Treating degenerative joint disorders with tribonectins
The invention features a tribonectin and a method of tribosupplementation carried out by administering tribonectins directly to an injured or arthritic joint.
1. A method of treating degenerative joint disorders comprising administering a composition comprising a tribonectin having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3, or a peptide mimetic thereof which comprises a covalent, non-peptide bond, to a mammal in need thereof.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof further comprises one or more repeats of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof is characterized as reducing the coefficient of friction between bearing surfaces.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof is characterized as reducing the coefficient of friction between bearing surfaces in vitro.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof is characterized as reducing the coefficient of friction between bearing surfaces in vivo.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof does not substantially increase the viscosity of a solution to which it is added.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof comprises an O-linked oligosaccharide.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said oligosaccharide is an N-acetylgalactosamine-galactose.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molecular weight of said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof is in the range of 220 to 280 kDa.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof comprises a fragment of megakaryocyte stimulating factor.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof comprises amino acids 200-1140, inclusive, set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof comprises amino acids 200-1167, inclusive, set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof comprises amino acids 200-1212, inclusive, set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof comprises amino acids 200-1263, inclusive, set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof lacks amino acids 1-24, inclusive, set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof lacks amino acids 67-104, inclusive, set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a human and said degenerative joint disorder affects an articulating joint of said human.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a dog and said degenerative joint disorder affects an articulating joint of said dog.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a horse and said degenerative joint disorder affects an articulating joint of said horse.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof is administered intra-articularly.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition is administered in a form suitable for the inhibition of tissue adhesion formation.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said composition is in the form of a membrane, foam, gel, or fiber.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration of said composition inhibits adhesion formation between a first surface and a second surface in said mammal.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein said administering comprises placing said composition between said first and second surfaces in an amount sufficient to prevent adhesion of said surfaces in said mammal.
25. The method of claim 23 , wherein said first or said second surface is injured tissue.
26. The method of claim 23 , wherein said first or said second surface is an artificial device.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein said artificial device is an orthopedic implant.
28. The method of claim 25 , wherein said tissue is injured due to a surgical incision.
29. The method of claim 25 , wherein said tissue is injured due to trauma.