Treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by altering levels of TrkB isoforms and/or TrkC isoforms
This invention relates to a method of treating or preventing neuro-degenerative disorders and neuro-developmental disorders by altering the ratio of the amount of full-length TrkB polypeptide to the amount of truncated TrkB polypeptides in a neuron or by altering the ratio of the amount of full-length TrkC polypeptide to the amount of truncated TrkC polypeptides in a neuron.
1. A method of increasing TrkB in a neuropathic hippocampal neuron comprising the step of: contacting a neuropathic hippocampal neuron in vitro with an amount of an isolated nucleic acid encoding full-length TrkB in an amount sufficient to increase the amount of full-length TrkB in said neuron, whereby said isolated nucleic acid is expressed in said neurons compared to a neuropathic hippocampal neuron not contacted with said isolated nucleic acid.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.
4. A method of increasing the ratio of the amount of full-length TrkB polypeptide to truncated TrkB polypeptide in a neuropathic hippocampal neuron wherein the neuropathic hippocampal neuron has a higher amount of truncated TrkB compared to full-length TrkB polypeptide, said method comprising contacting a neuropathic hippocampal neuron in vitro with an amount of an isolated nucleic acid encoding full-length TrkB in an amount sufficient to increase the amount of full-length TrkB in said neuron.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said vector comprises a nucleic acid encoding full-length TrkB.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said vector is selected from the group consisting of a viral vector and a plasmid.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said viral vector is selected from the group consisting of a herpes virus, adenovirus, adeno associated virus, retrovirus, vacccinia virus, and canary pox virus.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.