METHODS FOR INCREASING ENDOGENOUS LEVELS OF CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING FACTOR

摘要

Levels of free corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) or CRF-related peptide areincreased by administration to a patient of a ligand inhibitor of a CRF/CRF-binding protein complex or CRF-related peptide/CRF-binding protein complex.The ligand inhibitor binds to CRF-binding protein, thereby causing the releaseof CRF or increasing the level of the CRF-related peptide. The ligandinhibitor may be a peptide derived from CRF or a related protein or a non-peptide. Administration of the ligand inhibitor may provide improvement inlearning and memory, in decreasing food intake or in providing treatment fordiseases associated with low levels of CRF in the brain, notably Alzheimer'sdisease. A method is also provided for screening compounds to selectparticularly effective CRF antagonists for in vivo administration to mammals.