Method of treating atherosclerosis
AssigneeVasogen Ireland Limited
InventorAnthony E. Bolton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of treating or preventing atherosclerosis in a mammalian subject comprises: (a) extracting the aliquot of blood from the subject; (b) treating the aliquot of blood ex vivo with at least one stressor selected from the group consisting of an oxidizing agent, ultraviolet radiation and elevated temperature; and (c) administering the aliquot of blood treated in step (b) to the subject. Preferably, the aliquot has a volume of from about 0.01 ml to about 400 ml and is treated simultaneously by ozone gas and ultraviolet radiation at a temperature of from 37-55° C.
Claims9
A method of inhibiting the development of atherosclerotic plaques in a mammalian subject, comprising:
- (a) identifying a subject in need of inhibiting the development of atherosclerotic plaques;
- (b) extracting an aliquot of blood from said subject;
- (c) modifying the extracted blood aliquot extracorporeally by subjecting it to about 0.5-100 μg/ml of ozone gas and ultraviolet radiation at a temperature of from about 0° C. to about 56° C., so as to create in the blood aliquot, in comparison with an equal volume aliquot of the subject's unmodified blood, at least one of the following distinguishing features:
- (i) increased numbers of leukocytes exhibiting a condensed apoptotic-like morphology;
- (ii) a reduction in the number of leukocytes expressing the MHC Class II leukocyte cell surface specific protein HLA-DR;
- (iii) an upregulated expression on leukocytes of the CD-11a cell surface marker;
- and re-injecting the blood aliquot so modified into the subject, thereby inhibiting the development of atherosclerotic plaques in said subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.