Oxidant scavengers for treatment of diabetes or use in transplantation or induction of immune tolerance

Abstract

The present invention relates, in one embodiment, to a method of preventing or treating diabetes using low molecular weight antioxidants. In a further embodiment, the invention relates to a method of protecting and/or enhancing viability of cells/tissues/organs during isolation (harvesting), preservation, expansion and/or transplantation. In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of inducing immune tolerance. The invention also relates to compounds and compositions suitable for use in such methods.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
     
     
         25 . A method of treating Type I diabetes comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment an amount of a low molecular weight antioxidant sufficient to effect said treatment, wherein said low molecular weight antioxidant is AEOL 10150 or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein said low molecular weight antioxidant is bound to a metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, iron, copper, cobalt or nickel.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein said metal is manganese.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein said diabetes results from death of pancreatic islet cells due to autoimmune disease.  
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein said diabetes results from death of pancreatic islet cells due to free radical induced toxicity.