Therapeutic compositions for treatment of ocular inflammatory disorders
The invention comprises a composition with means to inhibit the function of the inflammatory cytokine IL-17 and methods for using this composition to treat IL-17-mediated ocular inflammatory disorders. The invention also discloses devices for delivering this composition to the eye.
1. A method for reducing the severity of dry eye syndrome comprising identifying a subject characterized as suffering from dry eye syndrome;
topically administering directly to an eye of the subject a composition that inhibits binding of an inflammatory interleukin-17A (IL-17A) cytokine to an IL-17A receptor; and inhibiting or reducing eye dryness associated with said dry eye syndrome,
thereby reducing the severity of said dry eye syndrome, wherein the composition that inhibits binding of an inflammatory interleukin-17A (IL-17A) cytokine to an IL-17A receptor comprises MAB421; or
topically administering directly to an eye of the subject a composition that binds to a human interleukin-17 receptor (IL-17R) and silences expression of the IL-17R, thereby reducing the severity of said dry eye syndrome, wherein the composition that binds to a human interleukin-17 receptor (IL-17R) and silences expression of the IL-17R comprises miR-24 (SEQ ID NO:33), miR-378 (SEQ ID NO:34), or let-7g (SEQ ID NO:35),
wherein said dry eye syndrome is caused by transplant.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said identifying step comprises detection of a sign or symptom selected from the group consisting of eye dryness, scratching, stinging, itching, burning, irritation, pain, redness, inflammation, discharge, and excessive watering, and wherein said method inhibits or reduces the severity of at least one of said signs or symptoms.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method comprises sequential or simultaneous administration of a composition that inhibits binding of an inflammatory IL-17 cytokine to an IL-17 receptor and a secondary composition.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the form of said composition is a solid, an ointment, a gel, a liquid, an aerosol, a mist, a polymer, a contact lens, a film, an emulsion, or a suspension.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method does not comprise systemic administration or substantial dissemination to non-ocular tissue.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a physiologically acceptable salt, poloxamer analogs with carbopol, carbopol/HPMC, carbopol-methyl cellulose, a mucolytic agent, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hyaluronic acid, cyclodextrin, and petroleum.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method comprises administration of both a composition that inhibits binding of an inflammatory IL-17A cytokine to an IL-17A receptor and a second composition comprising one or more inflammatory antagonist(s).
8. The method of claim 3 , wherein said secondary composition inhibits an activity of an inflammatory cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-17A, IL-17B, IL-17C, IL-17D, IL-17E, and IL-17F.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transplant comprises corneal transplant.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said corneal transplant comprises keratoprosthesis.