Focal calcium channel modulation
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsEduardo Marban, Mitsushige Murata
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Abstract
Disclosed is an invention for focally modulating the activity of a calcium channel in a mammal. In one aspect, the invention features a method that includes contacting a pre-determined tissue or organ region with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a GEM protein or a variant thereof to express the GEM protein or variant within the region. Typical methods further include expressing the GEM protein or variant so as to modulate the activity of the calcium channel. The invention has a wide spectrum of useful applications including treating a medical condition associated with unsuitable calcium channel activity.
Claims75
A method for modulating the activity of a calcium channel in a pre-determined region of a tissue or organ of a mammal, the method comprising:
- a) contacting the region with a nucleic acid encoding a GEM protein or a variant thereof, the contacting being under conditions sufficient to express the GEM protein or variant within the region;
- and
- b) expressing the GEM protein or variant at a level sufficient to modulate the activity of the calcium channel.
A method for preventing or treating a medical condition associated with undesired calcium channel activity, the method comprising:
- a) contacting a pre-determined region of a tissue or organ with a nucleic acid encoding a GEM protein or a variant thereof, wherein the contacting is under conditions sufficient to express the GEM protein or variant in the region,
- b) expressing the GEM protein or variant under conditions suitable to modulate the activity of the calcium channel;
- and
- c) modulating the activity of the calcium channel sufficient to prevent or treat the medical condition.
62 The method of claim 49, wherein the nucleic acid is a recombinant animal virus that encodes the Gem protein or variant.
A therapeutic system or kit for modulating the activity of an L-type calcium channel in a pre-determined region of a tissue or organ of a mammal, the system comprising:
- (a) a composition comprising a nucleic acid encoding a mammalian Gem protein or variant,
- (b) at least one permeability agent;
- and optionally
- (c) an implementation adapted to administer the composition and the permeability agent to the pre-determined region of the tissue or organ of the mammal.
72 The therapeutic system of claim 70, wherein the nitrovasodilator is nitroglycerin.
The therapeutic system of claim 62 in which one or more of (a) and (b) further comprises a physiologically acceptable carrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.