Modulation of efferocytosis pathways for treatment of atherosclerotic disease
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsNicholas J. Leeper, Irving L. Weissman
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Abstract
Smooth muscle cells (SMC) from subjects carrying at least one 9p21 risk factor, can be resistant to efferocytosis, leading to the retention of such cells in the necrotic core of atherosclerotic plaque. In the methods of the invention, an agent that increases efferocytosis of cellular components of coronary plaque, including efferocytosis of apoptotic smooth muscle cells, is administered to the subject in a dose and for a period of time effective to stabilize, prevent or reduce atherosclerotic plaque in the individual.
Claims9
A method of reducing atherosclerotic plaque in a human subject, the method comprising:
- genotyping the subject for the presence of at least one 9p21 risk allele, where an individual determined to have a 9p21 risk allele for atherosclerosis is treated, by
- administering to the subject an effective dose of an anti-CD47 polypeptide that reduces the binding of CD47 on an apoptotic cell to Signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) on a phagocytic cell that increases the efferocytosis of cellular components of atherosclerotic plaque, thereby inhibiting atherosclerotic plaque.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.