Methods for the prevention and treatment of burn injuries and secondary complications

Abstract

The disclosure relates to methods for treating a subject suffering from a burn injury or associated complications by administering to the subject an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide. For example, a burn injury may be associated with distant pathophysiological effects, such as hypermetabolism, skeletal muscle dysfunction, and organ damage. The disclosure also relates to methods for protecting a subject from a burn injury by administering an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide to a subject at risk of a burn injury.

1 . A method for treating a subject suffering from a burn injury or a systemic injury or condition secondary to a burn, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof an effective amount of a peptide having the formula D-Arg-2′6′-dimethyltyrosine-Lys-Phe-NH 2 . 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the systemic injury is organ dysfunction or failure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the organ dysfunction or failure affects one or more of the lung, liver, kidneys, or bowel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the peptide is administered following a burn injury but prior to the onset of symptoms of organ dysfunction or failure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the peptide is administered following the onset of symptoms of organ dysfunction or failure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the systemic injury is hypermetabolism. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the peptide is administered following a burn injury but prior to the onset of symptoms of hypermetabolism. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the peptide is administered following the onset of symptoms hypermetabolism. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the systemic injury is skeletal muscle dysfunction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the skeletal muscle dysfunction is skeletal muscle wasting or cachexia. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the peptide is administered following a burn injury but prior to the onset of symptoms of skeletal muscle dysfunction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the peptide is administered following the onset of symptoms skeletal muscle dysfunction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is administered intravenously, orally, subcutaneously, transdermally, intraperitoneally, or topically. 
     
     
         15 . A method for protecting the subject against a burn injury, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof an effective amount of a peptide having the formula D-Arg-2′6′-dimethyltyrosine-Lys-Phe-NH 2  prior to a burn injury. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the peptide is administered topically. 
     
     
         17 . The method of claim  21 , wherein the burn injury is a sunburn or radiation burn. 
     
     
         18 . A method for treating a disease or condition characterized by a reduced ATP synthesis rate, the method comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of a peptide having the formula D-Arg-2′6′-dimethyltyrosine-Lys-Phe-NH 2  in order to increase the ATP synthesis rate in the subject. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the disease or condition is a burn injury. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein increasing the ATP synthesis rate is by increasing the expression or activity of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1β (PGC-1β) protein.