Abstract: The application provides novel neuroactive fragments of human amyloid precursor protein (APP). The fragments include sequence from the A? region of APP but also extend upstream. The fragments are soluble in aqueous solution most bands are about 10 kDa and above and do not correspond with the expected molecular weight of a dimer or trimer. The fragments and subfragments thereof can be used as immunogens in methods of immunotherapy to treat Alzheimer's and other amyloidogenic diseases characterized by deposits of A? in the brain. Antibodies to the part of the fragment upstream from APP or the interface between A? and the upstream sequence can also be used in such therapeutic method. The fragments are also useful as markers, which can be detected for diagnosis or prognosis of disease or for screening agents.

Abstract: The application provides novel neuroactive fragments of human amyloid precursor protein (APP). The fragments include sequence from the A? region of APP but also extend upstream. The fragments are soluble in aqueous solution most bands are about 10 kDa and above and do not correspond with the expected molecular weight of a dimer or trimer. The fragments and subfragments thereof can be used as immunogens in methods of immunotherapy to treat Alzheimer's and other amyloidogenic diseases characterized by deposits of A? in the brain. Antibodies to the part of the fragment upstream from APP or the interface between A? and the upstream sequence can also be used in such therapeutic method. The fragments are also useful as markers, which can be detected for diagnosis or prognosis of disease or for screening agents.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present invention provides methods and kits for predicting the therapeutic efficacy of an immunological reagent, identifying an immunological reagent having therapeutic efficacy, or both, for the treatment of an amyloidogenic disorder by comparing the amount of A? monomer in an A? preparation which binds to the immunological reagent to an amount of one or more A? oligomers in the A? preparation which bind to the immunological reagent to determine a relative bound amount, and predicting the efficacy of the immunological reagent, identifying an immunological reagent having therapeutic efficacy, or both, for the treatment of an amyloidogenic disorder based at least on the relative bound amount.

Abstract: The present invention is related generally to methods and compositions for identifying and quantitating particular .alpha.1-antichymotrypsin species in a biological sample. More particularly, the present invention is related to methods and compositions for detecting and measuring a brain .alpha.1-antichymotrypsin species that is produced in brain tissue of individuals having a neuropathological condition and which is detectable in accessible biological samples. The invention provides detection assays, such as sandwich binding assays, for detecting and quantitating brain .alpha.1-antichymotrypsin in a biological sample, such as blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, or tissue. These detection assays are useful for detecting and diagnosing neuropathological diseases and for identifying cells of a human central nervous system lineage, and for other medical applications. The invention also provides binding components, such as antibodies that bind to brain .alpha.