CONTEXT
Lingo-1 is a transmembrane protein preferentially expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and most specifically in neurons and oligodendrocytes. It has been shown to negatively regulate different processes: (i) the growth of neurite and axons, (ii) the survival of different neurons, (iii) the differentiation of oligodendrocytes and myelinisation. In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated that the inhibition of Lingo-1 is a promising and innovative approach to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and chronic glaucoma.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
The invention relates to a screening method of Lingo’s inhibitors using the monitoring of conformational changes of Lingo-1, 2, 3 or 4 induced by the binding of potential ligands. This technology uses bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) technology and can be performed on living cells, membranes or cellular extracts in microplates. The BRETs induced by potential ligands are measured on a microplate reader and the assay has been applied to high throughput methods.

DEVELOPMENT STAGE

Stable transfected cell lines have been developed. The technology has already been tested and validated for high throughput screening.
BENEFITS
Actually, there is no simple method allowing the identification of ligands and antagonists of Lingo proteins. This BRET-based assay allows the screening of large libraries in order to identify new potential therapeutic compounds

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

By allowing the identification of putative Lingo antagonists, this invention will promote the emergence of drug candidates in the field of neurobiology, neurology and pharmacology and more specifically for treating demyelinisation, dysmyelination, and central nervous system diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. Additionally, Lingo-1 antagonists may have beneficial effects in disorders which relate to the death or lack of proliferation or differentiation of oligodendrocytes. Lingo-1 antagonists should also promote neurite outgrowth or survival of CNS neurons and might also constitute drug candidates in neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease.

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