Treating eye disorders intestinal trefoil proteins
Intestinal trefoil factors and nucleic acids encoding intestinal trefoil factors are disclosed. The intestinal trefoil factors disclosed are resistant to destruction in the digestive tract and can be used for the treatment of peptic ulcer diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, eye disorders and other insults.
1. A method for the treatment of a disruption of the corneal epithelium in a pateint, said method comprising administering to the eye of said patient a trefoil protein selected from the group consisting of intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), spasmolytic peptide (SP), pS2, and biologically active fragments thereof.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said trefoil protein is a human trefoil protein.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said trefoil protein is intestinal trefoil factor (ITF).
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said trefoil protein is spasmolytic peptide (SP).
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein said trefoil protein is pS2.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said disorder is a corneal ulcer, or is caused by a traumatic physical injury, eye surgery, a chemical exposure, or an ultraviolet light exposure.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration is topical.
8. A method for the treatment of a disruption of the corneal epithelium in a patient, said method comprising administering to the eye of said patient a trefoil protein comprising a region having at least 90 % sequence identity to residues 33 - 70 of the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 , or at least 90 % sequence identity to residues 25 - 62 of the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 , wherein said trefoil protein has the ability to enhance corneal epithelial wound healing.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said trefoil protein is the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a biologically active fragment thereof comprising residues 33 - 70 of said polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 , wherein said trefoil protein has the ability to enhance corneal epithelial wound healing.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said trefoil protein is the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or a biologically active fragment thereof comprising residues 25 - 62 of said polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 , wherein said trefoil protein has the ability to enhance corneal epithelial wound healing.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein said trefoil protein comprises a region having at least 90 % sequence identity to residues 33 - 70 of the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 , wherein said trefoil protein has the ability to enhance corneal epithelial wound healing.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein said trefoil protein comprises a region having at least 90 % sequence identity to residues 25 - 62 of the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 , wherein said trefoil protein has the ability to enhance corneal epithelial wound healing.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein said disruption is a corneal ulcer, or is caused by a traumatic physical injury, eye surgery, a chemical exposure, or an ultraviolet light exposure.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein administration is topical.
15. A method for the treatment of a disruption of the corneal epithelium in a patient, said method comprising administering to the eye of said patient a trefoil protein comprising a region having at least 90 % sequence identity, over more than 35 contiguous amino acid residues, to the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4 , wherein said trefoil protein has the ability to enhance corneal epithelial wound healing.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said trefoil protein is the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a biologically active fragment thereof comprising more than 35 contiguous amino acid residues of the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 , wherein said trefoil protein has the ability to enhance corneal epithelial wound healing.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said trefoil protein is the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or a biologically active fragment thereof comprising more than 35 contiguous amino acid residues of the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 , wherein said trefoil protein has the ability to enhance corneal epithelial wound healing.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein said trefoil protein comprises a region having at least 90 % sequence identity, over more than 35 contiguous amino acid residues, to the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 , wherein said trefoil protein has the ability to enhance corneal epithelial wound healing.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein said trefoil protein comprises a region having at least 90 % sequence identity, over more than 35 contiguous amino acid residues, to the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 , wherein said trefoil protein has the ability to enhance corneal epithelial wound healing.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein said disruption is a corneal ulcer, or is caused by a traumatic physical injury, eye surgery, a chemical exposure, or an ultraviolet light exposure.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein administration is topical.