Composition and method for altering levels of or sensitivity to adenosine with a dehydroepiandrosterone

Abstract

A method of treating adenosine depletion in a subject in need of such treatment is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject folinic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount effective to treat adenosine depletion. A method of treating asthma in a subject in need of such treatment is also disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject dehydroepiandrosterone, analogs thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof in an amount effective to treat asthma.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating adenosine depletion in a subject in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said subject folinic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount effective to treat said adenosine depletion.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said subject is afflicted with steroid-induced adenosine depletion.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said subject is afflicted with anxiety, and said folinic acid or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered in an amount effective to treat anxiety.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said subject is afflicted with premenstrual syndrome, and said folinic acid or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered in an amount effective to treat premenstrual syndrome.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said subject is afflicted with a wasting disorder, and said folinic acid or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered in an amount effective to cause said subject to gain weight.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said administering step is carried out by oral administration.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said administering step is carried out by parenteral injection.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said administering step is carried out by subcutaneous injection.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said administering step is carried out by transdermal administration.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said administering step is carried out by inhalation administration.  
     
     
         11 . A method of treating asthma in a subject in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said subject in an amount effective to treat asthma a compound according to Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein: 
 the broken line represents an optional double bond;  
 R is hydrogen or a halogen;  
 R 1  is hydrogen or an SO 2 OM group where M is hydrogen, M is sodium, M is a sulphatide group:  
                     
 M is a phosphatide group:  
                     
 wherein each of R 2  and R 3 , which may be the same or different, is a straight or branched chain alkyl radical of 1 to 14 carbon atoms, or a glucuronide group:  
                     
 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein R is halogen, R 1  is hydrogen, and the double bond is present.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said compound of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of dehydroepiandrosterone, 16-alpha-bromoepiandrosterone, 16-alpha-fluoroepiandrosterone, etiocholanolone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said compound of Formula I is 16-alpha-fluoroepiandrosterone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said administering step is a systemic administering step.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said administering step is an inhalation administering step.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of concurrently administering ubiquinone to said subject in an amount effective to inhibit ubiquinone depletion in the lungs of said subject.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said asthma is non-steroid dependent asthma.