Protection of the female reproductive system from natural and artificial insults
AssigneesThe General Hospital Corporation, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
InventorsJonathan L. Tilly, Richard N. Kolesnick
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Abstract
Described are methods for protecting the female reproductive system against natural and artificial insults by administering to women a composition comprising an agent that antagonizes one or more acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) gene products. Specifically, methods disclosed herein serve to protect women's germline from damage resulting from cancer therapy regimens including chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In one aspect, the method preserves, enhances, or revives ovarian function in women, by administering to women a composition containing sphingosine-1-phosphate, or an analog thereof. Also disclosed are methods to prevent or ameliorate menopausal syndromes and to improve in vitro fertilization techniques.
Claims58
A method of protecting a female reproductive system against a natural or artificial insult comprising:
- administering in vivo or ex vivo a composition comprising an agent that antagonizes one or more acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) gene products, in an amount sufficient to protect said female reproductive system from pre-mature aging or destruction caused by said natural or artificial insult.
A method of preserving, enhancing, or reviving ovarian function in mammals comprising:
- administering in vivo or ex vivo to said mammal an effective amount of a composition comprising sphingosine-1-phosphate, or an analog thereof.
A method of preventing or ameliorating menopausal syndromes in women, comprising administering to women, at predetermined intervals, a composition comprising sphingosine-1-phosphate, or an analog thereof.
A method for in vitro fertilization of a mammal comprising
- (a) obtaining at least one oocyte from a mammal;
- (b) incubating said oocyte in a medium containing a composition comprising sphingosine-1- phosphate, or an analog thereof, in an amount sufficient to maintain viability of said oocyte in culture;
- (c) fertilizing in vitro said oocyte with sperm to produce at least one fertilized oocyte;
- d) culturing said fertilized oocyte to produce an embryo;
- and
- e) transferring at least one embryo to the uterus of said mammal, wherein said at least one embryo develops to term in said mammal.
A method of preserving fertility in a female mammal comprising administering in vivo or ex vivo to said female mammal:
- (a) a treatment selected from the group consisting of chemical treatment, radiological treatment, surgical treatment, and combinations thereof;
- and
- (b) an antagonizer of ASMase gene products.
The method of claim antagonizer of ASMase gene products is a lysophospholipid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.