Methods for promoting wound healing and hair growth comprising GDNF administration
The present invention generally relates to uses of glial cell line-derived growth factor (GDNF) in cutaneous wound healing and hair growth. Methods of effecting hair growth and/or wound healing which feature administration of GDNF, or a biologically active fragment thereof, to subjects, e.g., human subject, are disclosed herein. The invention relates also to formulations and kits for achieving the indicated pharmaceutical advantages.
1. A method for promoting hair growth on a subject, the method comprising the steps of: (a) administering at a site of desired hair growth on said subject a composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective dose of an isolated glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), wherein said GDNF consists of residues 78-211 of SEQ ID NO:7 or residues 118-211 of SEQ ID NO:7; and (b) repeating said administrating step for a time period sufficient to promote said hair growth on said subject.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said GDNF consists of the amino acid sequence of residues 78-211 of SEQ ID NO:7.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said pharmaceutically effective dose is a dose sufficient to promote a 25% increase in hair follicle number or a 25% decrease in hair loss over a period of 3-4 months.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said administrating step is performed via topical contacting at said site of desired hair growth.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the GDNF is glycosylated at the glycosylation site occurring at amino acid residues 126-128 of SEQ ID NO:7 or at the glycosylation site occurring at amino acid residues 162-164 of SEQ ID NO:7.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said pharmaceutically effective dose consists of no more than about 10 mg/ml GDNF.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein said repeating step is performed five times.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said GDNF consists of the amino acid sequence of residues 118-211 of SEQ ID NO:7.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said pharmaceutically effective dose is a dose sufficient to promote a 25% increase in hair follicle number or a 25% decrease in hair loss over a period of 3-4 months.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said administrating step is performed via topical contacting at said site of desired hair growth.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the GDNF is glycosylated at the glycosylation site occurring at amino acid residues 126-128 of SEQ ID NO:7 or at the glycosylation site occurring at amino acid residues 162-164 of SEQ ID NO:7.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein said pharmaceutically effective dose consists of no more than about 10 mg/ml GDNF.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein said repeating step is performed five times.