Poly-Glu,Tyr for neuroprotective therapy

Patent Number: 7,399,740

T regulatory cells are generally seen as antiinflammatory cells that are capable of suppressing pathological immune responses.  These cells have been demonstrated to inhibit inflammatory pathologies such as bone resorption and transplant rejection.  

The current patent takes an opposite view of T regulatory cells.  The patent aims at inhibiting T regulatory cell activity so as to improve healing and neuroregeneration after brain injury.  This is a very counterintuitive approach and worthy of further investigation!

The patent has one independent claim which covers downregulation of "suppressive" activity of T regulatory cells expressing CD4 and CD25 at the site of a nervous system injury by administering a polymer of poly-Glu,Tyr.  The dependent claims include covering various conditions associated with neurodegeneration including stroke, brain injury, surgical injury, etc.

The examples include demonstration of reduction of Treg activity, demonstration of therapeutic activity in animal models of axotomy, ALS, stroke, and even cardiac infarction. 

Given the central role of T regulatory cells in numerous conditions, it is interesting why the use for "derepression of cancer immunity" was not claimed.  Maybe that is in a different patent. 

View this patent on the USPTO website.