The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Decode Genetics Ehf

Michael M Grunstein

Hakon Hakonarson

Compositions and methods for the treatment of asthma and inflammatory ocular disorders are disclosed.

Compositions and methods which modulate G-protein signaling for the treatment of inflammatory disorders such as asthma and allergic conjunctivitis

The present invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of asthma. The compositions can be, for example, siRNA directed to CD23. The invention also provides a method of treating asthma with a formulation for in vivo delivery of a CD23 siRNA to inhibit IgE binding in a patient.

Compositions and methods to treat asthma

The invention relates to methods for inducing a pro-asthma/pro-inflammatory like state in a resident tissue cell, comprising contacting the cell with one or more cytokines, e.g., IL-&#x3b2;, TNF&#x3b1; or both. Methods are also disclosed for identifying genes that regulate responses to anti-inflammatory drugs, to methods for drug screening, and to methods for identifying genes that correlate with various pro-asthma/pro-inflammatory disease phenotypes.

Methods for producing ex vivo models for inflammatory disease and uses thereof

The invention relates to methods for inducing a pro-asthma/pro-inflammatory like state in a resident tissue cell, comprising contacting the cell with one or more cytokines, e.g., IL-1&#x3b2;, TNF&#x3b1; or both. Methods are also disclosed for identifying genes that regulate responses to anti-inflammatory drugs, to methods for drug screening, and to methods for identifying genes that correlate with various pro-asthma/pro-inflammatory disease phenotypes.

Methods for producing Ex vivo models for inflammatory disease and uses thereof

The present invention relates to methods for inducing a pro-asthma/pro-inflammatory like state in a resident tissue cell, comprising contacting the cell with IL-1&#x3b2;, TNF&#x3b1; or both. Methods are also disclosed for identifying genes that regulate responses to anti-inflammatory drugs, to methods for drug screening, and to methods for identifying genes that correlate with various pro-asthma/pro-inflammatory disease phenotypes.

Methods of treating or preventing induction of asthma in a human patient are provided. The methods comprise administering to the human an anti-Fc&egr;RII receptor protein ligand suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in an amount sufficient to inhibit binding of IgE to an anti-Fc&egr;RII receptor protein thereby treating or preventing induction of asthma in the human.

Compositions and methods for treatment of asthma

Methods and apparatus for determining respiratory system compliance (C.sub.rs) and resistance (R.sub.rs) are disclosed. The present invention provides apparatus whereby an airflow is introduced to a patient via a set of one way valves such that the inspiratory and expiratory flow paths are separate. By selectively occluding expiration, C.sub.rs can be determined and, following subsequent release of the occlusion, the respiratory system time constant (.tau..sub.rs) is measured, from which R.sub.rs can be derived. In another embodiment, by selectively occluding inspiration after expiration has been occluded, a drop in pressure due to the compliance of the lungs can be measured and from this and other data, another measure of R.sub.rs can be obtained. The introduction of an airflow into the patient permits the present invention to obtain passive and dynamic respiratory function data. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the present invention permits medication to be effectively introduced into the airways of the patient. The present invention also permits analysis of the airway pressure waveform to determine the relative homogeneity of the air passageways leading to the alveolar sacs.

Growing community of inventors

Merion, PA, United States of America

Michael M Grunstein