Vascular Disease Therapies

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and agents for treating impaired vascular and cardiac function. Methods and agents for treating various physiological and pathological features associated with vascular dysfunction and cardiac dysfunction are also provided.

1 . A method for reducing or preventing vascular calcification in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an anti-connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) agent, thereby reducing or preventing vascular calcification. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular calcification is cardiovascular calcification. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular calcification is peripheral vascular calcification. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vascular calcification is cerebrovascular calcification. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a subject having or at risk for having diabetes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a mammalian subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human subject. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-CTGF agent is selected from the group consisting of antibodies, fragments thereof; antisense molecules, ribozymes, miRNAs or siRNAs. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the anti-CTGF agent is an antibody and the antibody is a human or humanized antibody. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the anti-CTGF agent is an antibody and the antibody is CLN-1 or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the administration of a second therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second therapeutic agent is an angiotensin receptor blocker or an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.