Use of CHEC Peptides to Treat Neurological and Cardiovascular Diseases and Disorders

Abstract

The present invention describes compositions and methods for treating and preventing non-degenerative neurological diseases and disorders associated with elevated sPLA2 activity as well as cardiovascular diseases using a CHEC peptide to inhibit sPLA2 activity.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a mammal with ischemia having an elevated level of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) activity, said method comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a sPLA2 inhibitor to said mammal, thereby treating said ischemia in said mammal. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sPLA2 inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of a CHEC-9 peptide, a CHEC-7 peptide, a nucleic acid encoding a CHEC-9 peptide, and a nucleic acid encoding a CHEC-7 peptide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said CHEC-9 peptide comprises the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said nucleic acid encoding the CHEC-9 peptide comprises the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 4 and SEQ ID NO: 5. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said CHEC-7 peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said nucleic acid encoding the CHEC-7 peptide comprises the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6 and SEQ ID NO: 7. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said sPLA2 inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of an oxidized sPLA2 inhibitor, a cyclized sPLA2 inhibitor, and an alkylated sPLA2 inhibitor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         9 . A method of delivering a CHEC peptide to a cell in a mammal having an elevated level of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) activity, said method comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a CHEC-9 peptide, a CHEC-7 peptide, a nucleic acid encoding CHEC-9, or a nucleic acid encoding CHEC-7 to said mammal, thereby delivering said CHEC peptide to said cell in said mammal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said mammal has a non-degenerative neurological disease or disorder associated with elevated sPLA2 activity selected from the group consisting of epilepsy, ischemia, schizophrenia, and a mood disorder. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said mammal is afflicted with an ischemic injury to a CNS tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said CHEC-9 peptide comprises the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said nucleic acid encoding the CHEC-9 peptide comprises the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 4 and SEQ ID NO: 5. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said CHEC-7 peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said nucleic acid encoding the CHEC-7 peptide comprises the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6 and SEQ ID NO: 7. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said mammal is a human.