Protection of cells from alu-rna-induced degeneration and inhibitors for protecting cells
AssigneeUniversity of Kentucky Research Foundation
InventorsJayakrishna AMBATI, Valeria TARALLO
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of protecting a cell includes inhibiting an inflammasome, MyD88, IL-18, VDAC1, VDAC2, caspase-8, and/or NFκB of the cell. Administering an inhibitor of MyD88, IL-18, VDAC1, VDAC2, caspase-8, and/or NFκB can protect the cell from Alu-RNA-induced degeneration. Protecting a cell, such as an retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), can be therapeutically useful in the context of age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy.
Claims34
A method of protecting a cell, comprising:
- inhibiting one or more of an inflammasome of the cell;
- MyD88 of the cell;
- IL-18 of the cell;
- VDAC1 of the cell;
- VDAC2 of the cell;
- caspase-8 of the cell;
- and NFκB of the cell.
An molecule selected from the group consisting of:
- an isolated double-stranded RNA molecule that inhibits expression of MyD88, wherein a first strand of the double-stranded RNA comprises a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:
- 3, 4, 5, 6, and 56, and including about 11 to 27 nucleotides;
- an isolated double-stranded RNA molecule that inhibits expression of NLRP3 and/or PYCARD, wherein a first strand of the double-stranded RNA comprises a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:
- 7-14, and including about 11 to 27 nucleotides;
- an isolated double-stranded RNA molecule that inhibits expression of Pyrin, comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
- 15, and including about 11 to 27 nucleotides;
- an isolated double-stranded RNA molecule that inhibits expression of NALP3, comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
- 16, and including about 11 to 27 nucleotides;
- an isolated double-stranded RNA molecule that inhibits expression of caspase-1, comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
- 17, and including about 11 to 27 nucleotides;
- an isolated double-stranded RNA molecule that inhibits expression of VDAC1 and/or VDAC2, wherein a first strand of the double-stranded RNA comprises a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:
- 47 and 48, and including about 11 to 27 nucleotides;
- a polypeptide molecule that inhibits MyD88, comprising a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:
- 60 and SEQ ID NO:
- 61.
A diagnostic composition for imaging activated Caspase-1 in an eye of a subject, comprising a fluorescent molecule conjugated to a substrate of Caspase-1 or a molecule that fluoresces following cleavage by Caspase-1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.