Protection of moist stratified squamous epithelia against damage from noxious luminal agents

• US 5,374,537 A
• Filed: 11/24/1992
• Issued: 12/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina System)
• Original Assignee: University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina System)
• Inventors: Orlando, Roy C., Tobey, Nelia A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wityshyn, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEARY, LOUISE N
• Application Number:
  US07/983,089
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 435/29, 514/78, 514/439, 514/554, 514/563, 424/94.4, 424/94.5, 424/85.8
• US Class Current: 435/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/185 Acids; Anhydrides, halides or salts thereof, e.g. sulfur acids, imidic, hydrazonic or hydroximic acids hydroxamic acids A61K31/16; peroxy acids A61K31/327
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/275 Nitriles; Isonitriles
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/39 having oxygen in the same ring

Abstract

The present invention is related to the protection of moist stratified squamous epithelia against damage from exposure to noxious luminal agents. Protection of moist stratified squamous epithelia against these noxious luminal agents is afforded by chemical compounds having one of the following reactive groups in their molecule: X--SO₃^-, where X represents oxygen or carbon, and XO₄⁼ or X₂ O₇⁼, where X represents an element from group VIb or sulfur of group VIa of the periodic table. Compounds that provide protection against injury to moist stratified squamous epithelia that illustrate the protective characteristic of these reactive species are the sulfonates, the sulfate esters and the tetrahedral-shaped divalent oxy-anions of the transition metals in group VIb or of sulfur. The reason for protection by these compounds is that they stabilize the intercellular junctions of moist stratified squamous epithelia so as to prevent the increase in permeability across the junctions that normally accompanies exposure to noxious luminal agents like HCl or N-acetylcysteine.

Claims

1. A method for protection of moist stratified squamous epithelia against damage from a noxious luminal substance primarily causing damage by increasing permeability through the paracellular junctions in a patient having exhibited the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux or reflux esophagitis by administering to said patient so as to come into contact with said epithelia an amount sufficient for protecting said epithelia of an organic or inorganic tetrahedral-shaped divalent oxy-anion so as to block the increase in paracellular permeability that occurs with exposure to said noxious luminal substance.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said inorganic tetrahedral-shaped divalent oxy-anion is sodium chromate, sodium dichromate, sodium molybdate, sodium tungstate or sodium sulfate.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said moist stratified squamous epithelia is esophageal epithelia or buccal epithelia.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said noxious luminal substance is acid or N-acetylcysteine.