Use of reversible inhibitors of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase for treating lupus

1. A method for suppressing autoimmunity in a patient in need of treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus, comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of methyl 4-(Adenin-9-yl)-2-hydroxybutanoate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, thereby suppressing autoimmunity in said patient.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is a human.

3. A method for suppressing autoimmunity in a patient in need of treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus, comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of a combination, wherein the combination comprises:

a) an effective amount of methyl 4-(Adenin-9-yl)-2-hydroxybutanoate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and

b) an effective amount of an immunosuppressant,

thereby suppressing autoimmunity in said patient.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the patient is a human.

5. A method for suppressing autoimmunity in a human in need of treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus, which method comprises administering to said human an effective amount of methyl 4-(Adenin-9-yl)-2-hydroxybutanoate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in a oral, parenteral, intranasal, topical, or injectable dosage form, whereby autoimmunity is suppressed in said human.

6. A kit comprising an effective amount of methyl 4-(Adenin-9-yl)-2-hydroxybutanoate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and an instruction means for administering said compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a mammal having systemic lupus erythematosus.

7. The kit of claim 6 , further comprising an effective amount of an immunosuppressant.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the administration is oral, parenteral, intranasal, topical, or injectable.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein methyl 4-(Adenin-9-yl)-2-hydroxybutanoate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is formulated in a solid or liquid dosage form.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein methyl 4-(Adenin-9-yl)-2-hydroxybutanoate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is formulated for oral or injectable administration in a dosage ranging from about 0.1 to about 20 mg/kg per day.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said injectable administration is selected from the group consisting of intracavernous injection, subcutaneous injection, intravenous injection, intramuscular injection, and intradermal injection.

12. The method of claim 4 , wherein the administration is oral, parenteral, intranasal, topical, or injectable.

13. The method of claim 4 , wherein methyl 4-(Adenin-9-yl)-2-hydroxybutanoate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is formulated in a solid or liquid dosage form.

14. The method of claim 4 , wherein methyl 4-(Adenin-9-yl)-2-hydroxybutanoate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is formulated for oral or injectable administration in a dosage ranging from about 0.1 to about 20 mg/kg per day.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said injectable administration is selected from the group consisting of intracavernous injection, subcutaneous injection, intravenous injection, intramuscular injection, and intradermal injection.

16. The method of claim 5 , wherein methyl 4-(Adenin-9-yl)-2-hydroxybutanoate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is formulated in a solid or liquid dosage form.

17. The method of claim 5 , wherein methyl 4-(Adenin-9-yl)-2-hydroxybutanoate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is formulated for oral or injectable administration in a dosage ranging from about 0.1 to about 20 mg/kg per day.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said injectable administration is selected from the group consisting of intracavernous injection, subcutaneous injection, intravenous injection, intramuscular injection, and intradermal injection.