Compositions and methods for treatment of short telomere disorders

Abstract

The invention generally relates to methods of treating short telomere disorders using known compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising same. More specifically, the disclosed methods comprise, in one aspect, the step of administering to the subject an effective amount of at least one lithium compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, thereby treating the subject for the short telomere disorder. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of at least one lithium compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and an effective amount of at least one compound selected from:
 (a) an agent known to treat an infection or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and   (b) an agent known to modulate the immune system or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and   (c) an agent known to modulate the pulmonary system or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and   a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.   
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the effective amount is a therapeutically effective or prophylactically effective amount. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the composition is formulated for inhalation, oral, or topical administration. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the agent known to treat an infection is selected from an antibiotic and an antiviral. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the agent known to modulate the immune system is selected from a corticosteroid, a TNF inhibitor, an immunosuppressant, and a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the agent known to modulate the pulmonary system is selected from a mucoactive or mucolytic agent, surfactant, antihistamine, cough suppressant, bronchodilator, anti-inflammatory agent, steroid, and expectorant. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one lithium compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is selected from lithium chloride, lithium bromide, lithium carbonate, lithium nitrate, lithium sulfate, lithium acetate, lithium lactate, lithium citrate, lithium aspartate, lithium gluconate, lithium malate, lithium ascorbate, lithium orotate, lithium succinate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the composition is formulated for inhalation administration. 
     
     
         23 . A kit comprising an effective amount of at least one lithium compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more of:
 (a) at least one agent known to treat a short telomere disorder;   (b) at least one agent known to treat an immune-mediated disorder;   (c) at least one agent known to treat a pulmonary disorder;   (d) instructions for treating the short telomere disorder;   (e) instructions for treating the autoimmune disorder;   (f) instructions for treating the pulmonary disorder;   (g) instructions for administering the lithium compound in connection with the short telomere disorder.   
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the lithium compound and the at least one agent are co-packaged. 
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the lithium compound and the at least one agent are co-formulated. 
     
     
         26 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the short telomere disorder is selected from immune-mediated disorder, inflammatory disorder, chronic pulmonary disorder, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). 
     
     
         27 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the immune-mediated disorder is selected from systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Wegener's granulomatosis, sarcoidosis, systemic sclerosis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, adult-onset still disease, myositis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and autoimmune diabetes. 
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 24 , wherein the pulmonary disorder is selected from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 24 , further comprising a plurality of dosage forms, the plurality comprising one or more doses; wherein each dose comprises a therapeutically effective amount of the lithium compound and the at least one agent. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 29 , wherein each dose of the lithium compound and the at least one agent are co-formulated. 
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 29 , wherein each dose of the lithium compound and the at least one agent are co-packaged. 
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 29 , wherein the dosage form for the lithium compound is formulated for inhalation administration and the dosage form for the at least one agent is formulated for oral administration. 
     
     
         33 . The kit of  claim 29 , wherein the dosage form for the lithium compound is formulated for inhalation administration and the dosage form for the at least one agent is formulated for inhalation administration. 
     
     
         34 . The kit of  claim 29 , wherein the dosage form for the lithium compound is formulated for inhalation administration and the dosage form for the at least one agent is formulated for parenteral administration.