Therapeutic applications of SMAD7
The invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment of inflammatory and/or tissue damage conditions. In particular, the use of Smad7 compositions delivered locally or systematically to a site of inflammation and/or tissue damage is described. Other specific embodiments concern treatment or prevention of side effects caused by radiation and/or chemotherapy, including but not limited to mucositis.
1. A method for treating chronic, acute, and/or surgical wounds in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a fusion protein comprising Smad7 (mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7) fused to a protein transduction domain, wherein the treatment comprises accelerating epithelial cell proliferation and/or migration into the wounds.
2. A method for treating chronic, acute, and/or surgical wounds in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Smad7 protein, wherein the expression vector expresses the Smad7 protein within the subject, and wherein the treatment comprises accelerating epithelial cell proliferation and/or migration into the wounds.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein comprising Smad7 is administered locally to an affected region.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein comprising Smad7 is administered topically.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein comprising Smad7 is administered systemically.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein transduction domain is Tat.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein comprising Smad7 is provided in a formulation on a patch, in a gelatinous composition, in a microsphere, in a microbead or combination thereof.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chronic wound is a diabetic wound.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chronic wound is a venous ulcer.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chronic wound is a pressure ulcer.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chronic wound is the result of radiation poisoning.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chronic wound is the result of ischemia.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wound is the result of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or cytokine therapy.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wound is the result of radiation toxicity.
15. A method for promoting chronic, acute, and/or surgical wound healing in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a fusion protein comprising Smad7 fused to a protein transduction domain.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the method comprises promoting chronic, acute, and/or surgical wound closure.