Use of epo-derived peptide fragments for the treatment of inflammatory diseases

Abstract

The described invention provides compositions having EPO-derived peptides, and methods and kits for administering the EPO-derived peptide to a subject suffering from a neurodegenerative disease or an inflammatory disease of the brain or spinal cord. The EPO-derived peptide delays the onset and/or progression of a neurodegenerative disease, limits cognitive impairment in, and prolongs the survival of, subjects suffering from a neurodegenerative disease or an inflammatory disease of the brain or spinal cord.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising an erythropoietin-derived (EPO)-derived peptide with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, and SEQ ID NO: 30. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the EPO-derived peptide has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 20, and SEQ ID NO: 30. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the EPO-derived peptide has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 20, and SEQ ID NO: 30. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the EPO-derived peptide is cyclic. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the EPO-derived peptide is non-hematopoietic. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a therapeutically effective amount of the erythropoietin-derived (EPO)-derived peptide. 
     
     
         7 . A method for limiting cognitive impairment in a subject suffering from an inflammatory disease of the brain or spinal cord comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the composition of  claim 1 ; and   (b) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the composition such that the composition is effective for delaying progression of the inflammatory disease, thereby limiting cognitive impairment in the subject.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the EPO-derived peptide is synthetic. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the EPO-derived peptide is non-hematopoietic, is cyclic, or is both. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the route of administering is selected from the group consisting of parenteral, oral, inhalation, insufflation, topical, buccal and rectal. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the route of administering is parenteral. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         13 . A method for prolonging survival of a subject suffering from an inflammatory disease of the brain or spinal cord comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the composition of  claim 1 ; and   (b) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the composition such that the composition is effective for delaying the progression of the inflammatory disease, thereby prolonging survival of the subject.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the EPO-derived peptide is synthetic. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the EPO-derived peptide is non-hematopoietic, is cyclic, or is both. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the route of administering is selected from the group consisting of parenteral, oral, inhalation, insufflation, topical, buccal and rectal. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the route of administering is parenteral. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         19 . A kit comprising:
 a container comprising the composition of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         20 . The kit according to  claim 19 , further comprising a syringe for administering the composition. 
     
     
         21 . The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         22 . The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein the EPO-derived peptide is cyclic, is non-hematopoietic, or is both.