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.

1 . 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 interacts with a gene encoding serum amyloid A protein (SAA), wherein said interaction modulates the expression of SAA, and wherein said agent inhibits p38 MAPkinase. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of SB202190, SB203580, SB220025, PD 169316, SB 239063, 3-(−4-fluorophenyl)-2-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrrolo-[3,2-b]pyridine, BIRB-796, and CalBio506126. 
     
     
         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 or modulates SAA downstream signaling events, wherein said agent inhibits p38 MAPkinase. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of SB202190, SB203580, SB220025, PD 169316, SB 239063, 3-(−4-fluorophenyl)-2-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrrolo-[3,2-b]pyridine, BIRB-796, and CalBio506126. 
     
     
         5 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a serum amyloid A protein (SAA) antagonist and a pharmaceutical carrier, wherein the SAA antagonist is an inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of SB202190, SB203580, SB220025, PD 169316, SB 239063, 3-(−4-fluorophenyl)-2-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrrolo-[3,2-b]pyridine, BIRB-796, and CalBio506126.