Method for the treatment of chemonucleolysis

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of treatment for a mammal in need of chemonucleolysis. The method comprising the administration of an effective proteoglycan cleaving amount of a proteoglycan-degrading enzyme and an effective amount of a growth factor effective in promoting the synthesis of a matrix component. The proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is preferably chondroitinase. The growth factor is preferably osteogenic protein. The proteoglycan-degrading enzyme and the growth factor are preferably administered simultaneously.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treatment comprising administering to a mammal in need of chemonucleolysis: 
 (a) an effective proteoglycan cleaving amount of a proteoglycan-degrading enzyme; and    (b) an amount of a growth factor effective for stimulating the formation of a matrix component.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase ABC.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase AC.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase B.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase C.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said growth factor is osteogenic protein.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said osteogenic protein is OP-1.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said growth factor is transforming growth factor β.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme and said growth factor are administered simultaneously.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said matrix component is proteoglycan.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said matrix component is collagen.  
     
     
         13 . A method of repairing the matrices of the nucleus pulposus and/or annulus fibrosus in an intervertebral disk following chemonucleolysis by a proteoglycan-degrading enzyme comprising administering to a mammal an effective proteoglycan synthesizing amount of a growth factor.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said growth factor is osteogenic protein.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said osteogenic protein is OP-1.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said growth factor is transforming growth factor β.  
     
     
         17 . A method of replenishing proteoglycan in the nucleus pulposus and/or annulus fibrosus in an intervertebral disk following chemonucleolysis by a proteoglycan-degrading enzyme comprising administering to a mammal an effective proteoglycan synthesizing amount of a growth factor.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said growth factor is osteogenic protein.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said osteogenic protein is OP-1.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said growth factor is transforming growth factor β.  
     
     
         21 . A composition of matter comprising a proteoglycan-degrading enzyme and a growth factor.  
     
     
         22 . The composition of matter of  claim 21  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase.  
     
     
         23 . The composition of matter of  claim 22  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase ABC.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of matter of  claim 22  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase AC.  
     
     
         25 . The composition of matter of  claim 22  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase B.  
     
     
         26 . The composition of matter of  claim 22  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase C.  
     
     
         27 . The composition of matter of  claim 21  wherein said growth factor is osteogenic protein.  
     
     
         28 . The composition of matter of  claim 27  wherein said osteogenic protein is OP-1.  
     
     
         29 . The composition of matter of  claim 21  wherein said growth factor is transforming growth factor β.  
     
     
         30 . A kit comprising a proteoglycan-degrading enzyme and a growth factor.  
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 30  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase.  
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 31  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase ABC.  
     
     
         33 . The kit of  claim 31  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase AC.  
     
     
         34 . The kit of  claim 31  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase B.  
     
     
         35 . The kit of  claim 31  wherein said proteoglycan-degrading enzyme is chondroitinase C.  
     
     
         36 . The kit of  claim 30  wherein said growth factor is osteogenic protein.  
     
     
         37 . The kit of  claim 36  wherein said osteogenic protein is OP-1.  
     
     
         38 . The kit of  claim 30  wherein said growth factor is transforming growth factor β.