Methods For Treating Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Associated Diseases

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating subjects suffering from a disorder associated with a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), methods for treating a subject having a disorder that would benefit from an increase in neural plasticity, and methods for modulating the plasticity of the primary visual cortex in subjects by modulating the expression, stability, and/or activity of Lynx1.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method for increasing the plasticity of a population of neural cells, the method comprising contacting a population of neural cells with a moiety that decreases the level or an activity of Lynx1, thereby increasing the plasticity of the population of neural cells. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the moiety is a cholinesterase inhibitor. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the cholinesterase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and tetrahydroaminoacridine. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the moiety is a small inhibitory RNA (siRNA). 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the population of neural cells is in vitro. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the activity of Lynx1 is the ability of Lynx1 to bind to a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor or reduce nicotinic acetylcholine receptor sensitivity to acetylcholine. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the population of neural cells is part of an auditory cortex or part of a motor cortex of a subject. 
     
     
         32 . A method for modulating the plasticity of a population of neural cells in an auditory cortex in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:
 administering to the subject an amount of a moiety sufficient to decrease the level or an activity of Lynx1 in a population of neural cells in an auditory cortex, thereby increasing the plasticity of the population of neural cells in the auditory cortex of the subject.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the moiety is a cholinesterase inhibitor. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the cholinesterase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and tetrahydroaminoacridine. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the moiety is a small inhibitory RNA (siRNA). 
     
     
         36 . A method for modulating the plasticity of a population of neural cells in a motor cortex in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:
 administering to the subject an amount of a moiety sufficient to decrease the level or an activity of Lynx1 in a population of neural cells in a motor cortex, thereby increasing the plasticity of the population of neural cells in the motor cortex of the subject.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the moiety is a cholinesterase inhibitor. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the cholinesterase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and tetrahydroaminoacridine. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the moiety is a small inhibitory RNA (siRNA). 
     
     
         40 . A method for treating a subject suffering from stroke, the method comprising: administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a moiety that decreases the level or an activity of Lynx1 in the subject, thereby treating the subject suffering from stroke. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the moiety is a cholinesterase inhibitor. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the cholinesterase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of donepezil and galantamine. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the composition is orally administered to the subject.