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. A method for treating or preventing congestive heart failure in a mammal, said method comprising administering a polypeptide comprising an epidermal growth factor-like (ECG-like) domain to said mammal, wherein said EGF-like domain is encoded by a neuregulin gene, wherein said administering is in an amount effective to treat or prevent heart failure in said mammal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said neuregulin gene is the NRG-1 gene.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said polypeptide is encoded by the NRG-1 gene.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said polypeptide is recombinant human GGF2.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said neuregulin gene is the NRG-2 gene.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said polypeptide is encoded by the NRG-2 gene.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said neuregulin gene is the NRG-3 gene.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said polypeptide is encoded by the NRG-3 gene.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a human.
10. 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; myocardial infarction; left ventricular systolic dysfunction; coronary bypass surgery; starvation; an eating disorder; or a genetic defect.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said mammal has undergone a myocardial infarction.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said cardiotoxic compound is an anthracycline, alcohol, or cocaine.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said anthracycline is doxorubicin or daunomycin.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein an anti-ErbB2 or anti-HER2 antibody is administered to said mammal before, during, or after anthracycline administration.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said cardiotoxic compound is an anti-ErbB2 or anti-HER2 antibody.
16. The method of claim 14 or 15 , wherein said anti-ErbB2 or anti-HER2 antibody is HERCEPTINO.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein said polypeptide is administered prior to exposure to said cardiotoxic compound.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein said polypeptide is administered during exposure to said cardiotoxic compound.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein said polypeptide is administered after exposure to said cardiotoxic compound.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered prior to the diagnosis of congestive heart failure in said mammal.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered after the diagnosis of congestive heart failure in said mammal.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered to a mammal that has undergone compensatory cardiac hypertrophy.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration of said polypeptide maintains left ventricular hypertrophy.
24. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method prevents progression of myocardial thinning.
25. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration of said polypeptide inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered by administering an expression vector encoding said polypeptide to said mammal.