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| Covalently cross-linked oligonucleotides |
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| Methods of inducing cancer cell death and tumor regression |
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| Injectable hyaluronic acid derivative with pharmaceuticals/cells |
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| Wound and skin care compositions |
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| Water treatment apparatus |
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| Membrane cell |
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Methods of treating Parkinson's disease using melanin
| Details |
Inventors: Berliner, David L.; Erwin, Robert L.; McGee, David R.;
Assignee:
Primary Examiner: Schenkman; Leonard
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Limbach & Limbach
The invention is directed to the treatment of degenerative diseases of tissues which have lost melanin and which share a common embryological basis as tissues of the nervous system by the administration of an active substance which causes an increased concentration of melanin in the tissue. Such active substances include melanin, melanin variants, melanin analogs, melanin derivatives, tyrosinase, tyrosinase gene, melanin-concentrating hormone and combinations thereof. Examples. of such diseases include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, retinitis pigmentosa, schizophrenia and dementia. The invention is also useful in assisting in the repair of neurons in a mammal having neuron damage by administering an effective amount of an active substance which causes an increased concentration of melanin in the neuron to aid in nerve repair. The invention is further useful in protecting a mammal from a toxin-induced disease or from the adverse effects of a toxin by administering an effective amount of the active substance described above. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention relates to the treatment of a mammal having a disease of a tissue which exhibits a melanin deficiency by the administration to the mammal of an effective amount of an active substance which causes an increased concentration of melanin in the effected tissue.
Such active substances include but are not limited to melanin, melanin precursorsz melanin derivatives, melanin analogs, melanin variants tyrosinase, tyrosinase gene, melanin-concentrating hormone and combinations thereof.
The tissue includes those which share a common embryological basis with the nervous system.
The present invention is especially useful for treating such diseases which exhibit a neurological dysfunction or disorder.
The present invention is also useful for assisting the recovery of neurons in a mammal having neuron injury by administering an effective amount of the same active substance described above.
The increased concentration of melanin in the affected neuron, caused by administration of the active substance aids in nerve recovery.
The present invention is further useful in protecting a patient from a disease, such as a neurodegenerative disease, or the adverse affects of toxins upon exposure to toxins, such as neurodegenerative disease-causing substances, by administering an effective amount of the active substance.
The increased melanin concentration caused by administration of the active substance causes chelation or scavenging of the toxin.
The present invention still further relates to the use of melanin as a carrier for other therapeutic agents.
Due to specific properties of melanin, it is particularly useful as a carrier for other therapeutic agents.
A.
Definitions In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, including the scope given to such terms, the following definitions are provided: Administration: The application or delivery of a drug to a mammal in need of the drug.
This term is intended to include any means of administration which accomplishes the application or delivery of the drug (i
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Gene Therapy 
