Abstract: An object of the present invention is to demonstrate the existence of a heterodimer of somatostatin receptor subtype 1 (SSTR1) and somatostatin receptor subtype 4 (SSTR4) and also to provide a method for screening a factor that binds to such a heterodimer and the heterodimer that can be used in the screening method. A transformant expressing a heterodimer of somatostatin receptor subtype 1 and somatostatin receptor subtype 4, into which DNA encoding somatostatin receptor subtype 1 and DNA encoding somatostatin receptor subtype 4 have been introduced. A method for screening a compound that interacts with a heterodimer of somatostatin receptor subtype 1 and somatostatin receptor subtype 4, comprising selecting the compound that interacts with the heterodimer from test compounds.

Abstract: Provided is an animal model that can replicate a disease state of human AD. A non-human primate model animal of Alzheimer's disease includes the PSEN1 gene in which a site related to splicing of exon 9 is made deficient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting onset of, or the risk of development of, a protein misfolding disease, and a method for predicting the age of onset of a protein misfolding disease using nerve cells derived from iPS cells. The present invention also provides a kit to be used in these methods.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to detect a change in the metabolism of a glycoprotein having an ?2,6-sialyl residue, which is contained in blood, so as to provide an agent and a method for diagnosing sporadic Alzheimer's disease. The present invention provides an agent for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, which comprises lectin used for detecting an ?2,6-sialyl residue-containing glycoprotein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting soluble amyloid ? precursor protein 770? derived from vascular endothelial cell, comprising the following steps: (1) a step of contacting a biological sample derived from a test subject suspected of having a disease accompanied by accumulation of amyloid ? peptide with an antibody recognizing soluble amyloid ? precursor protein ? or an amyloid ? precursor protein 770-specific antibody; and (2) a step of detecting soluble amyloid ? precursor protein 770? in the complex formed in step (1).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting onset of, or the risk of development of, a protein misfolding disease, and a method for predicting the age of onset of a protein misfolding disease using nerve cells derived from iPS cells. The present invention also provides a kit to be used in these methods.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to detect a change in the metabolism of a glycoprotein having an ?2,6-sialyl residue, which is contained in blood, so as to provide an agent and a method for diagnosing sporadic Alzheimer's disease. The present invention provides an agent for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, which comprises lectin used for detecting an ?2,6-sialyl residue-containing glycoprotein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-human model mammal of Alzheimer's disease (AD) containing chimeric amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene capable of producing human amyloid ? peptide (A?) or a living part thereof, characterized in that A?42/A?40 ratio at 8-weeks-old is about 7-fold or more (about 140-fold or more in homozygote) higher compared to that of a corresponding wild-type mammal. Moreover, the present invention provides the mammal or a living part thereof, further characterized in that the level of APP expression is not significantly different compared to the corresponding wild-type mammal, and a screening method for a prophylactic and/or therapeutic drug for AD, a biomarker in biological fluids and molecular imaging of amyloid deposition or other pathological changes in the brain for an early diagnosis of AD using the mammal or a living part thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of measuring the activity of neprilysin, etc. More specifically, the present invention provides a method of measuring the activity of neprilysin in nerve cells; a method of screening a protein, a peptide or a compound enhancing the activity or expression of neprilysin in nerve cells by measuring the activity of neprilysin; a method of enhancing the activity or expression of neprilysin; and so on. Thus, the compound enhancing the activity and/or expression of neprilysin, which is obtained by the screening method characterized by using the method of measuring the activity of neprilysin in accordance with the present invention, is useful as a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease. The method of measuring the activity of the present invention can be used for presymptomatic diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of measuring the activity of neprilysin, etc. More specifically, the present invention provides a method of measuring the activity of neprilysin in nerve cells; a method of screening a protein, a peptide or a compound enhancing the activity or expression of neprilysin nerve cells by measuring the activity of neprilysin; a method of enhancing the activity or expression of neprilysin; and so on. Thus, the compound enhancing the activity and/or expression of neprilysin, which is obtained by the screening method characterized by using the method of measuring the activity of neprilysin in accordance with the present invention, is useful as a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease. The method of measuring the activity of the present invention can be used for presymptoms diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-human model mammal of Alzheimer's disease (AD) containing chimeric amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene capable of producing human amyloid ? peptide (A?) or a living part thereof, characterized in that A?42/A?40 ratio at 8-weeks-old is about 7-fold or more (about 140-fold or more in homozygote) higher compared to that of a corresponding wild-type mammal. Moreover, the present invention provides the mammal or a living part thereof, further characterized in that the level of APP expression is not significantly different compared to the corresponding wild-type mammal, and a screening method for a prophylactic and/or therapeutic drug for AD, a biomarker in biological fluids and molecular imaging of amyloid deposition or other pathological changes in the brain for an early diagnosis of AD using the mammal or a living part thereof.

Abstract: A?N3pE-42 is a ? amyloid protein that accumulates specifically as a major constituent of senile plaque in the brains of both sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease patients. The invention provides antibodies that specifically recognize A?N3pE-42 and can be expected to have a strong ? amyloid-removing action. Particularly, humanized antibodies against A?N3pE-42 are useful to treat human neurodegenerative diseases. Further, since A?N3pE-42 is localized in the brain, the antibodies of the invention can avoid side effects such as kidney disorders caused by the formation of antigen-antibody complex in the blood. An agent for gene therapy using a vector in which a cDNA encoding a protein comprises the antigen-binding region of the antibody can be an efficient therapeutic drug for removing ? amyloid from the brain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of measuring the activity of neprilysin, etc. More specifically, the present invention provides a method of measuring the activity of neprilysin in nerve cells; a method of screening a protein, a peptide or a compound enhancing the activity or expression of neprilysin nerve cells by measuring the activity of neprilysin; a method of enhancing the activity or expression of neprilysin; and so on. Thus, the compound enhancing the activity and/or expression of neprilysin, which is obtained by the screening method characterized by using the method of measuring the activity of neprilysin in accordance with the present invention, is useful as a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease. The method of measuring the activity of the present invention can be used for presymptoms diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.