Methods and compositions for treating autoimmune diseases
The invention features methods for increasing or maintaining the number of functional cells of a predetermined type, for example, insulin producing cells of the pancreas, blood cells, spleen cells, brain cells, heart cells, vascular tissue cells, cells of the bile duct, or skin cells, in a mammal (e.g., a human patient) that has injured or damaged cells of the predetermined type.
1. A method of treating a mammal having damage or deficiency of cells in brain or nervous system tissue comprising administering to said mammal a composition comprising Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG).
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a human.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said damage or deficiency of cells is associated with an autoimmune disease.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said autoimmune disease is chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said damage or deficiency of cells is associated with a neurological disease.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said neurological disease is Alzheimer's disease.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said neurological disease is Parkinson's disease.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein said neurological disease is Huntington's disease.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein said neurological disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
10. The method of claim 5 , wherein said neurological disease is a spinal cord injury.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition is formulated for intramuscular, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intravesicular, intraarticular, intralesional, or subcutaneous administration.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition is administered in a single dose.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition is administered in multiple doses.
14. The method of claim 5 further comprising administering neuronal cells or cells that differentiate into neuronal cells.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said neuronal cells or cells that differentiate into neuronal cells are administered after administration of said composition.