Modulation of epigenetic stress response

Abstract

Stress, such as from physical, metabolic or psychological trauma, is associated with enduring secondary complications leading to morbidity and/or death in subjects that receive the stress insult. The epigenetic oxidative stress response to a stress insult is characterized by (a) global epigenetic events such as changes in DNA methylation and phosphorylation of Ser10 and acetylation of Lys9/14 residues of histone-3 (b) significant systemic elevations in analytes of oxidative stress in body fluids such as blood or urine and (c) deterioration of clinically relevant parameters such as glycemic control, organ function, lean body mass and rate of healing. The applicant teaches a method of counteracting the grave systemic effects of stress insult with reference to the epigenetic oxidative stress response, by daily subcutaneous bolus injections of nephrilin peptide beginning soon after insult and continuing for seven days. These methods of combating epigenetic oxidative stress response are new and have not been described in the prior art. Specifically, the use of nephrilin (acting on its target, Rictor complex) to obviate the epigenetic changes in trauma that result in systemic oxidative stress, is new. Previously disclosed work on nephrilin had not described its effects on epigenetic change (mechanism) or oxidative stress (readout). The relevance of this particular epigenetic-oxidative-stress cascade to clinically relevant outcomes such as loss of organ function, glycemic control or lean body mass was unknown, as was the use of nephrilin molecule to counteract these phenomena. The invention relates to the use of specific therapeutic agents such as nephrilin to ameliorate the epigenetic oxidative stress response, and specifically the above-mentioned clinically relevant parameters.