Methods for treating congestive heart failure
View Patent ↗The invention features methods of treating or preventing congestive heart failure by administering a polypeptide containing an epidermal growth factor-like domain encoded by a neuregulin gene.
1. method for treating congestive heart failure in a mammal, said method comprising administering an NRG-3 polypeptide comprising an epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain in an amount effective to treat congestive heart failure in said mammal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is encoded by the NRG-3 gene.
3. he method of claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a human.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said congestive heart failure results from hypertension; ischemic heart disease; exposure to a cardiotoxic compound; myocarditis; thyroid disease; viral infection; gingivitis; drug abuse; alcohol abuse; periocarditis; atherosclerosis; vascular disease; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; acute myocardial infarction; left ventricular systolic dysfunction; coronary bypass surgery; starvation; an eating disorder; or a genetic defect.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said mammal has undergone a myocardial infarction.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said cardiotoxic compound is an anthracycline; alcohol; or cocaine.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said anthracyline is doxorubicin, or daunomycin.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein an anti-ErbB2 or anti-HER2 antibody is administered to said mammal before, during, or after anthracycline administration.
9. The method of claim 4 , wherein said cardiotoxic compound is an anti-ErbB2 or anti-HER2 antibody.
10. The method of claim 4 , wherein said polypeptide is administered prior to exposure to said cardiotoxic compound.
11. The method of claim 4 , wherein said polypeptide is administered during exposure to said cardiotoxic compound.
12. The method of claim 4 , wherein said polypeptide is administered after exposure to said cardiotoxic compound.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered prior to the diagnosis of congestive heart failure in said mammal.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered after the diagnosis of congestive heart failure in said mammal.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered to a mammal that has undergone compensatory cardiac hypertrophy.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration of said polypeptide maintains left ventricular hypertrophy.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method prevents progression of myocardial thinning.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration of said polypeptide inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis.