Methods of treating smooth muscle cell disorders

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of detecting cells showing smooth muscle differentiation. The present invention further provides methods of detecting tumor cells. The present invention further provides compositions and methods for treating smooth muscle cell disorders.

1 . A method of detecting a smooth muscle cell in a biological sample, the method comprising contacting the sample with an agent specific for an HDAC8 mRNA, an HDAC8 cDNA, or an HDAC8 polypeptide; and detecting binding of the agent to a molecule in the sample.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent is an antibody specific for an HDAC8 polypeptide.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the antibody is detectably labeled.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent is a set of polymerase chain reaction primers that specifically amplify an HDAC8 cDNA.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the smooth muscle cell is selected from a visceral smooth muscle cell, a vascular smooth muscle cell, a myoepithelial cell, and a myofibroblast.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological sample is a tissue biopsy sample.  
     
     
         7 . A method of detecting a cancerous cell of smooth muscle origin, the method comprising detecting a level of HDAC8 mRNA, HDAC8 cDNA, or HDAC8 protein in a test cell, wherein a level of HDAC8 mRNA, HDAC8 cDNA, or HDAC8 protein in the test cell that is lower or higher than the level of HDAC8 mRNA, HDAC8 cDNA, or HDAC8 protein in a normal cell of the same cell type indicates that the cell is cancerous.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the cancerous cell is a prostate cancer cell.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the cancerous cell is a uterine cancer cell.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the cancerous cell is an intestinal cancer cell.  
     
     
         11 . An agent that specifically reduces the level of active HDAC8 in a eukaryotic cell.  
     
     
         12 . The agent of  claim 11 , wherein the agent is a short interfering RNA specific for HDAC8.  
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the agent of  claim 11;  and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.  
     
     
         14 . A method of treating a disorder associated with smooth muscle cell hyperactivity, the method comprising administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of an agent that reduces HDAC8 enzyme activity and/or an HDAC8 mRNA expression level in a smooth muscle cell.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the disorder is selected from hypertension, asthma, atherosclerosis, myometrium hyperactivity, bladder overactivity, benign hyperplasia of the prostate, fibrosis, and hypertrophic scars.