Methods of treatment of neurological diseases by interferon antagonists

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for ameliorating or preventing neurological diseases that are caused, in part, by an increased and/or abnormal responsivity to interferon. Specifically, the invention provides a method for treating subjects suffering from or at risk for such diseases by the administration of a pharmacological preparation that antagonizes interferons' action.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of ameliorating the pathological effects of a trisomy of an autosomal chromosome or portion thereof which comprises administering an amount of an interferon antagonist to a mammal having a trisomy that renders the cells of the mammal hypersensitive to interferon, said amount being effective to ameliorate the pathological effects of the trisomy.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mammal is a human and the autosomal chromosome is chromosome-21.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the antagonist blocks production of interferon.  
     
     
         4 . A method of treating dementia which comprises administering to a human subject an amount of an interferon-binding interferon antagonist that is effective to reduce the level of bioavailable interferon in the subject's blood to at most one third of a normal level of bioavailable interferon, wherein the human subject has a dementia.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the dementia is a type of dementia that is associated with an accumulation of amyloid in the central nervous system of the subject.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the interferon antagonist is an antibody antagonist.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the interferon antagonist comprises an interferon receptor interferon-binding domain.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the antagonist blocks production of interferon.  
     
     
         9 . A method of preventing a disease of the central nervous system of a mammalian subject which comprises administering to a mammalian subject an amount of an interferon-binding interferon antagonist that is effective to reduce the level of bioavailable interferon in the subject's blood to at most one third of a normal level of bioavailable interferon, wherein the subject is at increased risk to accumulate amyloid in the central nervous system.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the subject is a human who is at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the interferon antagonist is an antibody antagonist.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the interferon antagonist comprises an interferon receptor interferon-binding domain of an interferon receptor.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the antagonist blocks production of interferon.  
     
     
         14 . A method of treating dementia which comprises administering to a human subject an amount of an interferon antagonist which blocks the action of an interferon receptor that is effective to reduce the assayed level of interferon in the subjects blood to at most one third of a normal level of interferon, wherein the human subject has dementia.  
     
     
         15 . A method of preventing a disease of the central nervous system of a mammalian subject which comprises administering to a mammalian subject an amount of an interferon antagonist which blocks the action of an interferon receptor that is effective to reduce the assayed level of interferon in the subjects blood to at most one third of a normal level of interferon, wherein the subject is at increased risk to accumulate amyloid in the central nervous system.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the interferon antagonist will immunize the human against interferon.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the interferon antagonist has a different amino acid sequence compared to a wild-type interferon.