The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority

Laura Schrum

Ting Li

Jonel Trebicka

Ashley M Lakner

The present invention provides methods for treating or preventing portal hypertension comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment or prevention at least one Rev-erb modulating agent (REMA) in an amount effective to treat or prevent said portal hypertension. The REMA can be SR6452 or a related compound, such as SR9009 or SR9011. The amount of the REMA administered can comprises a quantity sufficient to modulate Rev-erb&#x3b1; expression, activity, and/or subcellular location and/or to inhibit or reverse hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and contractility.

Methods of treating portal hypertension

The present invention is directed to compositions and associated methods for treatment, prevention, amelioration, and/or delaying the onset of hepatic fibrosis and/or associated diseases. The methods preferably involve regulating at least one of Rev-erb&#x3b1; expression, activity, and subcellular localization. In particular, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to compositions and methods of using a Rev-erb-modulating agent (REMA) for the treatment or prevention of hepatic fibrosis and/or associated diseases. Preferably, the amount of a REMA administered comprises a quantity sufficient to modulate at least one of Rev-erb&#x3b1; expression, activity, and subcellular localization and reduce the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Methods of treating hepatic fibrosis and associated diseases by regulating Rev-ERB activity

The present invention provides a method for treating or preventing fibrosis comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment or prevention an amount of microRNA-19b effective to treat or prevent said fibrosis. In some embodiments, the invention relates to inhibiting the activation of collagen-producing cells and thereby treating or preventing fibrosis. The methods of the invention also include detection of biomarkers that can be used to diagnose disease and/or evaluate the prognosis of a patient suffering from fibrosis or at risk of developing fibrosis, such as hepatic fibrosis. Such methods may be used to characterize the progression of diseases associated with fibrosis.

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Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Laura Schrum