Fkbp52-tau interaction as a novel therapeutical target for treating the neurological disorders involving tau dysfunction

Abstract

The invention relates generally to neuroprotection and repair in neurological disorders involving Tau dysfunction (including Alzheimer's disease). The invention describes AND INCLUDES a direct interaction between proteins FKBP52 and Tau. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for screening a drug for the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders involving Tau dysfunction comprising the following steps: a) determining the ability of a candidate compound, to modulate the interaction between a Tau polypeptide and a FKBP52 polypeptide and b) selecting positively the candidate compound that modulates said interaction. The present invention finally relates to diagnostic, prognostic, and monitoring assays of neurological disorders involving Tau dysfunction.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating neurological disorders involving Tau dysfunction, in a subject thought to have or be predisposed to having a neurological disorder involving Tau dysfunction, comprising the administration to said subject of an effective amount of a compound which enhances the interaction between Tau and FKBP52 proteins, so as to prevent aggregation of Tau protein. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the neurological disorders involving Tau dysfunction are selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said compound is combined with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the compound is selected among candidate compounds by a screening method comprising the steps of:
 a) determining the ability of the candidate compound to enhance the interaction between Tau and FKBP52 proteins, and   b) selecting positively the candidate compound if the candidate compound enhances said interaction.   
     
     
         15 . A method of treating Alzheimer disease comprising the administration to a subject in need thereof of an therapeutically effective amount of a compound that modulate both the interaction between Tau and FKBP52 proteins and the interaction between FKBP52 and APP proteins.