaptic failure and motor ability deficit. Such Drosophila expressing Aβ<NUM> provides a convenient platform to test the role of candidate genes in intraneuronal Aβ<NUM> accumulation and associated synaptic deficits. With this in mind, the inventors tested the effect of mutation or over-expression of genes rbo, PI4KIIIα, and ttc7, as well as common PI4KIIIα protein inhibitors on neurodegenerative disease in this model. The inventors further examined in APP/PS1 transgenic mice the effect of Efr3a (a mouse homolog of rbo gene) knockdown on the atrophy of hippocampal neurons, and the effect of small molecule inhibitor phenylarsine oxide (PAO), a frequently used inhibitor of PI4KIIIα on learning and memory, the level of Aβ<NUM> in CSF and brain parenchyma membrane, as well as the effect of PI4KA gene (which encodes PI4KIIIα protein) down-regulation on learning and memory, and the effect of PI4KIIIα product PI<NUM>P on oligomeric formation of Aβ<NUM> in liposomes.

<CIT> discloses an application of an rbo/Efr3a/Efr3b gene or a protein thereof in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

) summarizes the protein function, regulation of activity, the subcellular localization, major sites of expression as well as major sites of expression and splice variants of PI4KIIIα.

), disclose the effect on Aβ accumulation in a Tg2576 animal model upon administration of the PI3K-inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002.

), discloses that there may be an internalization of Aβ<NUM>-<NUM> that is proportional to the level of the expressed receptor, but that such internalization can been inhibited by phenylarsine oxide (PAO) which is described in as being an "inhibitor of endocytosis".

), describe rapamycin is as a potential therapeutic compound for AD.

), describe the possibility that Phosphatidylinositol <NUM>,<NUM>-bisphosphate production is coupled to important cell biological processes.

) describes an assay than enables identification of novel Synj1 inhibitors that have potential utility as chemical probes to dissect the cellular role of Synj1 as well as potential to prevent or reverse AD-associated synaptic abnormalities.

) discloses that PAO can inhibit oxidase activation of NADPH oxidase.

<CIT> discloses a method for neuron regeneration in the central nervous system, as well as means for carrying out said method.

The scope of the invention is defined by the appended set of claims.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a PAO or a PAO derivative for use in a method for treating Alzheimer's disease, wherein said PAO derivative is selected from the following:
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In another aspect, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for use in a method for treating Alzheimer's disease, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises the following substances: a PAO or PAO derivative as defined in in the preceding paragraph, and a RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B inhibitor, and optionally pharmaceutical carriers,
wherein the RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B inhibitor is an inhibitory nucleotide specific to rbo/Efr3/Efr3a/Efr3b, or an antibody against RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for use in a method for treating Alzheimer's disease, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises the following substances: a PAO or PAO derivative as defined in the preceding paragraphs and a PI4P inhibitor, optional RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B inhibitor, and optionally pharmaceutical carriers,.

According to one embodiment of the pharmaceutical composition for use, such pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more antibodies against Aβ and/or a compound capable of removing extraneuronal Aβ aggregates, said compound capable of removing extraneuronal Aβ aggregates being selected from: marine-derived sulfated oligosaccharide HSH971, acamprosate, and edaravone.

The present invention discloses that down-regulation of PI4KIIIα protein, RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, TTC7 protein, and amount of membrane protein complexes thereof or activities of related enzymes using genetic means or related inhibitors can facilitate Aβ (particularly Aβ<NUM>) secretion of neuron cells and correspondingly reduce intraneuronal Aβ accumulation, so as to ameliorate neural deficits in Drosophila and mouse AD models. Therefore, the invention reveals the essential role of neuronal Aβ<NUM> secretion in AD treatment, and provides a novel strategy for treating AD; meanwhile, the invention provides novel medicines for treating AD, and further points out a new direction for screening medicine and therapeutic target for the treating AD.

Also disclosed is a novel method of treating AD by using PAO or a PAO derivative as defined in the preceding paragraphs.

In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition that can be used to treat AD comprising one or more of a PAO or a PAO derivative as defined in the preceding paragraphs, RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B inhibitors, and PI<NUM>P Inhibitor, and optionally a pharmaceutical carrier. Preferably, the pharmaceutical composition may further comprise one or more anti-Aβ antibodies and/or compounds capable of scavenging or clearing extracellular Aβ plaques or deposits selected from the group consisting of marine oligosaccharides Carbohydrates HSH971 and its analogs, acamprosate and its analogs, and edaravone and its analogs.

Also disclosed is a method of how to screen for a drug for treating AD. Hence, there is also disclosed a method for screening AD drugs which target the kinase activity of PI4KIIIα protein, and the method comprises the following steps: observing the effect of the drug candidate on the phosphokinase activity of PI4KIIIα, if the candidate drugs can inhibit the phosphokinase activity of PI4KIIIα, indicating that the candidate drug is a potential drug for the treatment of AD.

Also disclosed is a method for screening AD-targeted drug by targeting the interaction between RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, TTC7 protein and PI4KIIIα protein, comprising the following steps: observing the effect of candidate drugs on the interaction of RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, TTC7 protein and PI4KIIIα protein if the candidate drug can inhibit the interaction of RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, TTC7 protein and PI4KIIIα protein, thereby reducing the formation of the RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B-TTC7-PI4KIIIα protein complex, indicating that the candidate drug is a potential drug for the treatment of AD.

Also disclosed is a method for screening AD drugs which targets the level of PI<NUM>P on the cell membrane, and the method comprises the following steps: observing drug candidates whether it has an effect on the level of PI<NUM>P on the cell membrane or not, and if the candidate drug can reduce the PI<NUM>P level on the cell membrane, it indicates that the candidate drug is a potential drug for treating AD.

In the present invention including the description and claims unless otherwise specified the following terms are used with the following meanings:
Term "rbo/Efr3/Efr3a/Efr3b gene" used herein refers to rbo gene originated from Drosophila, Efr3 gene originated from yeast, or Efr3a gene and Efr3b gene originated from mammals; term "RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein" used herein refers to proteins encoded by rbo gene originated from Drosophila, Efr3 gene originated from yeast, or Efr3a/Efr3b gene originated from mammals.

Term "PI4KIIIα/PI4KA gene" used herein refers to PI4KIIIα gene or PI4KA gene originated from Drosophila or mammals; term "PI4KIIIα protein" used herein refers to proteins encoded by PI4KIIIα/PI4KA gene in Drosophila or mammals.

Term "ttc7 gene" used herein refers to ttc7 gene originated from Drosophila and mammals; term "TTC7 protein" used herein refers to proteins encoded by ttc7 in afore-mentioned Drosophila and mammals.

Term "inhibitor" used herein refers to materials capable of lowering, reducing or eliminating the amount, particular function, and particular property of a target object. Said target object can be a protein, polypeptide, or a nucleic acid, while said inhibitor affects the amount, particular function, and particular property of the target object either directly or indirectly so as to result in the corresponding lowering, reducing or eliminating of the amount, particular function, and particular property of the target object. Said inhibitor can be a protein, polypeptide, nucleic acid, or a small molecule compound.

For example, term "PI4KIIIα inhibitor" used herein refers to materials capable of lowering, reducing or eliminating the expression, transcription, translation of PI4KIIIα/PI4KA gene, and/or stability of PI4KIIIα protein produced therefrom, binding ability to RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein and TTC7 protein, and phosphokinase activity thereof, etc., which includes small molecule compound inhibitors capable of inhibiting PI4KIIIα kinase activity.

Similarly, term "RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B inhibitor" used herein refers to materials capable of inhibiting, lowering, or eliminating the expression, transcription, translation of rbo/Efr3/Efr3a/Efr3b gene, and/or stability of RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein produced therefrom, and binding ability to PI4KIIIα protein, etc., which includes but is not limited to inhibitory nucleotides specific to rbo/Efr3/Efr3a/Efr3b, antibodies against RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, and materials capable of inhibiting formation of complexes of RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein and PI4KIIIα protein.

Term "TTC7 inhibitor" used herein refers to materials capable of lowering, reducing or eliminating the expression, transcription, translation of ttc7 gene, and/or stability of TTC7 protein produced therefrom, and binding ability to RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, etc., which includes but is not limited to inhibitory nucleotides specific to ttc7, antibodies against TTC7 protein, and/or materials capable of inhibiting interaction between TTC7 protein and membrane protein RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B.

Same as above, term "PI<NUM>P inhibitor" used herein refers to materials capable of inhibiting, lowering, or eliminating the quantity level of PI<NUM>P on cell membrane, which includes but is not limited to antibodies against PI<NUM>P, and OSH2-PH2X fusion protein or OSH2-2x-PH fusion proteinwhich is capable of specific binding to PI<NUM>P.

Term "antibody" used herein refers to any immunoglobulin or complete molecule and fragments thereof which binds to a specific epitope. Said antibody includes but not limited to polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, chimeric antibodies, humanized antibodies, single chain antibodies, and fragments and/or parts of intact antibodies, as long as such fragments or parts retain the antigen binding capacity of the parent antibody. In the invention, for example, "antibody against PI4KIIIα" refers to monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, single chain antibodies and immunological activie fragments or parts thereof capable of specific binding to PI4KIIIα protein, or functional variants or functional fragments thereof. In the invention, terms such as "PI4KIIIα antibody", "antibody against PI4KIIIα", and "anti-PI4KIIIα antibody" are used interchangeably.

In the invention, "functional variant" refers to the protein or polypeptide of the invention with one or more amino acid modification in its amino acid sequence. The modification can be a "conservative" modification (wherein the substituted amino acid has similar structure or chemical property) or a "non-conservative" modification; similar modification also include addition or deletion of amino acid or both. However, neither the modification of amino acid residue nor the addition or deletion of amino acid would substantially change or damage the biological or immunological activity and function of the original amino acid sequence. In the invention, similarly, "functional fragment" refers to any part of the protein or polypeptide of the invention, which retains the substantially similar or identical biological or immunological activity and function of the protein or polypeptide of which it is a part (the parent protein or polypeptide).

Term "inhibitory nucleotide" used herein refers to nucleotide compound capable of binding to and inhibiting expression of a specific gene. Typical inhibitory nucleotide includes but not limited to antisense oligonucleotides, triple helix DNAs, RNA aptamers, ribozymes, small interfering RNA (siRNA), short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and microRNA. These nucleotide compounds bind to said specific genes with higher affinity than other nucleotide sequences, so as to inhibit expression of the specific genes.

Term "small molecule compound" used herein refers to organic compounds with molecular weight less than <NUM> dalton which can be either natural or chemically synthesized. Term "derivative" used herein refers to compounds generated by modifying the parent organic compound through one or more chemical reactions, which have similar structures as the parent organic compound and similar effects in their functions. Term "analogue" used herein refers to compounds which were not generated by chemically modifying the parent organic compound but are similar to the parent organic compound in structure and have similar effects in their functions.

Term "Alzheimer's disease" (AD) used herein refers to an age-related neurodegenerative disease characterized in a progressive learning and memory dysfunction. Most AD patients in middle and advanced stages have neural extracellular beta amyloid plaques, initracellular neurofibrillary tangles formed of Tau protein, or loss of synapse and nerve cells. The disease may exist in human or in animals, such as dogs.

Term "Aβ" used herein refers to a series of polypeptides with a length of <NUM>-<NUM> amino acids generated by secretase cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP), which include polypeptides Aβ<NUM>, Aβ<NUM>, Aβ<NUM>, Aβ<NUM>, Aβ<NUM> and the like having same amino acid sequences. In the invention, Aβ can also be generated by cleavage of other protein cleavage enzyme of Aβ fusion protein expressed by transgenic method or infecting cells with viral vectors through particular expression system, for example, Aβ through its N-terminus may form fusion proteins with the secretory signal peptide originated from proteins encoded by Drosophila necrotic gene (amino acid sequence: MASKVSILLLLTVHLLAAQTFAQDAEFRHDSGYEVHHQKLVFFAED VGSNKGAIIGLMVGGVVIA) (SEQ ID NO: <NUM>) or secretory signal peptide originated from rat pre-proenkephalin (amino acid sequence: MAQFLRLCIWLLALGSCLLATVQA) (SEQ ID NO: <NUM>) or the like.

Term "Aβ secretion" used herein refers to a process of discharge of Aβ generated itracellularly or on cel membranes via cell membrane, which may decrease intracellular Aβ accumulation. Wherein, "Aβ<NUM> secretion" specifically refers to a process of the discharge of Aβ<NUM> generated intracellularly or on cell membranes via cell membrane, which may decrease intracellular Aβ<NUM> accumulation.

Term "therapeutic target" used herein refers to various materials that can be used to treat a certain disease and the target of the material in animal or human bodies. Treatment effects on said disease are obtainable when said materials act on said target. Said materials can be a variety of materials such as protein, polypeptide, nucleic acid, small molecule compound, said target can be material substances such as a certain gene (including a specific sequence of a gene), a certain protein (including a specific site of a protein), a certain protein complex (including specific binding site thereof), or certain characteristics, certain functions, certain interaction relationships with peripheral substances and environment of aforementioned genes and/or proteins, etc, as long as said materials can affect the gene, protein, protein complex, or characteristic, function, interaction relationship thereof so as to treat the disease.

Terms "treat", "treating", or "treatment" used herein refer to reversing, ameliorating or inhibiting the progression of the disease to which the term is applied, or one or more symptoms of the disease. As used herein, depending on the condition of the patient, the term also include prevention of disease, which includes the prevention of disease or the onset of any symptoms associated therewith, and ameliorating symptoms or reducing the severity of any condition before its onset.

Terms "inhibit", "weaken", "down-regulate", "remove" and the like all refer to reduction or decreasing in quantity or degree. Such reduction or decreasing is not limited to any extent as long as it exhibits such a trend. For example, the reduction or decreasing can be <NUM>% relative to the original quantity or degree, or can be <NUM>% or even <NUM>% or less.

The present invention reveals a varity of actions such as down-regulating the expressions of RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein,.

TTC7 protein, or PI4KIIIα protein, weakening the interactions between RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, TTC7 protein, and PI4KIIIα protein, and inhibiting enzyme activity of PI4KIIIα can improve the age-related dysfunctions such as synaptic deficit and loss of nerve cells expressing Aβ<NUM>, and discloses that these effects are achieved by facilitating Aβ (particularly Aβ<NUM>) secretion of neuron cells and reducing Aβ (particularly Aβ<NUM>) accumulation on neuron cell membranes or in cells.

In the invention, for example, the inventor discovered that Efr3a gene knockdown can reduce the atrophy of dendrites and spines of hippocampal neurons in APP/PS <NUM> transgenic mice, while gavage with phenylarsine oxide (PAO), a common inhibitor of PI4KIIIα protein, can significantly ameliorate the learning and memory of APP/PS <NUM> mice, and can reduce the content of plasmalemma coupled Aβ<NUM> (particularly the Aβ<NUM> in Aβ<NUM> aggregates/oligomers) in brain tissue, although the process may accompanied with increasing of Aβ<NUM> content in cerebrospinal fluid. These results demonstrated that dementia symptoms of APP/PS <NUM> mice can be ameliorated by facilitating neuronal secretion of Aβ<NUM> and reducing accumulation of Aβ<NUM> (particularly aggregated Aβ<NUM>) in neurons or on neuron membranes.

The inventors discovered that down-regulating the expressions of RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, TTC7 protein, or PI4KIIIα protein in cells or neurons, or preventing their formation of protein complexes to decrease the localization of PI4KIIIα protein on membranes, or inhibiting phosphokinase activity of PI4KIIIα protein, can facilitate Aβ<NUM> secretion of cells and neurons, reducing Aβ<NUM> accumulation in neurons, and ameliorating AD-related neorodegeneration and dysfunctions thereof; meanwhile, neither expression levels of Aβ<NUM> or APP, nor activities of α, β, and y secretase which cleave APP were significantly affected. In addition, the inventors also discovered that PI<NUM>P, a product of PI4KIIIα protein,
facilitate aggregation of Aβ<NUM> monomers in liposomes, while such facilitation is much stronger than that of the precursor of PI<NUM>P (PI) and its derivative PI<NUM>,<NUM>P.

The inventors believe that Aβ (including Aβ<NUM>) are generated from plasmalemmal or intracellular organs; thus generated Aβ may be secreted from cells through passive release, exocytosis, lysosomal-mediated release, or other undiscovered pathways. Despite of the origin of Aβ or how it is secreted, plasmalemma is the last pathway through which Aβ leaves the cell. Due to the hydrophobicity of Aβ, on plasmalemma, Aβ is inserted into hydrophobic fatty acid chain region on one hand, and interacts with phosphatidylinositol (particularly phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol PI<NUM>P) and other acidic phospholipid on the other hand, such interaction facilitates the conformation changes of Aβ from random coil into β-structure, and further aggregates as Aβ aggregate to be deposited on membranes or be accumulated in cells by endocytosis. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that the affinity of soluble Aβ (including Aβ<NUM>) aggregates/oligomers to cell or liposome membrane is much higher than that of Aβ monomer. Therefore, aggregated Aβ is much easier to accumulate on cell membranes.

PI<NUM>P is a major component of plasmalemmal phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol, which exhibits a stronger facilitation on the formation of Aβ aggregates/oligomers than PI and PIP<NUM>. In the invention, the inventors discovered that the facilitation effect of PI<NUM>P on the formation Aβ<NUM> aggregates/oligomers in liposomes is clearly dose dependent. Down-regulating the expression of RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, TTC7 protein, or PI4KIIIα protein, preventing their formation of protein complexes, or inhibiting the kinase activity of PI4KIIIα protein, can reduce PI<NUM>P production on cell membranes. Therefore, down-regulating expression of RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, TTC7 protein, or PI4KIIIα protein,
or preventing the formation of membrane attached protein complexes of RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, TTC7 protein, and PI4KIIIα protein, or inhibiting the corresponding phosphokinase activity of PI4KIIIα protein, can substantially decrease the amount of plasmalemma phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol (particularly PI<NUM>P) so as to weaken the interaction between plasmalemmal Aβ (including Aβ<NUM>) and phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol, and result in more plasmalemmal Aβ existing in the random form of Aβ monomer. As described above, such random form of Aβ monomer has low affinity to membrane, thus is relatively easily released from membrane and secreted extracellularly. Therefore, above regulation behaviors can effectively reduce intracellular accumulation of Aβ without affecting the expression level of APP or the activities of α, β, and y secretase, so as to result in an obvious increase of extracellular Aβ level.

Previous studies have reported that Aβ<NUM> accumulation in Drosophila can activate PI3K and related PI3K/Akt signalling pathway, thus inducing the AD-related synaptic deficits and loss of long-term memory; correspondingly, related research believed that inhibiting PI3K activity can be a method of treating AD. However, in the present invention, the inventors discovered that intracellular Aβ<NUM> accumulation is not caused by PI3K/Akt signalling pathway activation of phosphatidylinositol kinases (including PI3K), but is more directly caused by phosphatidylinositol on phosphorylated membranes after plasmalemmal phosphatidylinositol kinase is activated; moreover, the phosphatidylinositol kinase involved in the present invention is mainly PI4KIIIα rather than the PI3K in the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. For example, the inventors discovered that by using phosphatidylinositol kinase inhibitor highly specific to PI4KIIIα but not sensitive to PI3K, such as PAO, Aβ<NUM> secretion from cells can be effectively facilitated with low concentration.

It is thus revealed by the inventors that in order to achieve AD treatment, it is possible to adopt a method of facilitating Aβ secretion, particularly Aβ<NUM> secretion, so as to decrease Aβ (including Aβ<NUM>) accumulation in neural cells or on cell membranes. But the increased secretion of Aβ cannot be attributed to the up-regulation of APP or the increased production of Aβ caused by a change in the activities of α, β, and y secretases.

It is understandable by one of ordinary skill in the art that there are a variety of routes to facilitate Aβ secretion of neural cells, including weakening the binding or interaction between Aβ and plasmalemma saccharides, lipids, and proteins. In the invention, it is preferred to facilitate Aβ secretion of cells by reducing Aβ (particularly Aβ<NUM>) aggregation on cell membranes, as described above.

Furthermore, the present invention reveals that by regulating the quantities of RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, TTC7 protein, and PI4KIIIα protein and their capacity of forming complexes, as well as by regulating phosphokinase activity of PI4KIIIα protein, Aβ aggregates/oligomers formed on cell membranes can be reduced so as to facilitate Aβ (particularly Aβ<NUM>) secretion of cells, therefore, these proteins and the relationships thereof can constitute potential therapeutic targets for treating AD.

Accordingly, it is understandable by one of ordinary skill in the art that inhibitors or methods capable of inhibiting, lowering, reducing, or eliminating the expression, transcription, or translation of rbo/Efr3/Efr3a/Efr3b gene, and capable of decreasing the stability of RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein encoded therefrom, as well as inhibitors or methods capable of inhibiting its formation of protein complexes with phosphatidylinositol kinase PI4KIIIα protein and TTC7
protein, can be used to treat AD. Said RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B inhibitors include inhibitory nucleotides of rbo/Efr3/Efr3a/Efr3b gene (including antisense RNA, siRNA, miRNA or the like), or antibodies against RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein.

It is understood by the skilled in the art that inhibitory nucleotides of rbo/Efr3/Efr3a/Efr3b gene are well-known in the art (e.g., see, www. org, and available products: ORIGENE, Cat. # SR308056 and Cat. # TR303768). Similarly, antibodies against RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein are well-known in the art (e.g., see, www. org, and available products: Novus, Cat. # NBP1-<NUM>; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Cat. # PA5-<NUM>).

Moreover, as described above, regulating the cellular expression, transcription, or translation of PI4KIIIα/PI4KA gene, regulating the stability of PI4KIIIα protein encoded from PI4KIIIαlPI4KA gene, regulating the capacity of PI4KIIIα protein forming complexes with membrane protein RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B and TTC7 protein, and regulating phosphokinase activity of PI4KIIIα protein, can be regarded as methods of treating AD. Therefore, it is understandable by one of ordinary skill in the art that inhibitors or methods capable of inhibiting, lowering, reducing, or eliminating the expression, transcription, or translation of PI4KIIIαlPI4KA gene, or capable of decreasing the stability of PI4KIIIα protein encoded therefrom, inhibitory nucleotides includes but not limited to that specific to PI4KIIIα/PI4KA gene, antibodies against PI4KIIIα protein, and small molecule compound inhibitors capable of inhibiting protein complex formation of PI4KIIIα protein with membrane proteins and capable of inhibiting kinase activities, can be used to treat AD. Preferably, the inhibitor is a small molecule compound, for example, PAO (Phenylarsine Oxide), PAO derivatives, A1, G1, or analogues of A1 and G1. More preferably, the inhibitor is PAO or PAO derivatives.

It is understood by the skilled in the art that PAO is a small molecule compound having a basic structure comprising oxoarsine group and phenyl group, which exhibits a strong inhibitory effect on the phosphokinase activity of PI4KIIIα protein. Chemical structure of PAO is:
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Phenylarsine oxide (oxo(phenyl)arsane).

Synthesis method of PAO is well-known to the skilled in the art. According to the present invention, compounds that can be used in the treatment of AD further include derivatives of PAO, as long as the compound exhibit inhibitory effect on the phosphokinase activity of PI4KIIIα protein. It is understood by the skilled in the art that synthesis methods of such derivatives are well-known in the art.

Similarly, it is understood by the skilled in the art that A1 and G1 both are small molecule compound inhibitors of PI4KIIIα protein and having similar structures. Wherein, chemical structure of A1 is:
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<NUM>-(<NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(<NUM>-(<NUM>-morpholinyl)phenyl)-<NUM>-benzimidazol-<NUM>-yl)-N-(<NUM> -fluorophenyl)-<NUM>-methoxy-<NUM>-pyridinesulfonamide.

Chemical structure of G1 is:
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(aS)-<NUM>-(<NUM>-amino-<NUM>-oxo-<NUM>-(<NUM>-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydroquin azolin-<NUM>-yl)-N-(<NUM>,<NUM>-difluorophenyl)-<NUM>-methoxypyridine-<NUM>-sulfonamide.

Synthesis methods of A1 and G1 are well-known in the art (e.g., see, <NPL>; <NPL>). According to the present invention, structural analogues of A1 and G1 can be used to treat AD as long as they exhibit inhibitory effect on the phosphokinase activity of PI4KIIIα protein. It is understood by the skilled in the art that synthesis methods of such structural analogues are well-known in the art.

In addition, the formation of membrane complexes of PI4KIIIα protein and RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein requires the assistance of scaffold protein TTC7. Therefore, it is understandable by one of ordinary skill in the art that inhibitors or methods capable of inhibiting, lowering, reducing, or eliminating the expression, transcription, or translation of ttc7 gene, and capable of decreasing the stability of TTC7 protein encoded therefrom, as well as inhibitors or methods capable of inhibiting its formation of protein complexes with RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein and PI4KIIIα protein, can be used to treat AD. Said TTC7 inhibitors include but not limited to inhibitory nucleotides of ttc7 gene (including antisense RNA, siRNA, miRNA or the like), antibodies against TTC7 protein.

Moreover, according to the invention, down-regulating the expression of RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein and PI4KIIIα protein, or preventing their formation of protein complexes to decrease the distribution of PI4KIIIα protein on membranes, or inhibiting the phosphokinase activity of PI4KIIIα protein, essentially leads to reduction of plasmalemmal PI<NUM>P and further facilitates Aβ secretion of cells. Therefore, it is understandable by one of ordinary skill in the art that any inhibitor or method capable of decreasing the quantity or level of plasmalemmal PI<NUM>P, and further decreasing the formation of Aβ aggregates/oligomers on cell membranes, can achieve the effect of treating AD as described above.

It is understandable by the skilled in the art that aforementioned PI<NUM>P inhibitors can be antibodies or other molecules that specifically binds to PI<NUM>P. Currently, synthesis methods of antibodies against PI<NUM>P are well-known in the art (see, <NPL>; <NPL>). For example, it can be human-derived broad-neutralizing antibody 4E10, and other antibodies against PI<NUM>P. Currently, synthesis methods of molecules specifically bind to PI<NUM>P are well-known in the art (see, <NPL>; <NPL>). For example, it can be an OSH2-PH2X fusion protein, or an OSH2-2x-PH fusion protein.

Aforementioned materials provided by the present invention that can be used to treat AD or having treatment potential to AD (hereinafter collectively referred to as "the materials of invention"), including but not limited to antibodies against RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B, antibodies against PI<NUM>P, inhibitory polypeptides specific to rbo/Efr3/Efr3a/Efr3b gene, and small molecule compounds inhibiting phosphokinase activity of PI4KIIIα protein, etc., can be isolated, purified, synthesized and/or recombined.

Moreover, the materials of invention can also be formulated into a composition, such as a pharmaceutical composition. In this regard, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising any of aforementioned antibodies, inhibitory polypeptides, and/or small molecule compounds, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The pharmaceutical composition of the invention containing any of the materials of invention can comprise more than one material of invention, e.g., antibody and small molecule compound, inhibitory polypeptide and antibody, or two or more antibodies or small molecule compounds. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical composition can also comprise a material of invention in combination with another pharmaceutically active agent or drug. For example, it can comprise antibody drug against Aβ, such as Bapineuzumab, or compound which binds to neural extracellular Aβ or β amyloid plaque in brain to block Aβ aggregation or to facilitate disaggregation of Aβ aggregates, such as marine-derived sulfated oligosaccharide HSH971 and analogues thereof, acamprosate (tramiprosate) and analogues thereof, and Edaravone and analogues thereof. In this way, the pharmaceutical composition facilitates Aβ secretion from neurons on the one hand, and facilitates the removal of Aβ outside neurons on the other hand, thereby achieving a better therapeutic effect on the treatment of AD.

Also disclosed is a method for screening new medicines or therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD. The method is designed based on aforementioned discoveries of the invention, i.e., intracellular Aβ<NUM> accumulation can be reduced by facilitating Aβ<NUM> secretion so as to ameliorate and prevent AD-associated neurodegeneration and dysfunction. Therefore, the criteria for screening medicines or therapeutic targets is the facilitation effect on Aβ secretion (particularly Aβ<NUM> secretion) after administration of the medicine or regulation of the therapeutic target, while increased Aβ secretion cannot be attributed to the up-regulation of APP or the increased production of Aβ caused by change in activities of α, β, and y secretase.

According to the present invention, regulation of the therapeutic target refers to using relevant materials to act on the therapeutic target either directly or indirectly so as to change the function, property, or relationship with peripheral environment of the therapeutic target, thus causing or inducing the facilitation of Aβ secretion (particularly Aβ<NUM> secretion) of cells.

It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that in order to select effective drug for treating Alzheimer's disease, cell lines for screening test can be eukaryotic cell lines from mammals, insects or the like, e.g., HEK293, COS7, N2a, SH-SY5Y, S2, sf9 and the like. The method includes testing whether a candidate drug may reduce Aβ accumulation, particularly Aβ<NUM> accumulation, on cell membrane or in cells, so as to select effective drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease. Preferably, the test of whether Aβ secretion is increased can be performed in cell lines over-expressing APP (e.g., HEK293, COS7, N2a, SH-SY5Y cell lines stably transfected with human-derived APP) or with Drosophila model, preferably tissues of third instar larva of Drosophila. Whether Aβ secretion is increased can be detected with methods of immunoassay, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or electro-chemiluminescence assay (ECLIA).

Preferably, the method for screening medicines or therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD can include: observing the effect of invention of candidate medicine or target regulation on enzyme activity of PI4KIIIα, if the invention of candidate medicine or target regulation negatively affects the function of PI4KIIIα kinase in the detection system, i.e., characterized in reduction of PI4KIIIα kinase activity or plasmalemmal PI<NUM>P level, then it indicates that the candidate medicine, agent or target is a potential medicine or therapeutic target for treating AD. After such screening, it is further detected that whether intracellular Aβ (particularly Aβ<NUM>) accumulation is reduced and whether extracellular Aβ secretion is facilitated. With these methods, screening efficiency of candidates can be greatly improved.

Further disclosed is a method for screening medicines, wherein the method for screening medicines or therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD can include: determining based on directly analyzing whether invention of candidate medicine or regulation of therapeutic target re-distributes plasmalemmal PI4KIIIα protein to endochylema so as to reduce the quantity of PI4KIIIα protein on membrane and induces a reduction of the aggregation/oligomerization of plasmalemma Aβ monomer as well as increasing extracellular secretion. Preferably, fluorescently labeled PI4KIIIα can be selected for observation, such as PI4KIIIα labeled with fluorescent protein (GFP-PI4KIIIα), and observing whether the fluorescently labeled PI4KIIIα transfers from plasmalemma to endochylema.

Further disclosed is a method for screening medicines, wherein the method for screening medicines or therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD can also be conducted with methods such as co-immunoprecipitation assay in which interactions between proteins are analyzed. If invention of candidate medicine or regulation of therapeutic target reduces interactions between RBO/EFR3/EFR3A/EFR3B protein, TTC7 protein, and PI4KIIIα protein, it indicates that the medicine or therapeutic target is capable of weakening the capacity of PI4KIIIα protein in forming membrane protein complexes so as to reduce aggregation of plasmalemma Aβ monomer as well as increasing extracellular secretion.

Further disclosed is a method for screening medicines, wherein the method for screening medicines or therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD can also be performed by directly analyzing whether invention of candidate medicine or regulation of therapeutic target reduces plasmalemmal PI<NUM>P level. Preferably, fluorescence microscope, confocal microscope, or two-photon microscope can be utilized to observe whether fluorescently labeled molecule that specifically binds to PI<NUM>P, such as OSH2-PH2X or OSH2-2x-PH fusion protein labeled with fluorescent protein, is decreased in plasmalemma quantity or transferred from plasmalemma to endochylema.

The present invention will be further illustrated in detail below. However, ways to carry out the present invention are not limited to the following examples.

Hereinafter, data are obtained mainly through animal and cell culture experiments, and are analyzed with SPSS software. Unless otherwise specified, data are represented by mean ± sem. P < <NUM> indicates the difference is statistically significant. All data shown here and below are represented by mean ± sem. "*", "**", and "***" each represents that p < <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, respectively.

Standard culture medium, alternating cycle of <NUM>-hour light and <NUM>-hour dark, culturing under constant temperature of <NUM>.

The following transgenic Drosophila strains were utilized in the invention: rboS358A, [UAS]Aβarc, [UAS]Aβ<NUM>, [UAS]dtau, [UAS]mCD8-gfp (provided by Dr. Wang), [UAS]shibirets1 (provided by Dr. A Guo), [Gal4]A307 (provided by Dr. Wherein, rboS358A gene is a transgene constructed from wild type genome DNA comprising rbo gene via site-directed mutation, whose expression is driven by the pre-driver of the rbo gene itself. [Gal4]A307 expresses transcription factor Gal4, which drives [UAS]Aβarc, [UAS]Aβ<NUM>, [UAS]dtau, [UAS]mCD8-gfp, [UAS]shibirets1 transgenes to express Aβarc, Aβ<NUM>, dTau, mCD8-GFP, or temperature sensitive mutation Dynamin in neurons of Giant Fiber pathway and in a small amount of other neurons. Drosophila mutants utilized in the invention include: rbots1 (temperature sensitive missense mutation), rbo<NUM> (knockdown mutation), itprsv35 (nonsense mutation, Bloomington Stock # <NUM>), PI4KIIIαdef (mutation with deletion of PI4KIIIα gene and peripheral DNA, Bloomington Stock # <NUM>), PI4KIIIαGS27, and P14KIIIαGJ86 (both are nonsense mutations). P{lacW}l(<NUM>)k14710k<NUM> transposon is inserted into the first exon of l(<NUM>) k14710 gene in order to prevent transcription of l(<NUM>) k14710 (Bloomington Stock # <NUM>); P{EPgy2}bin3EY09582 (Bloomington Stock # <NUM>). In order to purify the genetic background, all transgenes and mutant flies were backcrossed with a wild isogenic strain (isogenic w<NUM>, Bloomington stock #<NUM>) for more than <NUM> generations before use.

Prior research of the inventors discovered that flies (Drosophila) expressing wild type or the arctic mutant Aβ<NUM> (Aβ<NUM> or Aβarc flies or Drosophila) in neurons of the GF pathway exhibit intraneuronal Aβ<NUM> accumulation, age dependent synaptic transmission failure, and premature death. Such flies also exhibit an age-dependent decline of climbing ability. In order to study the role of rbo gene in the neural deficits caused by intraneuronal Aβ<NUM> accumulation, two mutations of rbo gene, missense mutation (rbots1) and knockdown mutation (rbo<NUM>), were introduced into Aβarc flies, and the effects on synaptic transmission, climbing ability, and age were respectively tested. Four groups of flies were constructed: control flies (control, ctrl), rbots1/+ or rbo<NUM>/+ heterozygotes (rbo), Aβarc flies (Aβarc), and Aβarc flies with rbots1/+ or rbo<NUM>/+ heterozygous mutation (Aβarc-rbo). Each group contains <NUM>-<NUM> strains, wherein, "ctrl" denotes wild type control flies having [Gal4]A307 transgene; "rbots1/+"and "rbo<NUM>/+" denotes rbots1/+ and rbo<NUM>/+ heterozygous flies having one copy of [Gal4]A307 transgene; "Aβarc" denotes [Gal4]A307/[UAS]Aβarc double transgenic flies; "Aβarc-rbots1/+" and "Aβarc-rbo <NUM>/+" each denotes [Gal4]A307-rbots1/[UAS]Aβarc and [Gal4]A307-rbo<NUM>/[UAS]Aβarc, respectively. The first two groups of flies did not express Aβarc and were classified as "non-Aβ flies", whereas the latter two groups of flies express Aβarc and were classified as "Aβ flies".

Recording of excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) in Giant Fiber (GF) system intracellularly. Adult female fly of a certain day-age was mounted ventral side down on a glass slides with low-melting wax tackiwax (Boekel Scientific) under a dissection microscope. Recording system includes one reference electrode in abdomen, two stimulation electrodes inserted into two eyes, and one recording electrode inserted into dorsal longitudinal muscle cell. Both eyes were subjected to electric stimulation (<NUM>, <NUM> pulses). Stimulation intensity is <NUM>-<NUM> volts with a duration of <NUM>, approximately <NUM>% of the threshold stimulation intensity. Electric signals were recorded and amplified by Axonal clamp 900A (Molecular Devices), and were digitized at a frequency of <NUM> by Digidata 1440A (Molecular Devices). Data were recorded and analyzed by pClamp software (version <NUM>; Molecular Devices). All electrodes are glass electrode filled with <NUM> KCl solution. Environment temperature was <NUM> during recording.

<FIG> shows representative records of brain stimulated EJP in different day-age in four groups of flies (<FIG>) and quantitative analysis of success rates of elicited EJPs (<FIG>). It is particularly noted that rbo mutation significantly inhibited the age dependent neuronal synaptic transmission failure caused by ABarc. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA on data of <NUM>-<NUM>th, <NUM>-<NUM>th, and <NUM>-<NUM>th day (n=<NUM>~<NUM>), and <NUM>-<NUM>th day (n=<NUM>~<NUM>).

According to the above examination method of synaptic transmission, intracellular recording of EJPs in the dorsal longitudinal muscle fibers under high-frequency electric stimulation (<NUM>, <NUM> pulses) was performed on the <NUM>-<NUM>th, <NUM>-<NUM>th, <NUM>-<NUM>th, and <NUM>-<NUM>th days after eclosion. The success rate of EJPs elicited by high-frequency electric stimulation in the first group was not significantly differentiable from that in the other three groups on the <NUM>-<NUM>th and <NUM>-<NUM>th days (<FIG>). On the <NUM>-<NUM>th and <NUM>-<NUM>th days, success rate of EJPs in Aβarc-rbo flies became lower than that in control flies and rbo flies, but was significantly higher than that in Aβarc flies (<FIG>).

These results illustrates that rbo gene mutation ameliorates the age-dependent synaptic transmission failure caused by intraneuronal Aβarc accumulation. It is unlikely that the difference in genetic background has contributed to the amelioration, since the genetic background of the transgenic flies and rbo mutants used for creating the four groups of flies were backcrossed with a wild isogenic strain (isogenic w<NUM>) for more than <NUM> generations before use, thus the genetic background is essentially purified. Since total knockdown of rbo gene causes embryonic lethality, its effect on Aβarc induced synaptic transmission failure could not be examined.

Climbing ability was examined by measuring the average climbing height of <NUM> flies at the seventh second from the bottom of vertically placed testing tubes. A fruit fly climbing ability testing apparatus with high reproducibility was developed. The apparatus includes: <NUM>) a rectangular metal frame (<NUM> width, <NUM> height) within which <NUM> transparent plastic tubes are mounted vertically; <NUM>) an electric motor for driving the vertical movement of the metal frame; <NUM>) a stepping actuator for controlling the electric motor at the working cycle of rapidly moving the metal frame up and down for four times for a predetermined height at a <NUM> minute interval; <NUM>) a video camera for videotaping the climbing process; <NUM>) an analyzing software for analyzing the climbing position of a fly at a certain time of the video. In experiments, <NUM> flies of a specific genotype were transferred into each transparent plastic tube. The tubes were evenly distributed and mounted in the metal box. The metal box can slide vertically along two metal rods which were mounted vertically on the base. In the climbing test, the stepping actuator controls the electric motor to lift up the metal box for <NUM> and then releases, such that the metal box drops to the original position by gravity. Upon the metal box stopped moving, files dropped down to the bottom of the tubes. After the metal box was moved up and down for <NUM> times in <NUM> seconds, all files were at the bottom of the tubes. Then the flies were allowed to climb up along the wall of the tubes. The whole processes were videotaped for subsequent analysis. The inventors developed a computer program for measuring the height of a fly at any given time after tube climbing was started.

In <FIG>, rbo gene mutation ameliorated the age dependent climbing ability in Aβarc-expressing flies, one-way ANOVA analysis was performed, n=<NUM> (<NUM> groups of flies, <NUM> flies in each group).

Climbing ability was examined on the <NUM>rd, <NUM>th, <NUM>th, and <NUM>st day after eclosion. On the <NUM>rd and <NUM>th day, the climbing abilities of flies in four groups were similar (<FIG>). On the <NUM>th and <NUM>st day, Aβarc-rbo flies climbed significantly higher than Aβarc flies, although not as high as control and rbo flies (<FIG>).

<NUM> or <NUM> flies of each genotype were equally separated into <NUM> or <NUM> tubes containing standard fly food and dry yeast, and cultured at <NUM>. Flies were transferred to tubes with fresh food and dry yeast every <NUM> days, and dead flies were counted at each transfer. Survival rates were analyzed with the SPSS <NUM> Kaplan-Meier software.

In <FIG>, rbo gene mutation prolonged the lifespan of Aβarc-expressing flies. n=<NUM> flies for each group, p<<NUM>, Log Rank test.

<FIG> shows representative records of brain stimulated EJP in different day-age in three groups of flies (<FIG>) and quantitative analysis of success rates of elicited EJPs (<FIG>). "ctrl" denotes wild type control flies having [Gal4]A307 transgene; "Aβ<NUM>" denotes [Gal4]A307/[UAS]Aβ<NUM> double transgenic flies; "Aβ<NUM>-rbots1/+" and "Aβ<NUM>-rbo<NUM>/+" each denotes [Gal4]A307-rbots1/[UAS]Aβ<NUM> and [Gal4]A307-rbo2/[UAS]Aβ<NUM>, respectively. It is noted that rbo mutation significantly inhibited the age dependent neuronal synaptic transmission failure caused by Aβ<NUM>. n=<NUM>~<NUM> for data of <NUM>-<NUM>th day, and n=<NUM>~<NUM> for data of <NUM>-<NUM>th day, one-way ANOVA analysis.

In <FIG>, rbo gene mutation ameliorated the age dependent climbing ability in Aβ<NUM>-expressing flies, one-way ANOVA analysis was performed, n=<NUM>.

In Fig. 7d, rbo gene mutation prolonged the lifespan of Aβ<NUM>-expressing flies. n=<NUM> flies for each group, p<<NUM>, Log Rank test.

Longevity assay showed that lifespan of Aβarc-rbo flies were longer than that of Aβarc flies, although shorter than that of control and rbo flies (<FIG>); same conclusion is obtainable by comparing mean lifespan of flies in four groups (Table <NUM>). These results are consistent with those in the synaptic transmission examination. Further investigations on the effects of rbo gene mutation on the synaptic transmission, climbing ability, and lifespan of flies expressing wild-type Aβ<NUM> were conducted, and it exhibited even better improvement (Fig. 7a-d).

<FIG> shows the effect of rbo gene mutation on the motor defect (left) and premature death induced by Drosophila Tau protein over-expression in Drosophila giant fiber pathway. <FIG> shows the effect of shibire gene mutation on the motor defect (left) and premature death induced by Aβarc over-expression in Drosophila giant fiber pathway. In the longevity assay, n=<NUM> flies for each group, Log Rank test.

The effect of rbo gene mutation against the Aβ<NUM> toxicity could not be ascribed to a general effect against intraneuronal accumulation of toxic proteins because rbo gene mutation could not ameliorate the lifespan shortening of flies over-expressing tau protein (<FIG>). The effect of rbo gene mutation against the Aβ<NUM> toxicity could not be ascribed to a general effect potentially based on synaptic or endocytosis functions because introducing shibire gene mutation (shibirets1) into Aβarc flies could not attenuate the premature death of Aβarc flies (<FIG>). Same as rbots1 gene mutation, shibirets1 gene mutation also induced effects on temperature dependent synaptic transmission, bulk endocytosis, and motor ability.

With examples <NUM>-<NUM>, the results showed that rbo gene mutation or insufficiency can specifically suppresses neural deficits in wild type and mutant Aβ<NUM>-expressing flies.

A total of <NUM> fly heads were collected and homogenized by milling in <NUM>µL pre-cooled Tris buffer. The formulation of Tris buffer contains: <NUM> Tris, <NUM> KCl, <NUM> EDTA, <NUM>% cocktail protease inhibitor(Calbiochem), and pH adjusted to <NUM>. Tissue homogenate was centrifuged at <NUM> for <NUM>. Supernatant was collected and subjected to immunoprecipitation or immunoblot test with about <NUM>µg of a mouse monoclonal antibody against RBO or a rabbit polyclonal antibody against Drosophila PI4KIIIα. Two antibodies were generated in collaboration with Abmart (Shanghai) or with Abgent (China), respectively. RBO antibody was generated using the <NUM>th-<NUM>th amino acids of Drosophila subtype C RBO protein; PI4KIIIα antibody was generated using the peptide NH2-KRSNRSKRLQYQKDSYC-CONH2 (SEQ ID NO: <NUM>). In immunoblot tests, antibodies against Drosophila RBO and PI4KIIIα were diluted by <NUM>:<NUM>. Head tissue homogenates of wild type and corresponding homozygous mutants were respectively used to detect antibodies against Drosophila RBO and PI4KIIIα.

In <FIG>, rboS358A gene mutation did not improve the lifespan of Aβarc-expressing flies (P=<NUM>).

Although RBO might be a putative diacylglycerol (DAG) lipase, and the activity of DAG lipase was reported to be increased in the hippocampus of AD patients and animal models, RBO protein might not regulate Aβarc toxicity by acting as a DAG lipase because introduction of a transgene rboS358A into Aβarc flies could not change the premature death (<FIG>). In RBO protein encoded by rboS358A gene, a putative enzymatic active center was mutated.

<FIG> shows a representative immunoblot of the coimmunoprecipitation of RBO protein and PI4KIIIα protein, n=<NUM>.

<FIG> shows representative immunoblot (left) and semi-quantitative analysis (right) of RBO protein and PI4KIIIα protein levels in wild type control flies and rbo heterozygotes, n=<NUM>, one-way ANOVA analysis.

<FIG> shows representative immunoblot (left) and semi-quantitative analysis (right) of PI4KIIIα coimmunoprecipitated with the wild-type (wtRBO) and mutant (mRBO) RBO protein, n=<NUM>, t-test analysis.

<FIG> shows RT-PCR quantitative analysis of the PI4KIIIα mRNA expression levels in Aβarc, Aβarc-rbots1/+, and Aβarc-rbo<NUM>/+ flies, n=<NUM>-<NUM>, one-way ANOVA analysis.

The RBO homologs in yeast and mouse recruit PI4KIIIα and form a complex with it on cell membrane. Consistent with this, RBO protein specifically coimmunoprecipitated with Drosophila PI4KIIIα (<FIG>). In addition, removing one copy of rbo gene (rbo<NUM>/+) in Aβarc-rbo Drosophila can significantly reduce the expression levels of RBO protein and PI4KIIIα protein (<FIG>), whereas rbots1/+ gene mutation did not significantly reduce expression levels of RBO protein and PI4KIIIα protein but significantly weakened the interaction between RBO protein and PI4KIIIα protein (<FIG>). Notably, neither of the two rbo mutations changed the transcription of PI4KIIIα gene (<FIG>).

To test whether PI4KIIIα plays a similar role as RBO protein in neural deficits of Aβarc flies, a chromosomal deficiency (deletion of a PI4KIIIα-containing DNA segment of a chromosome, pi4kdef/+) and a nonsense mutation of PI4KIIIα (PI4KIIIαGS27/+) was separately introduced to Aβarc-expressing flies.

<FIG> shows that the synaptic transmission, motor function, and premature death were suppressed by the heterozygous PI4KIIIα gene deletion (PI4KIIIadef/+) (see <FIG>) or the nonsense mutation (PI4KIIIαGS27/+) (see <FIG>), as well as were suppressed by PAO (<FIG>). "ctrl" denotes wild type control flies having [Gal4]A307 transgene; "PI4KIIIαdef/+ "and"PI4KIIIαGS27/+" denotes PI4KIIIαdef/+ and pI4KIIIαGS27/+ heterozygous flies having one copy of [Gal4]A307 transgene; "Aβarc" denotes [Gal4]A307/[UAS]Aβarc double transgenic flies; "Aβarc-PI4KIIIadef/+" and "Aβarc-PI4KIIIαGS27/+" each denotes PI4KIIIαdef/+; [Ga14]A307/[UAS]Aβarc and PI4KIIIαGS27/+ ; [Gal4]A307/[UAS]Aβarc, respectively. For EJP data recording in each group, n=<NUM>~<NUM>. For each climbing assay, n=<NUM>~<NUM>. For lifespan data of each fly strain, n=<NUM>~<NUM>, P value less than <NUM>. The statistical analysis methods are as described above.

In fact, experimental results demonstrated that such PI4KIIIα mutations suppressed the Aβarc induced defects in synaptic transmission, motor function, and lifespan (<FIG>). Consistently, feeding Aβarc flies with PI4KIIIα inhibitor PAO also significantly ameliorated these defects in a dose-dependent manner (<FIG>).

In <FIG>, itprSV35 gene mutation did not improve the synaptic transmission or lifespan of Aβarc-expressing flies (P=<NUM>). In the longevity assay, n=<NUM> flies for each group, Log Rank test. In the success rate analysis of elicited EJP, n=<NUM>.

However, the suppression of the neural deficits by down-regulating RBO/PI4KIIIα could not attribute to a toxicity effect caused by an attenuation of calcium release mediated by phospholipase C, PI<NUM>,<NUM>P and the receptor of inositol triphosphate (IP3R) because introducing a nonsense mutation of the gene encoding IP3R into Aβarc-expression flies could not attenuate the synaptic failure or the premature death (<FIG>).

Central nervous system of Drosophila was stained as followed. The whole central nervous system (CNS) of flies, including the brain and ventral ganglion, was dissected out in cold PBS and fixed with <NUM>% PFA in PBS for about <NUM>. Preparations were washed with PBS for <NUM>, treated with formic acid (<NUM>% in water) for <NUM> to reexpose the antigenic determinant, washed repetitively with <NUM>% BSA in PBS solution supplemented with <NUM>% Triton, incubated with primary antibody (6E10, <NUM>:<NUM> dilution) at <NUM> for <NUM>-<NUM>, washed with PBS again, and finally incubated with cy3-conjugated secondary antibody (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, <NUM>:<NUM> dilution) at room temperature for <NUM>. Images were taken under Nikon A1R-A1 confocal microscope; the genotypes of fly CNS were blind to the imaging personnel.

<FIG> shows confocal images of whole-mount Aβ staining of the ventral ganglion in control flies expressing mCD8-GFP (top row) and Aβarc-expressing flies (middle row) of <NUM>-<NUM> day-age; the expression of mCD8-GFP and Aβarc were both driven by [Gal4]A307. Each group of staining was repeated twice; bottom row represents an enlarged view of the region defined by the square in the middle row. <FIG> shows representative confocal images of whole-mount Aβ staining of the ventral ganglion of Aβarc, Aβarc-rbots1/+, Aβarc-rbo<NUM>/+, Aβarc-PI4KIIIαdef/+, and Aβarc-PI4KIIIaGS27/+ flies of <NUM>-<NUM> day-age with each group of staining repeated twice; while <FIG> (top) shows head Aβ level quantified by ELISA method. <FIG> (bottom) shows head Aβ level in Aβarc-expressing flies with PAO treatment at different concentrations, quantified by ELISA method. n=<NUM>~<NUM> for each group of data in ELISA quantification assay, one-way ANOVA analysis. In <FIG>, the scale bar represents <NUM>.

Previously, neuronal damage induced by Aβarc-expression in GF pathway was attributed to intracellular accumulation Aβ protein. Here, we further confirmed the intraneuronal accumulation of Aβ by introducing uas-mCD8-gfp transgene into Aβarc flies. uas-mCD8-GFP expresses mCD8-GFP fluorescent protein, which targets the plasma membrane and was driven by the same driver as that of Aβarc, so that the Aβarc-expressing neurons could be labeled with GFP. Confocal imaging revealed that Aβ immunostaining signal colocalized with GFP signal (<FIG>), demonstrating the phenomenon of intraneuronal Aβ accumulation in this fly model.

To analyze whether RBO/PI4KIIIα insufficiency affects intracellular Aβ accumulation, Aβ immunostaining was performed in Aβarc, Aβarc-rbo, and Aβarc-PI4KIIIα flies. It is found that immunostaining signal of ABarc-rbo and Aβarc-PI4KIIIα flies significantly decreased as compared to that of Aβarc flies (<FIG>).

ELISA was performed using Aβ<NUM> Human ELISA Kit (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's specifications. To analyze Aβ<NUM> level in CNS, intact brains of <NUM> flies per strain were dissected out in cold PBS and placed immediately into cold ELISA sample dilution buffer supplemented with cocktail protease inhibitor (Calbiochem). Brains were homogenized thoroughly, incubated at room temperature for <NUM>, and stored under -<NUM>.

Similar as in Example <NUM>, ELISA quantitative analysis shows that the amount of Aβ<NUM> was significantly decreased in Aβarc-rbo flies, Aβarc-PI4KIIIα flies, and Aβarc flies after PAO treatment (<FIG>).

<FIG> shows representative images of knockdown efficiency of EFR3α gene (left) and normalized quantification (middle) in N2 cells by RT-PCR method, right image illustrates that EFR3α gene knockdown does not affect endocytosis of extracellular Aβ of N2a cells. The sequence used for constructing Efra knockdown RNAi is <NUM>'-AGGTATCATTCAGGTTCTGTT-<NUM>' (SEQ ID NO: <NUM>). <FIG> shows that rbo and PI4KIIIa gene mutations do not decrease Aβarc transcription level in Aβarc-expressing flies by RT-PCR method.

With Examples <NUM>-<NUM>, it is demonstrated that decreasing of intraneuronal Aβ accumulation induced by RBO/PI4KIIIα down-regulation is unlikely due to reduction of intake of extracellular Aβ<NUM>. The reasons are: <NUM>) intake of extracellular Aβ<NUM> in N2a cells having rbo homolog gene knockdown does not reduce significantly (<FIG>); <NUM>) Aβarc mRNA expressing levels in Aβarc-rbo and ABarc-PI4KIIIα flies of different age are not reduced as compared to Aβarc flies in the experiment group (<FIG>).

HEK293 cells, Drosophila larva, and adult flies were treated with PAO or A1, stock solutions of <NUM> and <NUM> A1 was made separately by dissolving PAO powder (Sigma-Aldrich, <NPL>) and A1 powder in DMSO. Then gradiently diluted with distilled water to the desired concentrations; the final concentration of DMSO was adjusted to identical level to ensure the experimental results were not influenced by DMSO variation.

To test the toxicity of PAO on living flies, we cultured wild type flies with fly food containing <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> PAO, started from embryonic stage. It is found that PAO treatment at <NUM> or less neither changed the eclosion rate nor altered the climbing ability after eclosion. Thus <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> PAO were chosen for culturing Aβarc and control flies.

To test the toxicity of PAO on dissected Drosophila third instar larvae, Schneider's culture medium containing <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> PAO were used to incubate dissected Drosophila third instar larvae at <NUM> overnight. It is found that salivary gland cells and CNS neurons in the larvae treated with PAO at <NUM> or more turned white, reflecting damage, whereas no such effect with PAO at <NUM> or less. Thus <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> PAO were chosen for culturing.

To test the toxicity of PAO and A1 on HEK293T cells, DMEM culture medium containing <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> PAO or A1 were used to incubate HEK239 cells for <NUM>. According to MTT tests, it is found that PAO or A1 at <NUM> or more killed most of the cells, whereas no such effect at <NUM> or less. Thus <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> PAO or A1 were chosen for culturing.

To test the toxicity of PAO oral gavage on mice, PAO powder was dissolved in DMSO to prepare a stock solution of <NUM>/mL. Then gradiently diluted with distilled water to the desired concentrations; the final concentration of DMSO was adjusted to identical level to ensure the experimental results were not influenced by DMSO variation. C57BL/<NUM> mice of <NUM> month-age were subjected to gavage at doses of <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>/kg body weight, two mice for each dose level. All mice were found dead on the second day. Then mice were subjected to gavage at doses of <NUM> and <NUM>/kg body weight, five mice for each dose level. With respect to <NUM>/kg body weight dose, gavage once a day for five consecutive days, four mice out of five survived. With respect to <NUM>/kg body weight dose, gavage once a day every Monday through Friday, no gavage on weekends. After two consecutive weeks, all five mice survived. Therefore, with respect to C57/B6 mice, median lethal dose of PAO gavage is <NUM>-<NUM>/kg body weight, approximately <NUM>/kg body weight. Thus <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>/kg body weight doses were chosen for PAO gavage in APP/PS <NUM> mice and control mice, gavage once a day every Monday through Friday, no gavage on weekends, for six consecutive weeks.

Third instar larvae were washed with water and sterilized with <NUM>% alcohol for <NUM>, and were dissected along the dorsal middle line in Schneider's (Sigma) culture medium. The tracheal, gut, and fat body of larvae were removed with caution. The dissected larvae were washed with Schneider's culture medium and transferred into <NUM> centrifuge tube containing <NUM>µL Schneider's culture medium supplemented with gentamycin (<NUM>/mL). Each tube contained <NUM> dissected larvae. The centrifuge tubes were placed in a humid and dark environment at <NUM> for <NUM>. Then <NUM>µL was taken from each tube and was used for ELISA quantification of Aβ<NUM>. ELISA was performed using Aβ<NUM> Human ELISA Kit (Invitrogen).

In <FIG> show normalized quantification of Aβ<NUM> levels in media incubating dissected Aβarc-expressing third instar Drosophila larvae with PAO treatment at different concentration, rbo and PI4KIIIα gene mutations.

To investigate the mechanism of PAO treatment and RBO/PI4KIIIα insufficiency decreasing intraneuraonal Aβ accumulation, Aβ<NUM> secretion while incubation of dissected sample of Aβarc-expressing third instar larvae in Schneider's culture medium was detected. ELISA assay shows that PAO treatment facilitates Aβ<NUM> secretion and exhibits a tendency of drug dose dependency (<FIG>), which demonstrates that inhibition of PI4KIIIα enzyme activity facilitates Aβ<NUM> secretion. Consistently, compared with the medium culturing the dissected Aβarc larvae, Aβ<NUM> concentrations in media culturing the Aβarc-rbo and Aβarc-PI4KIIIα larvae increase significantly (<FIG>).

HEK293T cells stably transfected with human APP (here named as HEK293T-APP cells) were cultured in DMEM (Hyclone) supplemented with <NUM>% FBS (Gibco), penicillin, streptomycin, and G418 (<NUM>µg/mL). Recombinant plasmid pSUPER. basic-expressing shRNA of target genes were transiently transfected into HEK293T using Lipofectamine™ <NUM> (Invitrogen). Cells were incubated for two days after transfection, followed with subsequent experiments. For ELISA quantification of Aβ<NUM> concentration in culture medium, freshly-changed culture medium was examined after culturing cells for <NUM>.

HEK293T-APP cells were incubated in <NUM>-well plate, culture fluids contained PAO at concentrations of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. After <NUM>-<NUM> hours incubation, same amounts of cells were collected separately. To analyze secretase activities, cells were lysed separately with <NUM>µL of TBS buffer, centrifuged for <NUM>, supernatants were collected and precipitates were resuspended with <NUM>µL of TBS buffer. To analyze the activities of α and β secretases, <NUM>µL supernatant was mixed with 2x reaction solution (<NUM> Tris-HCl, pH <NUM>, <NUM> EDTA, <NUM>% CHAPSO (w/v)) containing <NUM> of specific fluorogenic substrates of α or β secretase (Calbiochem, Cat. No. <NUM>/<NUM>); to analyze activity of y secretase, <NUM>µL resuspended solution was mixed with 2x reaction solution (<NUM> Tris-HCl, pH <NUM>, <NUM> EDTA, <NUM>% CHAPSO (w/v)) containing <NUM> of specific fluorogenic substrates of y secretase (Calbiochem, Cat. No. <NUM>). After reacting at <NUM> for <NUM>, analyze with microplate reader (excitation/emission: <NUM>/<NUM> for α/β enzyme activity, <NUM>/<NUM> for y enzyme activity).

When analyzing the expression level of APP, Western Blotting was performed using anti-APP/Aβ antibody (6E10) on collected cells after lysed with TBS buffer containing protease inhibitor (<NUM>% cocktail, invitrogen).

Fig. 14a shows the normalized quantification of the effects of PAO on the activities of α, β, and y secretase of HEK293T-APP cells, n=<NUM> for each data point, one-way ANOVA analysis; Fig. 14b shows representative immunoblot showing APP-APP cells after PAO treatment at different concentrations, the experiments were repeated for <NUM> times or more.

To detect whether such facilitation affect the secretion of Aβ<NUM> derived from cleavage of β amyloid precursor protein (APP), Aβ<NUM> secretion of HEK293T-APP cells was tested. <FIG> show normalized quantification of Aβ<NUM> levels in media incubating HEK293T-APP cells with PAO and A1 treatment at different concentration, EFR3α and PI4KA knockdown. In fact, PAO treatment in culture medium has similar effect in increasing Aβ<NUM> concentration in culture medium (<FIG>), and PAO even increases Aβ<NUM> concentration in culture medium under the presence of DAPT (<NUM>), which is a γ secretase inhibitor (<FIG>). Notably, PAO still has a stable effect even when PAO concentration is quite low (as low as <NUM>) (<FIG>). Further, knockdown of EFR3α or PI4KA gene or applying A1 treatment in HEK293T-APP cells can significantly increase Aβ<NUM> concentration in culture medium (<FIG>). n=<NUM>~<NUM> for each group of data, one-way ANOVA analysis.

PAO and PAO derivatives were analyzed according to Aβ<NUM> secretion detected in HEK293T-APP cells, and the following results were obtained as listed in Table <NUM>.

In addition, PAO facilitates Aβ<NUM> secretion in HEK293T cells stably transfected with human-derived APP without affecting the activities of α, β, and γ secretase which cleaves APP (Fig. 14a) or causing an increase of APP level (<FIG>).

At present, structure of PI4KIIIα is yet to be measured and reported. The inventors adopt two commonly used software, SWISS-MODEL and MODELLER, with reference to the reported 4D0L structure of PI4KIIIβ, 4YKN structure of PI3Kα and 1e8x structure of PI3Kγ as templates to construct <NUM> structural models of PI4KIIIα. It is found that the structures of <NUM> models are highly consistent with each other; root mean square deviation between the structures is less than <NUM>Å. Interaction parameters between PAO and PI4KIIIα was simulated and calculated with this model. PAO can bind to enzyme active center of PI4KIIIα from human and other mammals, while forming two strong hydrogen bonds (bond length ~<NUM>Å) with the characteristic 1840th or 1844th cysteine of enzyme active center of PI4KIIIα (<FIG>, left), rather than forming covalent bonds with adjacent cysteines after dehydration as hypothesized in literature. In addition, dynamic simulation of binding of PAO with wild type PI4KIIIα or PI4KIIIα having mutation at the 1844th cysteine is also conducted. It is found that binding of PAO with wild type PI4KIIIα tends to stabilize after <NUM> nanoseconds (<FIG>, right).

It is obvious from the simulation that PAO forms two hydrogen bonds with the backbone N atom and the side chain S atom of CYS1844, wherein the hydrogen bond to N is also strong with a O--H distance of <NUM>Å. In the dynamic simulation graph of the binding of PAO to wild type PI4KIIIα (black) and PI4KIIIα having mutation at the <NUM>th cysteine (red), the root mean square deviations of the protein scaffold with respect to the original structure of the two simulation trajectories tend to stabilize after <NUM> nanoseconds, wherein the structural change is greater in C1844S.

Lentivirus was produced by invitrogen (Shanghai) using the BLOCK-iT™ HiPerform™ Lentiviral Pol II miR RNAi Expression System with EmGFP. Four miRNAs oligos targeting Efr3a were synthesized and inserted into pcDNA™<NUM>-GW/EmGFPmi vector. Knockdown efficiency was tested by RT-PCR or Western Blot method. Results showed that one of the vectors was most effective in knocking down Efr3a expression in HEK293T cells over-expressing EFR3a gene. Sequence of vector having the highest knockdown efficiency is AGGTATCATTCAGGTTCTGTT. The most effective miRNA vector was recombinated with pDONRTM221 and pLenti6/V5 DEST to generate the pLENT6/V5-GW/±EmGFP-miRNA vector via Gateway® recombination reactions. Lentivirus was generated by co-transfection of the pLENT6/V5-GW/±EmGFP -miRNA vector and Packaging Mix. Viral titer was obtained by serial dilutions in HEK293T cells. EGFP-positive cells were counted every <NUM> days. Knockdown efficiency was further obtained in lentivirus-transfected primary hippocampal neurons.

Male transgenic APP/PS <NUM> mice (B6C3-Tg(APPswe,PSEN1dE9)85Dbo/Mmjax (MMRRC ID <NUM>-JAX) was maintained by crossing to C57BL mice. At <NUM> month-age, mice were anesthetized with <NUM>/kg Ketamine plus <NUM>/kg Xylazine and mounted ventral side down on stereotaxic apparatus with an electric blanket placed under its abdomen. Hair on the head was removed, skin was cut open, and a small hole was made through the skull. <NUM>µL lentivirus solution (viral titer: <NUM>×<NUM>-<NUM>) was injected with a syringe pump (Harvard Apparatus) within <NUM> through a cannula system (external diameter, <NUM>, internal diameter, <NUM>, RWD Life Science Co. , Ltd) at <NUM> posterior to bregma, <NUM> lateral and <NUM> ventral. <NUM> after injection, the needle was removed, skin was sutured, and the mouse was moved to <NUM> environment with supply of food and water. At <NUM> month-age, the mice were anesthetized again, and subjected to transcardiac perfusion using <NUM>% para-formaldehyde (PFA) in PBS. Experiments complied with the policy of the Society for Neuroscience (USA) on the use of animals.

Brain slices (<NUM> thickness) were blocked with PBS-<NUM>% triton-<NUM>% BSA for <NUM> hr. , followed by incubation with rabbit anti-GFP antibody (A11122, invitrogen, <NUM>:<NUM> dilution) overnight at <NUM>. Then wash with PBS, incubate with biotinylated goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody (H+L) (AbboMax, Inc, <NUM>:<NUM> dilution) overnight at <NUM>. PBS wash again, incubate with Cy3-Streptavidin (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories Inc, <NUM>:<NUM> dilution) for <NUM> hrs at RT. Images were taken under Zeiss LSM <NUM> confocal microscope, deconvoluted with AutoQuant X2, and analyzed with NeuronStudio software. The genotypes of brain slices and images of dendrites were blind to the imaging and analyzing personnel, respectively.

In <FIG>, RT-PCR was adopted to analyze the knockdown efficiency of internal EFR3a (a) and PI4KA gene (b) in HEK293 cells, over-expressing mouse EFR3a-gfp recombinant gene (c) in HEK293 cells, and internal Efr3a gene (d) in primary hippocampal neurons of mice. Representative images are on top and normalized quantification are on bottom. The sequences used for constructing Efr3a and PI4KA gene knockdown RNAi are <NUM>'-GGTTATTGAAATTCGAACT-<NUM>' (SEQ ID NO: <NUM>) and <NUM>'-TGCTCATTAGCAGTAAAGA-<NUM>' (SEQ ID NO: <NUM>), respectively. n=<NUM>-<NUM> for each data, t-tested to obtain P value.

In <FIG>, confocal images show anti-GFP immunostained whole hippocampus slices (top) and lentivirus-transfected pyramidal cells in CA3 segments (bottom). Dendrite fragment of about <NUM> was selected for quantification of dendritic diameter and spine density. The scale bars represent <NUM> (top) and <NUM> (bottom), respectively. In CA3 segment pyramidal neurons (<FIG>) and CA3 segment granule neurons (<FIG>) of APP/PS1 mice and control littermates, EFR3a gene knockdown affects dendritic diameter and spine density. Representative images of CA3 and DG segment dendrites are on top and quantification of dendritic diameter and spine density are on bottom. Each data point was obtained from n ≥ <NUM> slices of <NUM>~<NUM> animals, P values were obtained by one-way ANOVA analysis. In <FIG>, the scale bar represents <NUM>.

Mice and human possess two rbo homologs, EFR3a and EFR3b, both of which are enriched in the hippocampus and the like regions (Allen Brain Atlas) which are highly susceptible to AD. We investigated whether down-regulation of EFR3a gene can protect hippocampal neurons in APP/PS1 mice by using EGFP-tagged RNAi method. RNAi knockdown efficiency was shown in <FIG>. Confocal imaging revealed that the EGFP-expressing lentivirus infected a small number of neurons in CA3 and DG segment (<FIG>). Dendritic diameter and spine density were measured on randomly selected proximal segments (~<NUM> in length) of the second-order apical dendrites. The values of the two parameters of both CA3 and DG segment neurons of APP/PS1 mice infected with control lentivirus were significantly decreased than those in wild-type control mice and APP/PS1 mice (<FIG>), which indicates atrophy of dendrites and spines of hippocampal neurons in APP/PS <NUM> mice. Comparing between APP/PS1 mice, the values of the two parameters were significantly increased in neurons infected with RNAi lentivirus, there are no significant difference to the values in wild-type mice (<FIG>). Therefore, down-regulation of the rbo homolog EFR3a in hippocampal neurons in APP/PS1 mice also protects the neurons.

Mice were anesthetized with Ketamine and Xylazine, and were secured with head adaptors. The skin of the neck was shaved and cut open,
the underlying subcutaneous tissue and muscles were separated laterally with forceps to expose the dura above the cisterna magna. A sharp-tipped glass capillary with a blunt end connected to a microinjection syringe was used to penetrate the dura. Following a noticeable change in resistance to the capillary tube insertion, the capillary entered the cisterna magna, CSF flowed into the capillary tube, until approximately <NUM>-<NUM>µL was collected. The collected CSF was transferred into an Eppendorf tube containing protease inhibitor, and stored at -<NUM> until use.

Obtain detergent-soluble Aβ<NUM> through serial extraction. <NUM> times in volume of mouse brain hemisphere of Tris-buffered saline (TBS) was added for grounding and homogenizing, centrifuged at <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> and the supernatant was the TBS extract. The precipitate was collected, added <NUM> times in volume TBS containing <NUM>% polyethylene glycol octylphenol ether for grounding, centrifuged and the supernatant was the TBS-Triton extract. The precipitate was collected again, added <NUM> times in volume TBS containing <NUM>% SDS for grounding, centrifuged and the supernatant was the TBS-SDS extract. All three supernatants were collected, aliquoted and stored in -<NUM> refrigerator for ELISA assay.

The foregoing results in cultured cells and flies demonstrate that PAO facilitates Aβ<NUM> secretion, reduces intraneuronal Aβ<NUM> accumulation, and ameliorates synaptic failure, indicating that PAO is a potential drug for treating AD by facilitating Aβ<NUM> secretion. To test this, we performed behavioral and biochemical experiments with APP/PS1 mice gavaged with PAO at different doses.

<FIG> shows the Morris Water Maze traning curves of APP/PS1 mice treated with PAO at different doses (left) and wild-type littermates (right). For comparison purposes, learning curve of APP/PS1 mice gavaged with <NUM> PAO was shown in both the left and right graphs. <FIG> shows percentage of searching time spent in the target quadrant to total searching time of control and APP/PS <NUM> mice after training. ELISA quantification was used to analyze Aβ<NUM> level in CSF of APP/PS <NUM> mice treated with different PAO concentrations (<FIG>), and in fractionated brain membrane extracted with TBS containing <NUM>% Triton and <NUM>% SDS (<FIG> shows effect of heat treatment time at <NUM> on measured Aβ<NUM> value in ELISA quantification of CSF of APP/PS1 mice (left) and fractionated brain membrane extracted with TBS containing <NUM>% SDS (right). <FIG> shows Aβ<NUM> level in ELISA quantification of fractionated brain membrane extracted with TBS containing <NUM>% Triton and <NUM>% SDS after heat treatment at <NUM> for <NUM>. <FIG> shows percentage of Aβ<NUM> released after heat treatment at <NUM> for <NUM> in fractionated brain membrane extracted with TBS containing <NUM>% Triton and <NUM>% SDS to total Aβ<NUM>. In <FIG>, n=<NUM>-<NUM> for wild-type control, n=<NUM>-<NUM> for each APP/PS <NUM> group. In <FIG>, n=<NUM> for left graph and n=<NUM> for right graph. In <FIG>, n=<NUM>-<NUM>. All P values were obtained by one-way ANOVA analysis.

Having examined the toxicity of PAO gavage in wild-type mice as described in Example <NUM>, the following experiments were performed with a concentration gradient of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>/kg. <NUM> month-age APP/PS <NUM> mice and wild-type mice were subjected to PAO gavage, once a day every Monday through Friday for <NUM> consecutive weeks. Then, PAO administration was stopped for one week, and learning and memory abilities of mice were tested by the water maze experiment according to Vorhees and Williams. Compared to wild-type control, APP/PS <NUM> mice without PAO treatment exhibited impaired spatial learning and memory abilities (<FIG>). This impairment was significantly reduced in PAO-treated APP/PS <NUM> mice, most notably at the dosage of <NUM>/kg (<FIG>). This result indicates that PAO can be used to treat learning and memory dysfunction in APP/PS <NUM> mice. After the behavior test, CSF were collected and brain membrane fractionation were extracted from each APP/PS1 mouse. The brains were subjected to fractionation for extracting membrane-associated Aβ<NUM> with two TBS buffers containing <NUM>% Triton X-<NUM> or <NUM>% SDS for ELISA quantification assay. It was found that PAO increased Aβ<NUM> level contained in CSF (<FIG>), and also unexpectedly increased the Aβ<NUM> level in brain membrane, most notably at the dosage of <NUM>/kg (<FIG>). However, <FIG> shows that PAO treatment reduced aggregated Aβ<NUM> level in brain membrane, most notably at the dosage of <NUM>/kg.

In order to study the treatment effect of PAO on APP/PS1 mice already having identifiable learning and memory dysfunction, <NUM> month-age APP/PS1 mice and wild type littermates were subjected to PAO gavage at doses of <NUM> or <NUM>/kg body weight, once a day every Monday through Friday for <NUM> consecutive weeks. Then, administration was stopped for one week, and mice were subjected to novel object recognition test (NOR). The results showed that PAO treated mice spend significantly more time exploring novel object than old object that was explored the day before. In order to study effect of PAO on older month-age APP/PS <NUM> mice, as well as toxicity of prolonged administration on mice, <NUM> APP/PS <NUM> mice at <NUM> month-age was randomly divided into two groups with <NUM> mice in each group. One group was subjected to PAO gavage at doses of <NUM>/kg body weight, once a day every Monday through Friday, the other group was subjected to water gavage; no administration at weekends. After <NUM> consecutive months, administration was stopped for one week, and mice were subjected to NOR test. During <NUM> months of gavage, two mice were dead in each group. NOR test showed that mice in PAO treatment group spend significantly more time exploring novel object than mice in the other group (<FIG>).

NOR test designing and <FIG>: In the first morning, mice were placed into a <NUM>×<NUM>×<NUM> transparent acrylic glass box from the rear door, then took out after habituation for <NUM>; do not clean the box. In the afternoon of the same day, a camera was placed in front of the box and two identical objects were placed in the two corners of the box facing the camera. A single mouse was placed into the box; after <NUM>, the mouse and two objects were taken out. Again, the box was not cleaned; another two identical objects were placed and then the second mouse. Repeat in this manner until all mice finished training. In the afternoon of the second day, test was conducted using the same box. Two objects were placed into the box, wherein one objected was explored by the mouse in the first day and the other object was new to the mouse. The whole process from the mouse entering the box till test was finished after <NUM> was video-taped. During the whole test procedure, the box was not cleaned. In offline analysis, playback video in a computer and time spent by the mouse on exploring novel and old objects were separately counted by a person not involved in the NOR test.

In <FIG>, the top row is a schematic diagram of the designing of the mouse NOR test. The bottom row is the percentage of time spent on exploring novel object compared to the total time exploring both novel and old objects by the mouse in the NOR test. Each group of data in the left graph is the Mean and SEM of <NUM> mice. Each group of data in the right graph is the Mean and SEM of <NUM> mice. T-test, single-tailed.

Genetic down-regulation of PI4KIIIα expression level or inhibition of its enzyme activity with PAO in Aβ<NUM>-expressing flies both ameliorates neural dysfunction; inhibition of PI4KIIIα enzyme activity with PAO in APP/PS1 mice also improves learning and memory abilities. In order to further clarify the role of PI4KIIIa ion the neurodegeneration in APP/PS <NUM> mice, the effect of heterozygous mutation of PI4KIIIα (Pi4kaGt(RRO073)Byg/+: insertion of transposon pGT2Lxf into one copy of PI4KA gene may impede transcription of the gene copy, the resulted mRNA may only translate the truncated protein formed by the first ~<NUM> amino acids on the N-terminus of PI4KIIIα and the protein encoded by the reporter gene) on water maze experiment in APP/PS <NUM> mice was examined. Pi4kaGt(RRO073)Byg/+ mutation heterozygotes (MMRRC, Cat. #<NUM>-UCD) were crossed with APP/PS <NUM> mice to obtain four groups of genotype mice: wild-type (WT), PI4KIIIa mutation heterozygote (PI4K*/+), APP/PS <NUM> (TG) and APP/PS <NUM> with PI4KIIIa heterozygous mutation (TG;PI4K*/+). When mice in the four groups reached <NUM> month-age, water maze experiments were performed according to Vorhees and Williams. As shown in <FIG>, PI4KIIIa heterozygous mutation can significantly ameliorate the spatial learning and memory defect of <NUM> month-age APP/PS <NUM> mice. Left of <FIG> shows the learning curves of four groups of genotype mice, right of <FIG> shows percentage of swimming time in the target quadrant to total time on the first day after training day of four groups of genotype mice.

In order to detect the effect of down-regulation of PI4KIIIα expression level and inhibition of PI4KIIIα enzyme activity by PAO on the synaptic transmission plasticity impairment in hippocampus of mouse, we induced and recorded long-term potentiation (LTP) of hippocampus CA3-CA1 synapses in mouse brain slices. <NUM> month-age APP/PS <NUM> mice and wild type littermates were subjected to PAO gavage at doses of <NUM> or <NUM>/kg body weight, once a day every Monday through Friday for <NUM> consecutive weeks. Then, administration was stopped for one week. We found that the LTP amplitude of APP/PS1 mice without PAO treatment was significantly lower than the LTP amplitude of wild type mice and APP/PS1 mice treated with PAO (<FIG>), which indicated that PAO treatment significantly ameliorated synaptic transmission plasticity impairment in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mouse. Consistently, PI4KA gene with one less copy also significantly ameliorated synaptic transmission plasticity impairment in the hippocampus of APP/PS <NUM> mouse (<FIG>), while PI4KA with one less copy did not affect LTP itself (<FIG>).

Method: Preparation of mouse hippocampal slices and recording of LTP of hippocampus CA3-CA1: Take a mouse of about <NUM> month-age, <NUM> body weight, clean grade. Anesthetize the mouse by intraperitoneal injection of <NUM>% pentobarbital sodium. Anesthetized to coma and surgery by thoracotomy to expose the entire heart; cut to open the right auricle; inject <NUM> of <NUM> PBS rapidly with a <NUM> syringe and a #<NUM> needle through the left ventricle; decapitate; fix the head and cut with scissors along the skull midline and along both sides of the cranial base to open the skull, while continually washing the brain with ~<NUM> anatomy fluid (the anatomy fluid is pre-filled with a mixed gas comprising <NUM>% O<NUM> + <NUM>% CO<NUM> for <NUM>); then place the entire brain ona plate containing ~<NUM> anatomy fluid; remove olfactory bulb and cerebellum with surgery knife and curved tweezers; separate the two cerebral hemispheres along the cranial line; after trimming brain block, add a small amount of ethyl α-cyanoacrylate glue to the base to ensure stably standing of the hippocampus tissue; rapidly place the base in the slicer tank containing ~<NUM> anatomy fluid while continually filling of the mixed gas; cut sagittally to obtain brain slice with a thickness of <NUM>; place the brain slice in a glass cup containing artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF, pre-filled with a mixed gas for <NUM>); incubate at room temperature (~<NUM>) for <NUM>~<NUM> before use. (ACSF in mM: <NUM> NaCl, <NUM> KCl, <NUM> MgSO<NUM>, <NUM> KH<NUM>PO<NUM>, <NUM> CaCl<NUM>, <NUM> NaHCO<NUM>, <NUM> D-glucose [pH <NUM>], <NUM> mOsm).

Record field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) at hippocampus CA1 region according to standard procedure: place two stimulating probes (FHC Inc. , Bowdoin, ME) at the Schaffer collaterals of hippocampus CA3 region, place one glass microelectrode and one recording electrode at the stratum radiatum of the CA1 region. Distance between the stimulating probe and the recording probe is about <NUM>~<NUM>. Stimulating intensity is <NUM>-<NUM>% of the stimulating intensity to induce maximum amplitude of fEPSPs; stimulating frequency is <NUM>. After the amplitude of induced fEPSPs was stabilized for <NUM>, high frequency stimulation at <NUM> was given through the stimulating probes and was repeated after <NUM> sec. After stimulation, continue with <NUM> stimulation and record fEPSPs for <NUM>. high frequency filter at <NUM>, recording frequency at <NUM>, pre-amplifier is Heka EPC <NUM> amplifier (Harvard Bioscience Inc. , Ludwigshafen, HRB).

<FIG> shows that down-regulation of PI4KIIIα expression level and inhibition of PI4KIIIα enzyme activity by PAO both significantly ameliorate synaptic transmission plasticity disorder impairment in the hippocampus of APP/PS <NUM> mice. In A-C, the top row is representative fEPSP records of CA1 before (grey) and after (black) high frequency stimulation, the bottom row is quantitative analysis. Mouse brain slices were derived from three groups of littermate mice at <NUM> month-age: PAO treated wild type mice (WT <NUM>), untreated APP/PS1 mice (Tg <NUM>), and PAO treated APP/PS1 mice (Tg <NUM>); or were derived from four groups of littermate mice: wild type (WT), PI4KA-/+, APP/PS1 (Tg) and APP/PS1; PI4KA-/+ (Tg;PI4KA-/+). Each data point is derived from the Mean and SEM of <NUM>~<NUM> brain slices from <NUM>~<NUM> mice. One-way ANNOVA analysis.

Effects of PI, PI<NUM>P, PIP<NUM> on the aggregation/oligomerization of Aβ<NUM> in liposome were analyzed and compared. In <FIG>, left column shows that PI<NUM>P facilitates the oligomerization of Aβ<NUM> in liposome in a concentration dependent manner, wherein top and bottom are results of a same immumoblotting membrane under short and long light exposure, respectively; it is noted that at PI<NUM>P concentration of <NUM>, the facilitation effect on oligomerization of Aβ<NUM> decreases as compared to a concentration of <NUM>. Right column of <FIG> shows facilitation effects of PI, PI<NUM>P, and PIP<NUM> on Aβ<NUM> aggregation in liposomes, wherein top and bottom are results of a same immumoblotting membrane under short and long light exposure, respectively; it is noted that at the effect of PI<NUM>P is significantly stronger than PI and PIP<NUM>, while the facilitation effect of PI<NUM>P on the oligomerization of Aβ<NUM> trimer and above is stronger than those of PI and PIP<NUM>.

It is reported that yeast EFR3 protein forms a complex with PI4KIIIα and a scaffold protein YYP1 (referred to as TC7 in mammals, including two homologs TTC7A and TTC7B) on cell membrane and aggregates as PIK patches, and together regulate plasmalemma PI<NUM>P level and even PI<NUM>,<NUM>P level. YYP1 interacts directly with N-terminus and central region of yeast PI4KIIIa protein, thus playing an important role in construction and stabilization of PIK patches (<NPL>). Formation and function of PIK patches are also conservative in mammal cells (<NPL>). Drosophila homolog of TTC7 in flies is encoded by lethal (<NUM>) k14710 (l(<NUM>) k14710) gene.

To test the role of TTC7 protein in the neurodegeneration caused by intraneuronal Aβ accumulation, two transposon mediated transgenes were introduced into Aβarc flies. P{lacW}<NUM>(<NUM>)k14710k<NUM> transposon (Bloomington Cat. #<NUM>) was inserted into the first exon of l(<NUM>) k14710 gene in order to prevent transcription of l(<NUM>) k14710; the other one is P{EPgy2}bin3EY09582 (Bloomington Stock # <NUM>). Four groups of flies were constructed in this experiment: control flies (ctrl), Aβarc flies (Aβarc), Aβarc flies having one copy of P{lacW}l(<NUM>) k14710k<NUM> (Aβarc-dttc7+/-, TTC7 down-regulating) and Aβarc flies having one copy of P{EPgy2}bin3EY09582 (Aβarc-dttc7-OE, TTC7 over-expressing). When adult flies of four groups reached age period of <NUM>-<NUM> day-age and <NUM>-<NUM> day-age, recording of EJP in GF pathway were conducted under <NUM> brain stimulation.

Claim 1:
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