Compositions and methods for treating cellular response to injury and other proliferating cell disorders regulated by hyaladherin and hyaluronans

Patent Number: 6911429

Tissue injury is associated with increased concentrations of hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, HA). HA modifies cell behavior, including causing fibrosis and inflammation through interaction with cell-associated receptors such as receptor for HA-mediated motility (RHAMM, CD168).

The present invention provides compounds that bind to HA and thereby inhibit the binding of HA to RHAMM

Thus this invention is useful for treating a wide variety of conditions that are associated with inflammation.

Especially interesting is the possible use of this invention in combination with stem cells so that administration of stem cells will not cause more inflammation, but will allow tissue regeneration.

The patent has 2 independent claims that cover the composition of matter of compounds that inhibit the HA-RHAMM interaction (below).

A recombinantly produced or isolated polypeptide which is a fragment of RHAMM comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 74.

A recombinantly produced or isolated polypeptide which is a fusion polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 74 and at least one sequence selected from the group consisting of a portion of RHAMM and a heterologous sequence.

In the dependent claims numerous diseases are mentioned that would benefit from inhibiting the HA-RHAMM interaction. These include: inflammatory neurological disorders, multiple sclerosis and diabetes mellitus.

View this patent on the USPTO website.