Methods of treating chronic inflammatory diseases using carbonyl trapping agents

Abstract

These and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing a novel method and compositions for the clinical treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. This invention involves use of systemically administered compositions which include primary amine derivatives of benzoic acid as carbonyl trapping agents. These primary therapeutic agents act by chemically binding to and sequestering the aldehyde and/or ketone products of lipid peroxidation. Increased levels of lipid peroxidation have been repeatedly demonstrated as a part of the non-enzymatic “inflammatory cascade” process which underlies the secondary etiology of chronic inflammatory diseases. p-Aminobenzoic acid (or PABA) is an example of the primary therapeutic agent of the present invention. PABA has a small molecular weight, is water soluble, has a primary amine group that reacts with carbonyl-containing metabolites under physiological conditions and is tolerated by the body in relatively high dosages and for extended periods. The carbonyl sequestering agents are used in combination with at least one co-agent so as to produce an additional beneficial physiological effect of an anti-inflammatory nature. Such compositions are administered systemically entirely via the oral route. Co-agents of the present invention include anti-oxidants and free radical trapping compounds (e.g., &agr;-tocopherol), compounds having indirect anti-oxidant activity (e.g., selenium), vitamins (e.g., pyridoxine HCl), compounds which facilitate kidney drug elimination (e.g., glycine), metabolites at risk of depletion (e.g., pantothenic acid), sulfhydryl containing chemicals (e.g., methionine), compounds which facilitate glutathione activity (e.g., N-acetylcysteine), and non-absorbable polyamine co-agents (e.g., chitosan).