Sphingomyelin therapy of autoimmune disease
AssigneeCenter for Molecular Medicine and Immunology
InventorsDavid E. Modrak, David M. Goldenberg
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Abstract
Autoimmune disease therapy in a patient treated with apoptosis-inducing agents is enhanced by co-administration of sphingomyelin. The combination most likely enhances an autoimmune disease cell's ability to undergo ceramide-induced apoptosis by increasing the levels of sphingomyelin in all cellular compartments, thereby providing sufficient substrate for activated sphingomyelinase. In alternative embodiments, sphingomyelin may be administered alone, in combination with corticosteroids, and/or in combination with a apoptosis-inducing agent.
Claims34
A method of treating an autoimmune disease, selected from the group consisting of acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, myasthenia gravis, lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, comprising administering to a subject suffering from the disease a therapeutically effective amount of sphingomyelin.
A kit for therapy of autoimmune disease comprising a therapeutically effective amount of sphingomyelin and a therapeutic agent that induces apoptosis.
A method of treating an autoimmune disease comprising administering to a subject suffering from the disease, selected from the group consisting of acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, myasthenia gravis, lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, therapeutically effective amounts of sphingomyelin and an antibody, antibody fragment or fusion protein that binds to a T- or B-cell antigen, or macrophage antigen, selected from CD3, CD4, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD40L, CD52, CD74, HLA-DR, CTLA4, MIF, or IL-2a.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.