Method and Pharmaceutical Composition for Use in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders

Abstract

The invention relates to compounds which activate the BASIGIN signaling pathway, preferably agonists of BASIGIN, for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

1 . A method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a compound which activates the BASIGIN signaling pathway. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the neurodegenerative disorder is a retinal degenerative disorder. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said retinal degenerative disorder is selected from the group consisting of Retinitis Pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Bardet-Biedel syndrome, Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome, Best disease, choroidema, gyrate atrophy, Leber congenital amaurosis, Refsum disease, Stargardt disease or Usher syndrome. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said retinal degenerative disease is Retinitis Pigmentosa. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said compound is a compound which increases the level of the BASIGIN protein on the cell surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said compound which increases the level of the BASIGIN protein on the cell surface is BASIGIN or a nucleic acid encoding BASIGIN. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said compound is an agonist of BASIGIN. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said agonist of BASIGIN is selected from the group consisting of Cyclophilin A, Cyclophilin B and antibodies which activate BASIGIN or fragments thereof which activate BASIGIN. 
     
     
         9 . A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a neurodegenerative disorder comprising a compound which activates the BASIGIN signaling pathway according to  claim 1  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         10 . A method for screening a drug for the treatment of a neurodegenerative disorder comprising the steps consisting of:
 a) providing a plurality of neurons expressing BASIGIN on their surface;   b) incubating said neurons with a candidate compound;   c) determining whether said candidate compound binds to and activates BASIGIN; and   d) selecting the candidate compound that binds to and activates BASIGIN.