Methods for treating and preventing multiple sclerosis

US9296824B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York · US

Inventor

• Shi Du Yan · New York, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 1, 2008
• Grant date: Mar 29, 2016
• Expiry date: Oct 2, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2800/285
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

We have discovered that LRG-47 (also called p47 GTPase), plays a central role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, and that inhibition of LRG-47 activity by anti-LRG-47 antibodies or of LRG-47 expression by siRNA dramatically reduce the pathology and symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Certain embodiments of the invention are directed to the therapeutic use of anti-LRG-47 antibodies (mouse or rabbit or other antibodies that are humanized or human antibodies to LRG-47, preferably antibodies made against human LRG-47) or siRNA or antisense nucleotides that specifically hybridize with the gene or mRNA or cDNA encoding human LRG-47 to treat or prevent multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases that are T-cell-mediated. Other embodiments are directed to methods for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis or to determining the aggressiveness of multiple sclerosis by determining the amount of human LRG-47 or LRG-47 mRNA in a biological sample from the patient.