Treatment of diseases involving cyst formation

Abstract

The invention concerns the use of ligands of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors (PTBR) in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving cyst formation and in particular polycystic kidney disease. The invention further concerns the treatment of hypertension accompanying polycystic kidney disease, and pharmaceutical compositions and articles of manufacture for the treatment or diagnosis of the target disease or condition.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a disease involving cyst formation, comprising an effective amount of a ligand of a peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PTBR) in admixture with pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said disease is a polycystic kidney disease (PKD).  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein said composition additionally comprises taxol or a taxol derivative.  
     
     
         4 . An article of manufacture comprising a container, 
 an effective amount of a ligand of a peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor within said container,    and    a label or package insert with instructions for administering said ligand for the treatment of a disease involving cyst formation.    
     
     
         5 . The article of manufacture of  claim 4  wherein said disease is a polycystic kidney disease.