Compositions and methods for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
The present disclosure features methods and compositions for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The disclosed methods comprise administering to a subject having or suspected of having ALS a hematopoietic stem progenitor cell expressing at least one neuroprotective agent. The compositions disclosed comprise hematopoietic stem progenitor cells transduced to express a neuroprotective agent.
1 . A short hairpin RNA molecule (shRNA) that targets a Nox2 polynucleotide, the shRNA comprising the following sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1):
▾
5′ C CCUCCU A -
CUGG GCA-GUGCC CGCUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN-
-
GACC CGU CACGG GUGANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN-
3′UC ---AUU A C -
CAU
NNCUC G
U
NNGAG G
AUG.
2 . The shRNA of claim 1 , further comprising 5′ and 3′ flanking sequences derived from miR223.
3 . A method of reducing a pro-inflammatory response in a cell, the method comprising contacting the cell with an shRNA targeting Nox2 of claim 1 , thereby reducing pro-inflammatory response.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the cell is further contacted with a metallothionein or a polynucleotide encoding the metallothionein.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the method reduces expression of one or more polypeptides selected from the group consisting of Iba1, Nox2, Arg-1, Mrc-1, Tnfa, IL-1b, Il-6 and Il-10, and/or Bach1, Carhsp1, Cebpb, Csf1r, Inpp5d (Ship-1), Pea15a Olfml3 and Sall1, and Tnf alpha or a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide.
6 . A method of treating a subject having or having a propensity to develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a cell comprising an shNox2 of claim 1 , thereby treating ALS.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the cell is hemizygous for the CX3CR1 gene.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the method reduces expression of one or more polypeptides selected from the group consisting of Iba1, Nox2, Arg-1, Mrc-1, Tnfa, IL-1b, Il-6 and Il-10 and/or Bach1, Carhsp1, Cebpb, Csf1r, Inpp5d (Ship-1), Pea15a Olfml3 and Sall1, and Tnf alpha or a polynucleotide encoding said polypeptide.