Dana-farber-cancer Institute Inc.

The Broad Institute, Inc.

David K Thomas

Todd R Golub

The invention provides compositions and methods for treating cardiac dysfunction, particularly cachexia-associated or RAGE-associated cardiac dysfunction, using an anti-RAGE agent. The invention also provides compositions and methods for identifying therapeutic agents useful for disrupting (slowing, reducing, reversing, or preventing). The methods comprise designing or identifying agents that bind to functional sites identified on the RAGE polypeptide, wherein binding of agents to the functional site(s) inhibit RAGE-mediated cachetogenic signaling.

Compositions and methods for treating cardiac dysfunction

The invention provides markers indicative of pre-cachexia, compositions and methods for identifying patients with a molecular signature indicative of pre-cachexia; a culture system that reproduces the cachetic process in cells in vitro, which facilitates the screening and identification of therapeutic agents useful for disrupting (slowing, reducing, reversing, or preventing) the progression of pre-cachexia to refractory cachexia; as well as therapeutic agents identified using the culture system of the invention.

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Cambridge, MA, United States of America

David K Thomas