Methods and compositions for treating a disease condition in a subject
Methods for treating a disease condition in a subject are provided. The subject methods include selectively modulating at least one biological activity of advential tissue in a manner effective to treat the disease condition. Also provided are compositions, kits and systems for use in practicing the subject methods.
1. A method of treating a subject for atherosclerosis, said method consisting of:
modulating inflammatory activity of the adventitial tissue of a target artery of said subject by direct application of a pharmacological agent from an extravascular location to the surface of the adventitia at an affected portion of the target artery while avoiding a disturbance of extant derangement within the target artery, and in a manner effective to treat atherosclerosis.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said method comprises modulating the sympathetic/parasympathetic bias of said adventitial tissue of said subject.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method involves direct application of a stimulus to the adventitia of vessels adjoining a target region of a vessel.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method involves direct application of a stimulus to the autonomic nerves supplying the adventitia of the target vessel/s.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method involves direct application to the baroreceptors influencing the biology of the adventitia of the target vessel/s.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method involves direct application of a stimulus to the chemoreceptors influencing the biology of the adventitia of the target vessel/s.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method involves direct application of a stimulus to the volume receptors influencing the biology of the adventitia of the target vessel/s.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method involves direct application of a stimulus to adjacent readily accessible tissue structures physically linked to the adventitia of the target vessel/s.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said pharmacologic agent is delivered in a pulsatile fashion.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said pharmacologic agent is delivered according to a predetermined schedule.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said pharmacologic agent is delivered in response to the measurement of desired target parameters.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said pharmacologic agent is delivered via an external patch.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said modulating comprises administering a second pharmacologic agent.
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said pharmacological agent is applied to the surface of the adventitia by a pharmacological agent delivery device applied to the external aspect of said target artery.
15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said pharmacological agent is an anti-inflammatory agent.
16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein said pharmacological agent delivery device comprises an implantable patch configured to be affixed to an external aspect of the target artery.
17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said pharmacological agent is applied to the subject in a controlled release form.
18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pharmacological agent is released via a rate-preprogrammed delivery system.
19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the application of the pharmacological agent is automatically released via a feedback-regulated delivery system.
20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein automatic release of the pharmacological agent is triggered by the occurrence of a biochemical event in said subject.