Methods of reducing a viral infection and kits therefore

• US 8,088,571 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Institut national de la recherche scientifique
• Original Assignee: Institut De Recherches Cliniques De Montreal, Institut national de la recherche scientifique
• Inventors: Seidah, Nabil G., Labonté, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Parkin, Jeffrey S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Humphrey, Louise
• Application Number:
  US12/234,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20090104209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/16 for liver or gallbladder disorders, e.g. hepatoprotective agents, cholagogues, litholytics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/12 Antivirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/18 for HIV
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/70596 Molecules with a "CD"-designation not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/6408 Serine endopeptidases (3.4.21)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2333/96411 Serine endopeptidases (3.4.21)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2500/00 Screening for compounds of potential therapeutic value
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/50 Determining the risk of developing a disease
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/569 for microorganisms, e.g. protozoa, bacteria, viruses

Abstract

A method for treating and/or preventing a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 preproprotein (PCSK9)-susceptible viral infection comprising increasing a PCSK9 activity and/or expression in a biological system infected by the virus, whereby the increased PCSK9 activity and/or expression treats and/or prevents the viral infection in the biological system. Methods of classifying subjects, methods of screening and kits therefore.

Claims

1. A method for inhibiting sustained hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in a host infected by HCV, said method comprising decreasing the expression of CD81 at the surface of cells from said host by administering a composition comprising a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 preproprotein (PCSK9) in the host infected by HCV, whereby the increased PCSK9 activity inhibits sustained HCV replication in the host, and wherein said PCSK9 comprises a sequence as set forth between residues 153 to 692 of SEQ ID NO:

2.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the host comprises hepatocytes or immune cells.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the host is cells, a tissue, or an organ.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said cells are hepatocytes.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said organ is liver.