Smad7 inhibitor compositions and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of a specific inhibitor of Smad7 expression or function for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of a disease of the central nervous system and/or diseases related and/or caused by said disease of the central nervous system. Furthermore, methods for preventing, ameliorating and/or treating such diseases are disclosed.

1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method for preventing, ameliorating and/or treating a disease of the central nervous system, a disease of the central nervous system and/or diseases related to and/or caused by said disease in a subject comprising administering a specific inhibitor of Smad7 expression or function to a mammal in need thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said disease of the central nervous system and/or diseases related and/or caused by said disease of the central nervous system is an autoimmune disease of the CNS, trauma or is cerebral ischemic stroke. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said autoimmune disease of the central nervous system is multiple sclerosis, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, primary chronic progressive multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica (Devic's syndrome) or fulminant multiple sclerosis (Marburg's variant). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said trauma is traumatic brain injury (TBI) or traumatic spinal cord injury. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said cerebral ischemic stroke is focal cerebral ischemia, global cerebral ischemia or hypoxic ischemic brain damage. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said diseases related to and/or caused by said disease of the central nervous system is selected from the group consisting of diabetes (type 1), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, isolated autoimmune optic neuritis, isolated autoimmune transverse myelitis or Balo's concentric sclerosis. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said disease of the central nervous system is a neurodegenerative disorder. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said neurodegenerative disorder is Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease.