Methods Of Treating Disorders Associated With Protein Polymerization (2)
Method Of A Treating Clinical Disorder Associated With Increased Protein Polymerization (Amyloidosis, Huntington’s Disease And Prion Disease)
Inventors: David H. Perlmutter: George Michalopoulos M.D., Ph.D.: Tunde Hidvegi
Patent Number: 13/362,606
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods of treatment of clinical disorders associated with protein polymerization comprising administering, to a subject, an effective amount of carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine or another carbamazepine-like compound. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that, in cells having a genetic defect in α1-antitrypsin, carbamazepine was able to decrease levels of the mutant protein. Furthermore, carbamazepine reduced the hepatic load of mutant α1-antitrypsin and the toxic effect of that mutant protein accumulation, hepatic fibrosis, in vivo using a mouse model of the disease. As patients having this defect in α1-antitrypsin exhibit toxic accumulations of the protein, treatment according to the invention may be used to ameliorate symptoms and signs of disease.