Therapeutic use of cis-element decays in vivo

Abstract

The invention provides for the use of oligodeoxynucleotide decoys for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the binding of endogenous transcription factors to genes involved in cell growth, differentiation and signalling or to viral genes. By inhibiting endogenous trans-activating factors from binding transcription regulatory regions, the decoys modulate gene expression and thereby regulating pathological processes including inflammation, intimal hyperplasia, angiogenesis, neoplasia, immune responses and viral infection. The decoys are administered in amounts and under conditions whereby binding of the endogenous transcription factor to the endogenous gene is effectively competitively inhibited without significant host toxicity. The subject compositions comprise the decoy molecules in a context which provides for pharmacokinetics sufficient for effective therapeutic use.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A method for treating an NFκB-associated inflammatory disease or condition is a mammal, comprising introducing an NFκB decoy into a cell of said mammal.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said mammal is human.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said decoy is introduced into said cell in vivo.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said decoy comprises dsDNA.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said inflammatory disease or condition is an inflammatory skin disease.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said inflammatory skin disease is dermatitis.