Anti-net compounds for treating and preventing fibrosis and for facilitating wound healing

Abstract

Embodiments of the technology described herein are based, in part, upon the discovery that NETosis, the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is increased in wounds, in organ fibrosis and in subjects with diabetes. Accordingly, methods for treating wounds, fibrosis and NET associated complications in diabetes are provided. The methods comprise administrating a therapeutically effective amount of at least one anti-NET compound to a subject in need of treatment, e.g. a PAD 4 inhibitor, a DNase, a histone-degrading enzyme; an inhibitor of chromatin decondensation; an antibody against a component of a NET; an inhibitor of NET release, a protease inhibitor, or an elastase inhibitor.

What is claimed herein is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating or preventing organ fibrosis in a subject, the method comprising:
 administering to a subject in need of treatment, a therapeutically effective amount of at least one anti-NET compound.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one anti-NET compound is selected from the group consisting of:
 DNase; a histone-degrading enzyme; an inhibitor of chromatin decondensation; an antibody against a component of a NET; a protease inhibitor, an elastase inhibitor; and a PAD4 inhibitor.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the PAD4 inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of:
 Cl-amidine and F-amidine.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount of anti-NET compound is administered prophylactically. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subjects age is selected from the group consisting of: over 40 years of age, over 30 years of age, over 50 years of age, over 60 years of age, and over 70 years of age. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is diagnosed with a disease selected from the group consisting of: heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and diabetes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is diagnosed as having age-related organ fibrosis. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is diagnosed with an organ fibrosis selected from the group consisting of; heart fibrosis, lung fibrosis, liver fibrosis, kidney fibrosis, skin fibrosis, soft tissue fibrosis, and intestine fibrosis. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administration is local administration to one or more target sites in an organ having fibrosis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject does not have cystic fibrosis. 
     
     
         11 . A method for treating NET associated inflammation and complications in diabetes comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one anti-NET compound. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the anti-NET compound is selected from the group consisting of:
 DNase; a histone-degrading enzyme; an inhibitor of chromatin decondensation; a NET release inhibitor; an antibody against a component of a NET; a protease inhibitor, an elastase inhibitor; and a PAD4 inhibitor.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the anti-NET compound is not a DNase. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the anti-NET compound is not an elastase inhibitor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the PAD4 inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of:
 Cl-amidine and F-amidine.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount of anti-NET compound is administered prophylactically. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subject is diagnosed as having diabetes type 1, or diabetes type II. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein inflammation is reduced by at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, or at least 50% as compared to inflammation prior to treatment.