Composition and method for treating neurodegenerative disease

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and composition for treating a neurodegenerative disease. In particular, the present invention provides a method and composition to increase DJ-1 gene expression or DJ-1 protein activity to treat a neurodegenerative disease.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a neurodegenerative disease in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that increases DJ-1 gene expression or DJ-1 protein activity. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound increases DJ-1 protein expression by at least 50%. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound increases DJ-1 protein expression by at least 100%. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered to the subject no more than 10 units per day. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neurodegenerative disease comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Multiple System Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Down syndrome, diffuse Lewy body disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound upregulates DJ-1 gene expression. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound increases DJ-1 protein activity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound comprises phenylbutyric acid, butyric acid, a salt thereof, a prodrug thereof, or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound comprises phenylbutyrate, or a prodrug thereof, or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises phenylbutyrate glycerol. 
     
     
         12 . A method for treating a neurodegenerative disease in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that increases DJ-1 expression level by at least 150%, wherein the administering increases DJ-1 expression in the subject, thereby reducing amounts of neuron death in the subject. 
     
     
         13 . A method for protecting dopamine neurons from a neurotoxic insult in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a compound that increases DJ-1 expression in dopamine neurons, thereby increasing dopamine neuron survivability in the subject.