Use of tight junction antagonists in the treatment of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress

Abstract

The present application provides compositions and methods for treating acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The methods include administering one or more tight junction antagonists to the lung of a subject in need thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating an excessive or undesirable permeability of lung tissue containing tight junctions comprising:
 administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising a tight junction antagonist.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the tight junction antagonist is a peptide. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to.  claim 3 , wherein the peptide comprises GGVLVQPG (SEQ ID NO:15). 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the peptide consists of GGVLVQPG (SEQ ID NO:15). 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered in conjunction with an additional therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the composition and the additional therapeutic agent are administered simultaneously. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the composition and the additional therapeutic agent are not administered simultaneously. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the composition further comprises the additional therapeutic. agent. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the additional therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, antibiotics, cytokines, chemokines and biologic therapeutics. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is formulated for pulmonary delivery. 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating acute respiratory distress syndrome, comprising:
 administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising a tight junction antagonist.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the tight junction antagonist is a peptide. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the peptide comprises GGVLVQPG (SEQ ID NO:15). 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the peptide consists of GGVLVQPG (SEQ ID NO:15). 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the composition is administered in conjunction with an additional therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition and the additional therapeutic agent are administered simultaneously. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition and the additional therapeutic agent are not administered simultaneously. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition further comprises the additional therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the additional therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, antibiotics, cytokines, chemokines and biologic therapeutics. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the composition is formulated for pulmonary delivery. 
     
     
         23 . A method of treating acute lung injury, comprising:
 administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising a tight junction antagonist.   
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the tight junction antagonist is a peptide. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the peptide comprises GGVLVQPG (SEQ ID NO:15). 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the peptide consists of GGVLVQPG (SEQ ID NO:15). 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the composition is administered in conjunction with an additional therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the composition and the additional therapeutic agent are administered simultaneously. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the composition and the additional therapeutic agent arc not administered simultaneously. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the composition further comprises the additional therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the additional therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, antibiotics, cytokines, chemokines and biologic therapeutics. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the composition is formulated for pulmonary delivery. 
     
     
         34 . A composition formulated for pulmonary delivery comprising a tight junction antagonist. 
     
     
         35 . A composition according to  claim 34 , wherein the tight junction antagonist is a peptide. 
     
     
         36 . A composition according to  claim 35 , wherein the peptide comprises GGVLVQPG (SEQ ID NO:15). 
     
     
         37 . A composition according to  claim 35 , wherein the peptide consists of GGVLVQPG (SEQ ID NO:15). 
     
     
         38 . A composition according to  claim 34 , wherein the composition further comprises an additional therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         39 . A composition according to  claim 38 , wherein the additional therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, antibiotics, cytokines, chemokines and biologic therapeutics.