| abstract |
Normal mammalian cells (which generally express APP-encoding DNA) process the APP product so as to provide detectable extracellular levels of β-amyloid peptide. This finding enables an important and long sought screen for compounds that may be suitable therapeutics to treat, prevent, control, or lessen the severity of Alzheimer's disease, as a result of their ability to influence the production of extracellular β-amyloid peptide. The therapeutic capacity of a candidate compound for treating Alzheimer's disease is assessed by: a) providing a population of mammalian cells which expresses amyloid precursor protein (APP), and which produces extracellular β-amyloid peptide; b) culturing that population in a culture medium comprising the candidate compound; and c) measuring the extracellular amount of β-amyloid peptide so as to determine the effect (if any) of the candidate compound on the extracellular amount of β-amyloid peptide. |