Methods of treatment for retinal diseases

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of treating a retinal disorder comprising administering an effective amount of a neurotrophic factor to a subject having the retinal disorder. The neurotrophic factors useful in the invention include mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) and conserved dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF). The present invention further comprises pharmaceutical compositions and kits containing MANF and CDNF.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a retinal disorder, said method comprising administering an effective amount of MANF to a subject with said retinal disorder. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said MANF comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said retinal disorder is a neurodegenerative retinal disorder. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering an effective amount of CDNF. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said CDNF comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein MANF is in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is a saline solution. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein MANF is administered to an eye of said subject. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein administering occurs by injection. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said injection is an intravitreal injection. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein MANF is administered in an area adjacent to the eye. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said retinal disorder is a result of injury to a tissue or a cell of the central nervous system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said tissue or said cell of the central nervous system is a ganglion cell. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said tissue or said cell of the central nervous system is a photoreceptor cell. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said retinal disorder is selected from the group consisting of a genetic disorder and a sporadic disorder. 
     
     
         16 . A method for promoting neuroprotection in a neuronal cell, comprising contacting said neuronal cell with a neurotrophic factor selected from the group consisting of CDNF, MANF, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said contacting occurs in vivo. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said contacting occurs in vitro. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said neuronal cell is a retinal ganglion cell. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said neuronal cell is a photoreceptor cell. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said neurotrophic factor is a recombinant neurotrophic factor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said neurotrophic factor is a human neurotrophic factor. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said human neurotrophic factor is a recombinant human neurotrophic factor. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said MANF comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said CDNF comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         26 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a neurotrophic factor selected from the group consisting of MANF, CDNF and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said MANF comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said CDNF comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 26 , further comprising an aqueous solution and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, additives, carriers or adjuvants. 
     
     
         30 . A method of treating a retinal disorder, said method comprising administering an effective amount of CDNF to a subject with said retinal disorder. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said CDNF comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising administering an effective amount of MANF. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said MANF comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said retinal disorder is a neurodegenerative retinal disorder. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein CDNF is in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is a saline solution. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein CDNF is administered to an eye of said subject. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein administering occurs by injection. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said injection is an intravitreal injection. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein CDNF is administered in an area adjacent to the eye. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said retinal disorder is a result of injury to a tissue or a cell of the central nervous system. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said tissue or said cell of the central nervous system is a ganglion cell. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said tissue or said cell of the central nervous system is a photoreceptor cell. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said retinal disorder is selected from the group consisting of a genetic disorder and a sporadic disorder. 
     
     
         45 . A kit comprising a neurotrophic factor selected from the group consisting of MANF, CDNF and combinations thereof; one or more reagents; and instructions for use thereof. 
     
     
         46 . The kit of  claim 45 , wherein said MANF comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The kit of  claim 45 , wherein said CDNF comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, or a fragment thereof.