Therapeutic Agent for Tauopathy and Method for Screening Thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a tau protein aggregation inhibitor. In addition, a therapeutic agent or a preventive agent for tauopathy, including a tau protein aggregation inhibitor, and a method for screening for a tau protein aggregation inhibitor, are also provided. The problems are solved by a tau protein aggregation inhibitor including a fluorone dye or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Moreover, the problems are also solved by a method for screening a tau protein aggregation inhibitor, wherein the method includes: (1) a step of preparing transgenic Drosophila that express a human tau protein in neurons, (2) a step of administering a candidate compound to the transgenic Drosophila, and (3) a step of measuring the motor function of the transgenic Drosophila that have been administered with the candidate compound in the step (2).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This Application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-215409 filed Oct. 22, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a tau protein aggregation inhibitor. In particular, the present invention relates to a therapeutic agent or a preventive agent for tauopathy, comprising a tau protein aggregation inhibitor, and a method for screening for a tau protein aggregation inhibitor.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]At present, aging of the Japanese population is progressing at an unprecedented rate, and with such aging of the population, the number of patients with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease as the most common form, has also increased. Currently, the number of patients with dementia in Japan is estimated to be approximately 2,000,000, and it is assumed that the number of the patients will inc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a new tau protein aggregation inhibitor that can effectively prevent and treat tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease. This inhibitor has fewer side effects and is safer than existing therapeutic agents like methylene blue. It can also improve cognitive symptoms by reducing the accumulation of tau proteins in the brain. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for quickly and inexpensively screening a large number of compounds to find new tau protein aggregation inhibitors.

Problems solved by technology

However, the effects of such supportive measures are extremely limited, and thus, it has been strongly desired to establish a fundamental therapeutic method for delaying the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease.

However, since it has been known that alloxan is highly toxic and impairs pancreatic β-cells, it is difficult to use alloxan as a drug.

Furthermore, it has also been known that methylene blue is likely to cause chronic toxicity when it is administered for a long period of time, although it is known to be safe for short-term administration (Patent Document 2).

However, since a considerable number of mice are required for examining a large number of candidate compounds, the use of such model mice is problematic in that it is extremely expensive and time-consuming.

However, it has been reported that neurodegeneration is observed in tauopathy model Drosophila overexpressing a human tau protein, but formation of NFT cannot be confirmed (Non-Patent Document 4).

As such, it has been conventionally understood that the Drosophila model is not suitable as a system for evaluating aggregation and / or accumulation of tau proteins, and thus that the Drosophila model is not adequate for screening for tau protein aggregation inhibitors.

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