Use of Serum Amyloid A Gene in Diagnosis and Treatment of Glaucoma and Identification of Anti-Glaucoma Agents

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating glaucoma, methods for diagnosing glaucoma, and methods for identifying agents which may be useful in the treatment of glaucoma. More specifically, the present invention describes the use of agents that modulate the expression of serum amyloid A.

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         3 . A method for treating glaucoma, said method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an agent that inhibits interaction of the serum amyloid A protein (SAA) with its receptor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said agent is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) agonists, tachykinin peptides and their non-peptide analogs or α-lipoic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the agent is fenofibrate, Wy-14643, ( 4-chloro-6-(2,3-xylidino)-2-pryrimidinylthiol)-acetic acid), ciprofibrate, 2-bromohexadecanoic acid, bezafibrate and ciglitizone, bafilomycin, concanamycin or pseudolaric acid B. 
     
     
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