Summary of Invention
Treatment of neurological disorders (spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral trauma, demyelination diseases and related pathologies) by stimulating the migration of neural cell precursors or their neurite extensions to a region where the pathology is present. The migration is accomplished by increasing the presence of hydrated macromolecules (e.g., polysialic acid (PSA)) both in the area of interest and along the path linking neuronal stem cell reservoirs or neurites with such region of interest. These hydrated macromolecules loosen up cell-cell interactions, facilitating cell migration and neurite axon extension. The therapy consists in increasing the activity of polysialyltransferases (PSTs) or increasing the presence of the polysialylated form of the neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) on the cell membrane of the cells along the path extending from a source of corticospinal neurons or neural stem cells to the area where, or across which, the pathology is present. Therapeutics that may be utilized include, but are not limited to, a PST polynucleotide, polypeptide, or peptide, or its analogs, derivatives, fragments or homologs; a conjugate of a moiety that targets a component of a neural cell surface and a hydrated macromolecule, or a compound that increases PST activity.
Advantages
There is no effective curative therapy for spinal cord injury or stroke.
Areas of Application
Therapeutic drug/Therapeutic process
Stage of Development
Proof of concept obtained in mice.
Lead Inventor
Dr. Urs Rutishauser
Patent Information
World-wide patent protection available.
Contact Information
Julia Calonge, PhD
Tel: 212-639-6181; Fax: 212-717-3439
E-mail: calongej@mskcc.org
