Compositions and uses of a galectin for treatment of dry eye syndrome
Methods for the therapeutic treatment of dry eye in mammals comprising administering to a mammal afflicted with an epithelial wound a therapeutically effective amount of a galectin-1 protein, a galectin-3, a galectin-7 protein and/or a galectin-8 protein are provided. Pharmaceutical and ophthalmic compositions and kits, comprising a pharmaceutically an active agent which is a galectin-1 protein, a galectin-3 protein, galectin-7 protein and/or a galectin-8 protein, and a suitable carrier or a diluent, are provided.
1. A method for treating or preventing dry eye syndrome in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a galectin protein.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising prior to administering, identifying the mammal in need of preventing dry eye syndrome.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mammal in need of treating or preventing dry eye syndrome is characterized by at least one condition selected from the group consisting of: ocular epithelial wounds; prior usage of anti-histamine agents; prior usage of anti-inflammatory agents; and prior usage of excimer laser treatment.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the galectin protein is selected from the group consisting of galectin-1, galectin-3, galectin-7, galectin-8 and combinations thereof.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the dry eye is a persistent syndrome.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the dry eye results in epithelial erosion.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the epithelial erosion produces a corneal wound.
9. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-8 protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 5.
10. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-8 protein comprises an amino acid sequence that is substantially identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 5.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein substantially identical is having at least 60% identity, at least 70% identity, at least 80% identity, or at least 90% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 5.
12. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-8 protein comprises a galectin-8 N-terminal domain and a galectin-8 proline, glycine, and tyrosine-rich domain and a galectin-8 galactoside-binding domain.
13. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-3 protein comprises a galectin-3 proline, glycine, and tyrosine-rich domain and a galectin-3 galactoside-binding domain.
14. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-7 protein comprises a galectin-7 N-terminal domain and a galectin-7 proline, glycine, and tyrosine-rich domain and a galectin-7 galactoside-binding domain.
15. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-1 protein comprises a galectin-1 N-terminal domain and a galectin-1 proline, glycine, and tyrosine-rich domain and a galectin-1 galactoside-binding domain.
16. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-7 protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
17. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-7 protein comprises an amino acid sequence that is substantially identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein substantially identical is having at least 70% identity, at least 80% identity, or least 90% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
19. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-3 protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.
20. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-3 protein comprises an amino acid sequence that is substantially identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.
21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein substantially identical is having at least 70% identity, at least 80% identity, or least 90% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.
22. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-3 protein comprises a galectin-3 galactoside-binding domain.
23. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-1 protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.
24. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-1 protein comprises an amino acid sequence that is substantially identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.
25. The method according to claim 24 , wherein substantially identical is having at least 60% identity, at least 70% identity, at least 80% identity, or least 90% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.
26. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the galectin-1 protein comprises a galectin-1 galactoside-binding domain.