Therapy for cellular accumulation in chronic inflammatory diseases

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel method for the treatment of cellular accumulation in chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The method includes gene delivery and gene expression that is capable of enhancing apoptosis of accumulating cells and those cells which recruit accumulating cells. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting cellular accumulation diseases.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of administration of gene delivery and gene expression in a patient having or at risk of having a cellular accumulation or a chronic inflammatory disease wherein the disease has an etiology associated with a defective apoptosis-regulating gene or polypeptide, the method comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition which modulates the expression of the apoptosis-regulating gene or polypeptide in an apoptosis defective cell such that the disease is ameliorated.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cellular accumulation is in a joint.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modulation is enhancing apoptosis.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the apoptosis enhancing effect is on fibroblast-like synovial cells.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and a periodontal disease.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the apoptosis gene or polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of p53, ICE, bax, p21waf, and ras.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is an apoptosis polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the apoptosis polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid is present in an expressible genetic construct.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the expressible genetic construct is a viral vector.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the viral vector is a DNA vector.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the DNA vector is an adenovirus vector.