Patent Issued for KCC2 expression enhancing compounds and uses thereof (USPTO 12053465).

The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research has been granted a patent for compounds that can enhance the expression of the KCC2 gene, which is important for maintaining the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signaling in the brain. This gene has been linked to various neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorders and Rett syndrome. The patent describes a screening platform that uses neurons to identify compounds that can enhance KCC2 expression, potentially leading to the development of therapies for these conditions. The patent also provides examples of specific compounds that can be used for treatment, including kinase inhibitors and GABA reuptake inhibitors. [Extracted from the article]