Enhancing growth of megakaryocytes in mammals using interleukin 6

• US 5,178,856 A
• Filed: 05/15/1991
• Issued: 01/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado (University of Colorado System)
• Original Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado (University of Colorado System)
• Inventors: Burstein, Samuel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Lester L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOH, CHOON P
• Application Number:
  US07/700,661
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 424/85.1, 424/85.2
• US Class Current: 424/85.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/204 IL-6

Abstract

A therapeutic method for treating mammals by administering an effective dosage of a substance comprising interleukin 6 and interleukin 3 into the mammal for enhancing the growth of megakaryocytes and platelets.

Claims

1. A method to enhance the growth of and production of platelets from a megakaryocyte in vitro, comprising:

exposing the megakaryocyte in vitro to an effective amount of a substance comprising interleukin 6.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the interleukin 6 is human interleukin 6.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the substance further comprises interleukin 3.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the substance further comprises interleukin 3 and interleukin 6 administered sequentially.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the substance further comprises interleukin 3 and interleukin 6 administered concurrently.

6. A method of in vitro treatment of both a megakaryocyte progenitor and a megakaryocyte, wherein such treatment increases megakaryocyte numbers and promotes megakaryocyte growth, comprising:

exposing both the megakaryocyte progenitor and the megakaryocyte in vitro to an effective amount of a substance comprising interleukin 3 and interleukin 6.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein interleukin 3 and interleukin 6 are administered sequentially.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein interleukin 3 and interleukin 6 are administered concurrently.

9. The method of claim 6 in which the interleukin 6 is human interleukin 6.

10. A method of treating both a megakaryocyte progenitor and a megakaryocyte in vitro, comprising:

exposing both the megakaryocyte progenitor and the megakaryocyte in vitro to an effective amount of a substance comprising interleukin 6, wherein said substance acts in vitro to increase megakaryocyte numbers, promote megakaryocyte growth, and enhance the differentiation of the megakaryocyte into a plateletproducing cell.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the substance further comprises interleukin 3 and interleukin 6, wherein the interleukin 3 and the interleukin 6 are administered sequentially.

12. The method of claim 10 in which the substance further comprises interleukin 3 and interleukin 6, wherein the interleukin 3 and the interleukin 6 are administered concurrently.

13. The method of claim 10 in which the interleukin 6 is human interleukin 6.