Hirulog-like peptide and gene therapy

Abstract

There is provided a hirulog-like peptide. Also provided is the treatment of vascular restenosis including the steps of administering an effective amount of a hirulog-like peptide in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier whereby administration prevents vascular restenosis. A pharmaceutical composition including a hirulog-like peptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is also provided. A vector expressing a hirulog-like peptide is also provided. Also provided by the present invention is a method of treating a patient with vascular restenosis by introducing to the patient an amount of a sequence encoding a hirulog-like peptide sufficient to prevent vascular restenosis.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hirulog-like peptide  
     
     
         2 . The hirulog-like peptide according to  claim 1 , wherein said hirulog-like peptide comprises a sequence based upon hirulog-1 and binds a thrombin receptor.  
     
     
         3 . The hirulog-like peptide according to  claim 1 , wherein said hirulog-like peptide is selected from the group consisting essentially of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and homologues thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A treatment of vascular restenosis by administering an effective amount of a hirulog-like peptide in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, whereby said administering step prevents vascular restenosis.  
     
     
         5 . The treatment according to  claim 4 , wherein said administering step includes the step of intravenously administering the hirulog-like peptide.  
     
     
         6 . The treatment according to  claim 4 , wherein said administering step includes the step of intravascularly administering the hirulog-like peptide.  
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a hirulog-like peptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said hirulog-like peptide consists of a sequence based upon hirulog-1 and a thrombin receptor.  
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said hirulog-like peptide is selected from the group consisting essentially of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and homologues thereof.  
     
     
         10 . A vector expressing a hirulog-like peptide.  
     
     
         11 . The vector according to  claim 10 , wherein said hirulog-like peptide selected from the group consisting essentially of a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and homologues thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A method of treating a patient with vascular restenosis by introducing to the patient an amount of a sequence encoding a hirulog-like peptide sufficient to prevent vascular restenosis.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said introducing step includes introducing to the patient a vector expressing a hirulog-like peptide, whereby the vector provides protection against vascular restenosis.