Charged phospholipid compositions and methods for their use

Abstract

The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a synthetic or naturally occurring charged phospholipid, which is formulated into a dosage form for administration to a subject or which is administered as a food additive. Negatively charged phospholipid composition increase the net negative charge on intravascular lipoproteins, enhance the clearance of cholesterol and regulate the function of lipolytic enzymes, retard prothrombin formation and aid in the clearance of virus and bacterial particles. Negatively charged lipid compositions can therefore be administered to humans and animals for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and blood coagulation disorders and to reduce the levels of virus, bacteria, and endotoxins in the blood stream. Positively charged lipid compositions can be administered to delay lipoprotein clearance from the plasma compartment and give longer duration of activity for drugs which are associated with lipoproteins.

1 . A method for treating a mammal infected with a pathogen selected from a virus or a bacterium, the method comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a negatively charged phospholipid for achieving removal of either said pathogen or an endotoxin derived therefrom from the bloodstream of said mammal. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said isolated negatively charged phospholipid is phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol, or phosphatidic acid, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said isolated negatively charged phospholipid is phosphatidylinositol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said isolated negatively charged phospholipid is phosphatidylserine. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said isolated negatively charged phospholipid is phosphatidylglycerol. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said isolated negatively charged phospholipid is phosphatidic acid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said isolated negatively charged phospholipid is administered in a dose of 5 micromole to 100 micromole per kg body weight of the mammal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said isolated negatively charged phospholipid is administered in a dose of 5 micromole to 20 micromole per kg body weight of the mammal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said isolated negatively charged phospholipid is formulated as a food additive. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said isolated negatively charged phospholipid is formulated as a medicament. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the medicament is administered orally, intranasally, transdermally, or by injection. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said isolated negatively charged phospholipid is in the form of unilammellar vesicles, multilamellar vesicles, multilamellar sheets, dispersion, micellar solutions, emulsions, or microemulsions. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said isolated negatively charged phospholipid is in the form of a powder. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pathogen is a virus. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said virus belongs to the Herpes virus family. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said virus is cytomegalovirus (CMV). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pathogen is a bacterium. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  which achieves removal of said endotoxin from the bloodstream. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said endotoxin is a lipopolysaccharide complex.