IL-18 and Protein Kinase R Inhibition for the Treatment of COPD

A method of treating a disease associated with dysregulation of IFNγ expression in lung, said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one IFNγ inhibitor to a mammal having said disease wherein said IFNγ inhibitor attenuates, prevents, or halts the dysregulation of said IFNγ expression, thereby reducing said IFNγ expression in the lungs of said mammal.

A method of treating a disease associated with dysregulation of double stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) expression in lung, said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one PKR inhibitor to a mammal having said disease wherein said PKR inhibitor attenuates, prevents, or halts the dysregulation of said PKR expression, thereby reducing said PKR expression in the lungs of said mammal.

A method of inhibiting inflammation in the lung of a mammal at risk of developing inflammation, wherein said inflammation is the result of exposure to viral infection and cigarette smoke, said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor to said mammal having said inflammation, wherein said inhibitor prevents said inflammation, and further wherein said inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of an IL-18 inhibitor, an IL-18Rα inhibitor, and IFNγ inhibitor, a PKR inhibitor, and any combination thereof.

A method of inhibiting alveolar remodeling in the lung of a mammal at risk of developing alveolar remodeling wherein said alveolar remodeling is the result of exposure to viral infection and cigarette smoke, said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor to said mammal having said alveolar remodeling, wherein said inhibitor prevents said alveolar remodeling, and further wherein said inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of an IL-18 inhibitor, an IL-18Rα inhibitor, and IFNγ inhibitor, a PKR inhibitor, and any combination thereof.

A method of inhibiting cellular apoptosis in the lung of a mammal at risk of developing cellular apoptosis, wherein said cellular apoptosis is the result of exposure to viral infection and cigarette smoke, said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor to said mammal having cellular apoptosis, wherein said inhibitor prevents said cellular apoptosis, and further wherein said inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of an IL-18 inhibitor, an IL-18Rα inhibitor, and IFNγ inhibitor, a PKR inhibitor, and any combination thereof.

A method of treating COPD in a mammal diagnosed with COPD, wherein said COPD comprises inflammation, alveolar remodeling, or cellular apoptosis, said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor to said mammal having COPD, wherein said inhibitor prevents said inflammation, alveolar remodeling, or cellular apoptosis, and further wherein said inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of an IL-18 inhibitor, an IL-18Rα inhibitor, and IFNγ inhibitor, a PKR inhibitor, and any combination thereof.