Methods of treating sickle cell disease
OwnerPaul S. Frenette, Barry S. Coller +1inventors
InventorsPaul S. Frenette, Barry S. Coller, Aslihan Turhan
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Abstract
The present invention relates to methods of treating sickle cell disease comprising reducing, in a subject in need of such treatment, the adherence between sickle RBCs and leukocytes. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that leukocytes play a direct role in the initiation of venular occlusion. The present invention further provides for methods for identifying agents which decrease SS-RBC/leukocyte adherence and for animal models which may be used to further elucidate the mechanism of vaso-occlusion in sickle cell crises.
Claims22
A method of treating sickle cell disease comprising administering, to a subject in need of such treatment, a therapeutic amount of an agent which decreases venular occlusion by sickle erythrocytes adherent to leukocytes by inhibiting binding between elements selected from the group consisting of an endothelial cell, a platelet, a leukocyte, and a sickle erythrocyte/leukocyte complex.
A method for identifying an agent useful in treating sickle cell disease comprising:
- (i) contacting SS-RBCs and leukocytes in the presence of a test agent;
- (ii) comparing the binding of SS-RBCs and leukocytes in the presence of a test agent to the level of binding in the absence of a test agent
- wherein a decrease in adhesion of SS-RBC to leukocytes in the presence of the test agent as compared to the adhesion in the absence of the test agent indicates the identification of an agent useful in treating sickle cell disease.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.