Methods of preventing or treating brain ischemia or brain injury

Abstract

The present invention relates to use of Narp inhibitor in order to promote or enhance recovery from ischemic events, particularly focal ischemia of the central nervous system, as well as for preventing or diminishing chronic degenerative changes.

1 .- 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A process of identifying a species that modulates binding between Narp and gamma-taipoxin, comprising the steps of: 
 a) contacting Narp with gamma-taipoxin under binding conditions;    b) contacting Narp, gamma-taipoxin and a species to be tested under the conditions of step a); and    c) comparing the level of binding between Narp and gamma-taipoxin in step a) to the level of binding between Narp and gamma-taipoxin in b), wherein a change in the level of binding is indicative of the ability of the species to modulate the binding between Narp and gamma-taipoxin.    
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the species is a chemical compound.  
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the species identified by the method enhances the binding between Narp and gamma-taipoxin.  
     
     
         16 . A process of identifying a species that possesses the binding activity of gamma-taipoxin comprising the steps of: 
 a) contacting Narp with gamma-taipoxin under binding conditions;    b) contacting Narp, gamma-taipoxin and a species to be tested under the conditions of step a); and    c) comparing the level of binding between Narp and gamma-taipoxin in step a) to the level of binding between Narp and gamma-taipoxin in step b), wherein a lower level of binding between Narp and gamma-taipoxin in step b) is indicative of the species possessing gamma-taipoxin-like binding activity.    
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the species is a chemical compound.  
     
     
         18 . A process of identifying a species that possesses the binding activity of gamma-taipoxin comprising the steps of: 
 a) contacting cells expressing Narp with a species to be tested;    b) contacting cells lacking normal Narp expression with the species of step a); and    c) assaying for the presence of the species within the cells of step a) and step b), wherein a higher level of the species in the cells of step a) as compared to the level of the species in the cells of step b) is indicative of the species possessing gamma-taipoxin-like binding activity.    
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the species is a chemical compound.  
     
     
         20 . A process of identifying a species that possesses the binding activity of gamma-taipoxin comprising the steps of: 
 a) contacting cells expressing Narp with a species to be tested under binding conditions;    b) contacting cells expressing Narp with gamma-taipoxin and a species to be tested under the conditions of step a); and    c) assaying for the presence of the species within the cells of step a) and step b), wherein a lower level of the species in the cells of step b) as compared to the level of the species in the cells of step a) is indicative of the species possessing gamma-taipoxin-like binding activity.    
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 20 , wherein the species is a chemical compound.  
     
     
         22 . A process of identifying a species that possesses the binding activity of gamma-taipoxin comprising the steps of: 
 a) contacting cells expressing Narp with gamma-taipoxin under binding conditions;    b) contacting cells expressing Narp with gamma-taipoxin and a species to be tested under the conditions of step a); and    c) assaying for the presence of gamma-taipoxin within the cells of step a) and step b), wherein a lower level of gamma-taipoxin in the cells of step b) is indicative of the species possessing gamma-taipoxin-like binding activity.    
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein the species is a chemical compound.