Inhibition of PACAP signalling for the prevention and treatment of thrombocytopenia
The present invention discloses the use of inhibitors and/or antagonists of PACAP signalling for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of decreased blood platelet numbers (thrombocytopenia).
1. A method of treating thrombocytopenia in a subject having thrombocytopenia, said method comprising the step of administering to said subject a compound inhibiting PACAP activity, wherein said compound inhibiting PACAP activity is a neutralizing anti-PACAP antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said neutralizing antibody or antigen binding fragment inhibits mature PACAP or an isoform thereof.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said thrombocytopenia is infection-induced thrombocytopenia or treatment-induced thrombocytopenia.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said neutralizing anti-PACAP antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, is capable of binding to the PACAP(1-38) polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
5. A method of lowering the risk of acquiring or developing thrombocytopenia in a subject having a high probability of acquiring or developing thrombocytopenia, said method comprising the step of administering to said subject a compound inhibiting PACAP activity wherein said compound inhibiting PACAP activity is a neutralizing anti-PACAP antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said subject has cancer and wherein said compound is adminstered prior or during chemotherapy.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said subject is at risk of developing infection-induced thrombocytopenia.