METHODS FOR PREVENTING, MODULATING AND/OR REDUCING CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Methods and materials for preventing and modulating atherosclerosis. In particular, small peptides that are capable of interacting with CD40, thereby interfering with the ability of CD40 to interact with CD154, which impacts inflammation and atherosclerosis. The use of such peptides in reducing atherosclerosis, and in particular, the autoimmune inflammatory response that may be a driving factor thereof. The use of such short peptides to lower LDL cholesterol. Methods and materials for detecting T-cells that express CD40 (Th40 cells).
1 . A method for preventing atherosclerosis in a subject, comprising administering to the subject in need thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide that affects the interaction of CD40 with CD154/CD40-ligand.
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9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said peptide affects the interaction of CD40 with CD154 in such a manner as alter the cytokine expression profile of a cell population treated with said peptide.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, and SEQ ID NO:9.
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12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the subject does not produce autoantibodies responsive to the peptide and/or CD154.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the subject's T cells do not elicit T cell antigen recall.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said peptide binds to multiple bone marrow derived cell types which express CD40 of approximately 45 kDa, including splenic CD4hi cells, CD8 cells, and other antigen presenting cells.
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16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject suffers from dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and/or coronary heart disease.
17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering a statin.
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27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interacts with a CD40 protein in such a manner as to modulate IFNγ.
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29 . A method to prevent, modulate, or reduce calcification of vessel walls, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide which specifically binds to a CD40 presenting cells at the CD154 binding site.
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33 . The method of claim 29 , wherein said peptide inhibits the binding of CD40 to CD154.
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37 . The method of claim 29 , wherein said peptide affects the interaction of CD40 with CD154 in such a manner as alter the cytokine expression profile of a cell population treated with said peptide.
38 . The method of claim 29 , wherein said peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, and SEQ ID NO:9.
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42 . A method to lower LDL cholesterol in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject in need thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide which specifically binds to a CD40 presenting cells at the CD154 binding site.
43 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the peptide binds to CD40.
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45 . The method of claim 42 , wherein said peptide affects the interaction of CD40 and CD154.
46 . The method of claim 42 , wherein said peptide inhibits the binding of CD40 to CD154.
47 . The method of claim 42 , wherein said peptide binds CD40 at the site where CD40 interacts with CD154.
48 . The method of claim 42 , wherein said peptide affects the interaction of CD40 with CD154 in such a manner as alter the cytokine expression profile of a cell population treated with said peptide.
49 . The method of claim 42 , wherein said peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, and SEQ ID NO:9.
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