Compounds for use in the treatment of telomere related diseases and/or telomere related medical conditions

Abstract

The invention relates to compounds for use in the treatment of telomere related diseases and/or telomere related medical conditions, particularly wherein said telomere related diseases and/or telomere related medical conditions are cancer and cellular ageing. Particularly, herein is disclosed 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor precursor/high affinity laminin receptor (LRP/LR) and/or a fragment thereof for use in the treatment and/or prevention of cellular ageing.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of impeding cellular senescence comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof a 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor precursor/high affinity laminin receptor (LRP/LR) and/or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the LRP/LR and/or a fragment thereof comprises a peptide/protein sequence listing as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the LRP/LR comprises a peptide/protein sequence listing having at least 80% homology to the sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the LRP/LR comprises a fragment of LRP/LR being a peptide/protein having a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and/or SEQ ID NO: 5. 
     
     
         18 . A method of preventing or treating cellular senescence in a subject in need thereof comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor precursor/high affinity laminin receptor (LRP/LR) and/or a fragment thereof to treat at least one disease selected from the group consisting of: dyskeratosis congenital, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Hoyeraal-Hreiderasson syndrome, Hutchinson-Gilford progeria, aplastic anemia and age-related diseases including osteoporosis, type II diabetes, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. 
     
     
         19 . A method of preventing and/or treating and/or impeding muscle degeneration, loss of bone mass, skin atrophy, hair loss, graying of hair and/or a loss of immune system efficacy in a subject, the method comprising the step of administering to a subject a 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor precursor/high affinity laminin receptor (LRP/LR) and/or a fragment thereof to a subject to prevent and/or treat and/or impede muscle degeneration, loss of bone mass, skin atrophy, hair loss, graying of hair and/or a loss of immune system efficacy. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein LRP/LR comprises a fragment of LRP/LR being a peptide/protein having a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and/or SEQ ID NO: 5. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the LRP/LR comprises a fragment of LRP/LR being a peptide/protein having a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and/or SEQ ID NO: 5. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the subject is a human and/or animal, and wherein the LRP/LR and/or a fragment thereof is formulated into a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical carrier. 
     
     
         23 . A non-therapeutic method of increasing levels of hTERT and/or increasing telomerase activity and/or increasing telomere length and/or decreasing senescent markers in a cell of a human, animal or plant subject, the method comprising the following steps:
 (i) transfecting the cell to produce 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor precursor/high affinity laminin receptor (LRP/LR) and/or a fragment thereof therein increasing cellular levels of LRP/LR and/or fragments thereof; or   (ii) providing the cell with LRP/LR and/or fragments thereof to increase cellular levels of LRP/LR and/or fragments thereof,   wherein the increased levels of hTERT and/or increased telomerase activity and/or increased telomere length and/or decreased levels of senescent markers impedes and/or treats and/or prevents senescence (cellular ageing) of the cell in the subject.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein LRP/LR comprises a peptide/protein sequence listing as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein LRP/LR comprises a peptide/protein sequence listing having at least 80% homology to the sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or a fragment thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein LRP/LR comprises a fragment of LRP/LR being a peptide/protein having a sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and/or SEQ ID NO: 5.