Methods and compositions for preventing vasospasm
OwnerJakob Vinten-Johansen, Faraz Kerendiinventors
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Abstract
Methods and compositions for preventing or reducing vascular smooth muscle contraction are provided. Exemplary compositions comprise an MLCK inhibitor, for example wortmannin, in an amount effective to prevent or reduce vascular smooth muscle vasospams by about 90% for at least about 20 minutes. Methods for identifying other modulators of MLCK are also provided.
Claims26
A method for preventing or reducing vasospasms in a host comprising administering to the host an amount of an MLCK inhibitor sufficient to prevent vasospasms.
A composition comprising an inhibitor of MLCK in an amount effective to reduce contractile responses of vascular smooth muscle in a host by about 90% for at least about 20 minutes post administration.
A method for identifying a test compound for preventing or reducing vasospasms comprising:
- (a) contacting vascular smooth muscle cells with the test compound;
- (b) assaying the cells for contraction;
- and
- (c) selecting the compound that reduces or prevents vascular smooth muscle cell contraction and inhibits MLCK activity.
A method for preventing vasospasm in a host comprising administering an irreversible inhibitor of MLCK to a vessel at a site of a graft in an amount sufficient to inhibit or reduce contraction of the vessel at the site of the graft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.