The State University of New York

Sidney Strickland

Patricia Andrade-Gordon

David G Amaral

Styliani-Anna Tsirka

The invention provides a method for regulating neuronal degeneration resulting from injury to nervous tissue. The method includes regulating the expression or activity of protease, preferably tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), by microglial cells. Alternatively, the method involves regulating microglial activation in response to injurious conditions. The method, in an alternative embodiment, includes detecting tPA expression or activity, or detecting microglial activation. In addition, the method includes assessing the susceptibility of a human or animal subject to seizure, and may involve detecting the activity or expression of tPA, and may further involve comparing a measured level of tPA expression or activity with a reference level associated with a given probability of seizure.

Method for reducing neuronal degeneration associated with seizure

A composition for thrombolytic therapy includes a tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and a low affinity heparin fraction. The composition is administered intravenously to allow the t-PA to dissolve blood clots while the low affinity heparin fraction prevents reocculsion without the harmful side effects observed for unfractionated heparin, such as, stimulation of and interference with t-PA activity in the circulatory system, as well as, interference with fibrinolytic activity which can cause hemorrhaging in the mammalian circulatory system.

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Setauket, NY, United States of America

Sidney Strickland