Methods for reducing oxidative damage
The invention provides a method for reducing oxidative damage in a mammal, a removed organ, or a cell in need thereof. The method comprises administering an effective amount of an aromatic cationic peptide. The aromatic cationic peptide has (a) at least one net positive charge; (b) a minimum of three amino acids; (c) a maximum of about twenty amino acids; (d) a relationship between the minimum number of net positive charges (p m ) and the total number of amino acid residues (r) wherein 3p m is the largest number that is less than or equal to r+1; (e) a relationship between the minimum number of aromatic groups (a) and the total number of net positive charges (p t ) wherein 3 a or 2 a is the largest number that is less than or equal to p t +1, except that when a is 1, p t may also be 1; and (f) at least one tyrosine or tryptophan amino acid.
1. A method for reducing oxidative damage in a mammal in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of D-Arg-Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH 2 peptide.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the peptide is administered orally.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the peptide is administered topically.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the peptide is administered intranasally.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the peptide is administered systemically.
6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the peptide is administered intravenously.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the peptide is administered subcutaneously.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the peptide is administered intramuscularly.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the peptide is administered intracerebroventricularly.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the peptide is administered intrathecally.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the peptide is administered transdermally.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the transdermal administration is by iontophoresis.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mammal is undergoing reperfusion.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the reperfusion is a treatment for ischemia.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the ischemia is due to stroke.
16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mammal is suffering from sepsis.
17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mammal is suffering from an inflammatory process.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the mammal is suffering from arthritis.
19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mammal is suffering from diabetes.
20. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mammal is suffering from liver damage.
21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the liver damage is caused by a viral infection.
22. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the liver damage is caused by a toxic agent.
23. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human.
24. A method of reducing oxidative damage in a removed organ of a mammal, the method comprising administering to the removed organ an effective amount of D-Arg-Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH 2 peptide.