Therapeutic uses of inhibitors of RTP801

1. A double-stranded compound comprising a sense strand and an antisense strand wherein the sense strand comprises ribonucleotides, the sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO:16 and the antisense strand comprises ribonucleotides, the sequence of which is set forth in SEQ ID NO:66;

wherein each ribonucleotide in the sense strand and in the antisense strand is independently unmodified or modified; and

wherein each ribonucleotide is bound to each adjacent ribonucleotide by a covalent bond.

2. The double-stranded compound of claim 1 , the structure of which is:

wherein each A, C, G and U is independently unmodified or modified;

wherein each A, C, G and U is covalently bound to the adjacent A, C, G and U; and

wherein each vertical line represents base pairing.

3. The compound of claim 2 , wherein at least one A, C, G, or U is a sugar-modified ribonucleotide.

4. The compound of claim 3 , wherein in the sugar-modified ribonucleotide a 2′ OH group is replaced by —H, —OCH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 2 CH 3 or —NH 2 .

5. The compound of claim 4 , wherein the 2′OH group is replaced by —OCH 3 .

6. The compound of claim 2 , wherein at least one A, C, G or U is a ribonucleotide modified in its base.

7. The compound of claim 1 , wherein at least one covalent bond comprises a phosphorothioate bond.

8. A method of treating a patient suffering from a disorder associated with elevated expression of RTP801 which comprises administering to the patient the compound of claim 1 in an amount effective to reduce the expression of RTP801 so as to thereby treat the patient.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the disorder is a respiratory disorder, an eye disease, a microvascular disorder, or a spinal cord injury.

10. A compound having the structure:

5′    (N) x -Z 3′ (antisense strand)

3′ Z′-(N′) y  5′ (sense strand),

wherein each N and N′ is a ribonucleotide which may be modified or unmodified in its sugar residue and each of (N) x and (N′) y is an oligomer in which each consecutive N or N′ is joined to the next N or N′ by a covalent bond;

wherein at least 19 consecutive ribonucleotides in (N) x are complementary to ribonucleotides in (N′);

wherein each of x and y is an integer from 19 to 40;

wherein each of Z and Z′ may be present or absent, but if present is dTdT and is covalently attached at the 3′ terminus of the strand in which it is present;

and wherein the sequence of (N) x comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(SEQ ID NO: 74)

UUCUAGAUGGAAGACCCAG;

(SEQ ID NO: 75)

UUGAACAUCAAGUGUAUUC;

(SEQ ID NO: 77)

AAAAAUAUUGCAUAGGUCU;

(SEQ ID NO: 79)

UACUUGAACAUCAAGUGUA;

and

(SEQ ID NO: 91)

AACUCAAUGAGCUUCCUGG.

11. The compound of claim 10 , wherein x=y=19.

12. The compound of claim 10 , wherein at least one A, C, G, or U comprises a sugar-modified ribonucleotide.

13. The compound of claim 12 , wherein in the sugar-modified ribonucleotide a 2′OH group is replaced by —H, —OCH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 3 , —OCH 2 CH 2 CH 3 or —NH 2 .

14. The compound of claim 13 , wherein the 2′OH group is replaced by —OCH 3 .

15. The compound of claim 10 , wherein at least one of A, C, G or U comprises a ribonucleotide modified in its base.

16. A method of treating a subject suffering from a disorder which is a respiratory disorder, a microvascular disorder or a spinal cord injury or disease, which comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a siRNA compound having the structure:

wherein alternating ribonucleotides in the antisense strand and the sense strand comprise a 2′OCH 3 modification in the sugar residue of such ribonucleotides; wherein the sugar residue of the ribonucleotides at the 5′ terminus and at the 3′ terminus of the antisense strand comprise the 2′OCH 3 modification and the sugar residue of the ribonucleotides at the 5′ terminus and at the 3′ terminus of the sense strand are unmodified; wherein each ribonucleotide at each of the 5′ terminus and the 3′ terminus of the antisense strand and of the sense strand is independently phosphorylated or non-phosphorylated; wherein each vertical line represents base pairing; and wherein the compound is administered in an amount to treat the subject.

17. The method of claim 8 , wherein the compound confers neuroprotection to the patient.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the disorder is a respiratory disorder.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the respiratory disorder comprises chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis or asthma.