Use of substances with immunomodulating activity for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

It has been discovered that, in the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, usually a lethal motoneuron disease, a large number of the immune system cells expressing receptors (Fc receptors) of immunoglobulins (IgC), preferably immunoglobulins of classes 1 and 3 (FcγRIII receptors for IgG1 and IgG3) can be found in the blood stream. Selective destruction or functional obstruction of these cells can be achieved in order to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with the following substances, or their preparations (in the form of intravenous applications or preparations), individually or in combination: a) antibodies, preferably monoclonal antibodies, which bind to FcγRIII receptors, inactivate said receptors or individual species of this receptor family or cause the destruction of cellular forms containing said receptors, and/or are coupled to other cytotoxic substances, b) soluble Fcγ receptors, preferably soluble FcγRIII receptors, which bind to immunoglobulins, preferably G immunoglobulins of under-class 1 (IgG1) and/or 3 (IgG3), c) the protein V which binds to immunoglobulin G, obtained from Gardnerella vaginalis, and d) antisense RNA molecules which bind specifically to mRNA sequences of Fcγ receptors, preferably to those of FcγRIII receptors.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.