Treating eye disorders using intestinal trefoil proteins

Abstract

Intestinal trefoil factors and nucleic acids encoding intestinal trefoil factors are disclosed. The intestinal trefoil factors disclosed are resistant to destruction in the digestive tract and can be used for the treatment of peptic ulcer diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, eye disorders and other insults.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a disruption of the epithelium of the eye in a patient, said method comprising administering to the eye of said patient a trefoil protein selected from the group consisting of intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), spasmolytic peptide (SP), pS2, and biologically active fragments thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said disruption is caused by a microbial infection  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said microbial infection is a viral infection.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said viral infection is an adenoviral infection.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said viral infection is a herpes simplex virus infection.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said microbial infection is a bacterial infection.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said microbial infection is a fungal infection.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said epithelium of the eye is the conjunctival epithelium.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said epithelium of the eye is the scleral epithelium.