Therapeutic uses for nitric oxide inhibitors

Abstract

The present invention is based on the discovery that nitric oxide (NO) is an important growth regulator in an intact developing organism. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of increasing in a mammal a population of hematopoietic stem cells which are capable of undergoing normal hematopoiesis, differentiation and maturation in hematopoietic tissue, wherein the hematopoietic tissue is contacted with at least one inhibitor of NO, such as one or more inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), thereby producing hematopoietic tissue having an increased population of hematopoietic stem cells which are capable of undergoing normal hematopoiesis, differentiation and maturation. The present invention also relates to a method of increasing a population of cells in S phase in a tissue of a mammal, comprising contacting the tissue with an inhibitor (one or more) of NO, such as an inhibitor of NOS. The invention also pertains to a method of regenerating tissue in an adult mammal comprising contacting a selected tissue (e.g., blood, skin, bone and digestive epithelium), or precursor cells of the selected tissue, with an inhibitor (one or more) of NO, thereby inhibiting differentiation and inducing proliferation of cells of the tissue.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
     
     
         23 . A method of decreasing a population of cells in S phase in a tissue of a mammal and inducing differentiation of the cells, comprising contacting the tissue with at least one enhancer of nitric oxide.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the enhancer is an enhancer of nitric oxide synthase.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 23  which results in a decrease in the size of an organ with which the tissue is associated.  
     
     
         26 . A method of coordinating developmental decisions of a cell type in a mammal, comprising introducing nitric oxide into the cell type or precursor of the cell type, thereby inhibiting proliferation of the cell type or precursor of the cell type and inducing differentiation of the cell type or precursor of the cell type.  
     
     
         27 . A method of inducing differentiation in a mammalian cell population comprising contacting the cell population with nitric oxide or a nitric oxide enhancer.  
     
     
         28 - 42 . (canceled)