A method of inhibiting phosphorylation of the tau protein and/or a TLR4-mediated immune response is disclosed. The method contemplates administering to cells in recognized need thereof such as cells of the central nervous system an effective amount of a of a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof that binds to a pentapeptide of filamin A (FLNA) of SEQ ID NO: 1, and contains at least four of the six pharmacophores of FIGS. 35-40.

A method of inhibiting phosphorylation of the tau protein and/or a TLR4-mediated immune response is disclosed. The method contemplates administering to cells in recognized need thereof such as cells of the central nervous system an effective amount of a of a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof that binds to a pentapeptide of filamin A (FLNA) of SEQ ID NO: 1, and contains at least four of the six pharmacophores of FIGS. 35-40.

The present invention relates to a cationic lipid having one or more biodegradable groups located in a lipidic moiety (e.g., a hydrophobic chain) of the cationic lipid. These cationic lipids may be incorporated into a lipid particle for delivering an active agent, such as a nucleic acid. The invention also relates to lipid particles comprising a neutral lipid, a lipid capable of reducing aggregation, a cationic lipid of the present invention, and optionally, a sterol. The lipid particle may further include a therapeutic agent such as a nucleic acid.

The present invention relates to a cationic lipid having one or more biodegradable groups located in a lipidic moiety (e.g., a hydrophobic chain) of the cationic lipid. These cationic lipids may be incorporated into a lipid particle for delivering an active agent, such as a nucleic acid. The invention also relates to lipid particles comprising a neutral lipid, a lipid capable of reducing aggregation, a cationic lipid of the present invention, and optionally, a sterol. The lipid particle may further include a therapeutic agent such as a nucleic acid.

The present invention provides a cationic lipid, which allow nucleic acids to be easily introduced into cells, represented by formula (I) (wherein: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, the same or different, alkenyl, etc, and X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are hydrogen atoms, or are combined together to form a single bond or alkylene, and X.sup.3 is absent or is alkyl, etc, Y is absent or anion, a and b are, the same or different, 0 to 3, and L.sup.3 is a single bond, etc, R.sup.3 is alkyl, etc, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 are —O—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—), a composition comprising the cationic lipid and a nucleic acid, and a method for introducing a nucleic acid into a cell by using the composition comprising the cationic lipid and the nucleic acid, and the like.

##STR00001##

The present invention provides a cationic lipid, which allow nucleic acids to be easily introduced into cells, represented by formula (I) (wherein: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, the same or different, alkenyl, etc, and X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are hydrogen atoms, or are combined together to form a single bond or alkylene, and X.sup.3 is absent or is alkyl, etc, Y is absent or anion, a and b are, the same or different, 0 to 3, and L.sup.3 is a single bond, etc, R.sup.3 is alkyl, etc, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 are —O—, —CO—O— or —O—CO—), a composition comprising the cationic lipid and a nucleic acid, and a method for introducing a nucleic acid into a cell by using the composition comprising the cationic lipid and the nucleic acid, and the like.

##STR00001##

An ammonium salt having a saccharin anion, which is represented by formula (1), exhibits excellent thermal stability even though no halogen atom is contained therein. ##STR00001##
(In the formula, each of R.sup.1-R.sup.4 independently represents an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms or an alkoxyalkyl group that is represented by —(CH.sub.2).sub.n—OR (wherein R represents an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, and n represents an integer of 1 or 2). Incidentally, any two of the R.sup.1-R.sup.4 may combine with each other to form a ring together with a nitrogen atom.

An ammonium salt having a saccharin anion, which is represented by formula (1), exhibits excellent thermal stability even though no halogen atom is contained therein. ##STR00001##
(In the formula, each of R.sup.1-R.sup.4 independently represents an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms or an alkoxyalkyl group that is represented by —(CH.sub.2).sub.n—OR (wherein R represents an alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, and n represents an integer of 1 or 2). Incidentally, any two of the R.sup.1-R.sup.4 may combine with each other to form a ring together with a nitrogen atom.

The present disclosure relates to novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and methods of using the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions for treating neurodegerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. Methods for inhibiting synapse number decline or membrane trafficking abnormalities associated with exposure of a neuronal cell to Abeta species are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a cationic lipid having one or more biodegradable groups located in a lipidic moiety (e.g., a hydrophobic chain) of the cationic lipid. These cationic lipids may be incorporated into a lipid particle for delivering an active agent, such as a nucleic acid. The invention also relates to lipid particles comprising a neutral lipid, a lipid capable of reducing aggregation, a cationic lipid of the present invention, and optionally, a sterol. The lipid particle may further include a therapeutic agent such as a nucleic acid.