METHODS OF INHIBITING PHOTORECEPTOR APOPTOSIS

• US 20100226878A1
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: Zacks, David Noam
• Granted Patent: US 8,343,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/85.200
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2207/30 Animals modified by surgical methods
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2227/105 Murine
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2267/035 Animal model for multifactorial diseases
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 67/027 New or modified breeds of vertebrates
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/00 Medicinal preparations containing peptides peptides containing beta-lactam rings A61K31/00; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, A61K31/00; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type A61K31/48; containing macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units A61K31/74; medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00; medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients, e.g. peptides as drug carriers, A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/10 Peptides having 12 to 20 amino acids A61K38/043 - A61K38/046 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/1761 Apoptosis related proteins, e.g. Apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (APAF-1), Bax, Bax-inhibitory protein(s)(BI; bax-I), Myeloid cell leukemia associated protein (MCL-1), Inhibitor of apoptosis [IAP] or Bcl-2
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/179 for growth factors; for growth regulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/204 IL-6
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 48/00 Medicinal preparations containing genetic material which is inserted into cells of the living body to treat genetic diseases; Gene therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0048 Eye, e.g. artificial tears
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/02 for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/06 Immunosuppressants, e.g. drugs for graft rejection
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/4703 Inhibitors; Suppressors
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/5412 IL-6
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2799/025 where the vector is derived from a parvovirus

Abstract

The present invention provides methods to prevent photoreceptor death. In particular, the present invention provides peptides which prevent FAS-mediated photoreceptor apoptosis.

Claims

1. A method of increasing photoreceptor survival comprising administering a photoreceptor protective composition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said increasing photoreceptor survival comprises inhibiting photoreceptor apoptosis.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said photoreceptor protective composition comprises photoreceptor protective polypeptide or a nucleic acid encoding a photoreceptor protective polypeptide.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said photoreceptor protective polypeptide comprises IL-6 or a fragment thereof.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said photoreceptor protective polypeptide comprises XIAP or a fragment thereof.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said photoreceptor protective polypeptide comprises MET or a fragment thereof.

7. The method of claim 6, where said fragment of MET comprises MET12.

8. The method of claim 6, where said fragment of MET comprises at least 70% sequence similarity to MET12.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said photoreceptor apoptosis comprises FAS-mediated photoreceptor apoptosis.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said photoreceptor protective composition is administered to a population of cells.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said photoreceptor protective composition is administered in an amount sufficient to enhance photoreceptor survival within said population of cells.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said photoreceptor protective composition is administered to a subject.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said subject is at risk of an ocular condition, disease, or condition or disease affecting ocular health.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said subject suffers from an ocular condition, disease, or condition or disease affecting ocular health.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said ocular condition, disease, or condition or disease affecting ocular health comprises retinal detachment, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, occular inflammation, autoimmune retinopathy, trauma, cancer, tumor, uveitis, hereditary retinal degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, choroidal neovascularization, retinal ischemia, pathologic myopia, angioid streaks, macular edema, or central serous chorioretinopathy.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said ocular condition, disease, or condition or disease affecting ocular health comprises retinal detachment.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said ocular condition, disease, or condition or disease affecting ocular health comprises macular degeneration.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said photoreceptor protective composition is administered in an amount sufficient to enhance photoreceptor survival within said subject.

19. A composition comprising a photoreceptor protective composition and a pharmaceutical carrier configured for optical delivery.

20. The composition of claim 19, wherein said photoreceptor protective composition comprises a photoreceptor protective polypeptide or a nucleic acid encoding a photoreceptor protective polypeptide.