COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR MODULATING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
The present invention provides methods and compositions for the prophylaxis of blood cell disorders such as neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphocytopenia, and anaemia. The invention provides methods wherein compositions comprising at least one cytokinin compound are administered either therapeutically or prophylactically. The invention further has utility in methods of DNA repair.
1 . A method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of blood cell depletion, the method comprising:
providing a therapeutically effective or prophylactically effective amount of oltipraz or a derivative, analogue, metabolite, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and
administering the same to a subject in need thereof.
2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the blood cell depletion results in at least one condition selected from the group consisting of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphocytopenia and anaemia.
3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oltipraz metabolite is metabolite 3.
4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein oltipraz or the derivative, analogue, metabolite, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is formulated with carboxymethyl cellulose to form a combined medicament.
5 . A pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of blood cell depletion, the composition comprising oltipraz or a derivative, analogue, metabolite, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent and/or carrier.
6 . The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein oltipraz is provided in the form of metabolite 3.
7 . The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein the composition is formulated with carboxymethyl cellulose.
8 . A method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of blood cell depletion, the method comprising:
providing a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of at least one cytokinin compound; and
administering the same to a subject in need thereof.
9 . The method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising the step of administering to the subject a therapeutically effective or prophylactically effective amount of oltipraz or a derivative, analogue, metabolite, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof
10 . The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the cytokinin compound is N 6 isopentenyl adenosine or a derivative, analogue, metabolite, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
11 . The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the N 6 isopentenyl adenosine or derivative, analogue, metabolite, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is formulated with carboxymethyl cellulose to form a combined medicament.
12 . A pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of blood cell depletion, the composition comprising N 6 isopentenyl adenosine or a derivative, analogue, metabolite, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, along with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent and/or carrier.
13 . The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 12 wherein the composition is formulated with carboxymethyl cellulose.
14 . The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 12 further comprising oltipraz or a derivative, analogue, metabolite, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
15 . A combined pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and/or treatment and/or amelioration of a blood cell deficiency disorder, such as neutropenia, thrombocytopenia or anaemia, the composition comprising a cytokinin compound and oltipraz or a derivative or functionally equivalent analogue thereof along with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable diluent.
16 . The composition as claimed in claim 15 wherein the cytokinin compound is N 6 isopentenyl adenosine or an analogue or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
17 . The composition as claimed in claim 15 wherein the cytokinin compound is N 6 benzyl adenosine or an analogue or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
18 . The composition as claimed in claim 15 wherein the analogue or derivative of oltipraz is selected from the group consisting of 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione, sulforaphane, narigin, 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione, ADT, ADO, 1,2-dithiole-3-thione, 1,2-dithiolane, 1,3-dithiole-2-thione and malotilate.
19 . A method of stimulating cellular DNA repair mechanisms in a subject in advance of or following exposure of the subject to radiation, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of oltipraz or a derivative, analogue, metabolite or salt thereof, and
administering the composition to a subject in need thereof.
20 . The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the radiation exposure results from the subject undergoing travel in space.
21 . The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the analogue or derivative of oltipraz is selected from the group consisting of 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione, sulforaphane, narigin, 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione, ADT, ADO, 1,2-dithiole-3-thione, 1,2-dithiolane, 1,3-dithiole-2-thione and malotilate.
22 . The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the oltipraz metabolite is metabolite 3.
23 . A pharmaceutical composition for mediating DNA repair following radiation exposure comprising oltipraz or a derivative or analogue thereof along with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
24 . The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 23 wherein the analogue or derivative of oltipraz is selected from the group consisting of 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione, sulforaphane, narigin, 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione, ADT, ADO, 1,2-dithiole-3-thione, 1,2-dithiolane, 1,3-dithiole-2-thione and malotilate.
25 . A method of treating and/or preventing radiation-induced immunosuppression, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of N 6 isopentenyl adenosine to a subject in need thereof.