Lipid Hydrolysis Therapy for Atherosclerosis and Related Diseases

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method to diminish and/or eliminate atherosclerotic plaques, in mammals, through direct and indirect treatment of these plaques, in situ, using suitable substances which are capable of lipid removal, primarily through hydrolysis, either by a catalytic or stoichiometric process, wherein the substance targets receptors in and/or on the cell which lead to uptake into the lysosome. Such substances used to diminish and/or eliminate atherosclerotic plaques are generally comprised of lipid hydrolyzing proteins and/or polypeptides.

1 . A composition comprising a safe and effective amount of a lipid hydrolyzing protein or polypeptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the lipid hydrolyzing protein or polypeptide is the protein lysosomal acid lipase. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the lipid hydrolyzing protein or polypeptide is a protein showing at least 85% sequence homology to lysosomal acid lipase. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said lipid hydrolyzing protein or polypeptide is a polypeptide possessing similar biological activity as lysosomal acid lipase. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said lipid hydrolyzing protein or polypeptide is a protein having a Ser153 residue. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said lipid hydrolyzing protein or polypeptide is a polymorphic variant protein of lysosomal acid lipase with substitution of amino acid Pro(-6) to Thr and Gly2 to Arg. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the lysosomal acid lipase has fewer than six N-linked acetylglycosylation residues. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the lysosomal acid lipase has more than six N-linked acetylglycosylation residues. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein the N-acetylglycosylation residue is oligosaccharide-terminated. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9  wherein the oligosaccharide terminating residue is a mannose residue. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the N-acetylglycosylation residue is oligosaccharide-terminated. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11  wherein the oligosaccharide terminating residue is a mannose residue. 
     
     
         13 . A composition comprising a safe and effective amount of lysosomal acid lipase in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         14 . A composition comprising a safe and effective amount of a lipid hydrolyzing protein showing at least 85% sequence homology to lysosomal acid lipase in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         15 . A method for providing biologically active lysosomal acid lipase to mammalian cells, said method comprising administration into cells a vector comprising and expressing a DNA sequence encoding biologically active lysosomal acid lipase, and expressing the DNA sequence in said cells to produce biologically active lysosomal acid lipase capable of hydrolyzing lipids; wherein the expression level is in an amount sufficient to produce secretion of the biologically active lysosomal acid lipase from the cells in a therapeutic amount. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the cells harboring the vector secrete the biologically active lysosomal acid lipase in an amount and form capable of being taken up by other cells deficient in lysosomal acid lipase. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the cells are atheromatous plaque cells or cells of the liver. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the vector is introduced to the cells ex vivo. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the vector is introduced to the cells in vivo. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the administration of exogenously produced lysosomal acid lipase, contained in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the cells harboring the vector secrete biologically active lysosomal acid lipase in an amount capable of reducing atherosclerotic plaque. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the vector is a viral vector. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the viral vector is selected from the group consisting of a lentivirus, adenovirus, adeno-associated virus and virus-like vectors. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the vector is a plasmid. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the biologically active lysosomal acid lipase is a polymorphic variant of lysosomal acid lipase with substitution of amino acid Pro(-6) to Thr and Gly2 to Arg. 
     
     
         26 . A method for providing biologically active lysosomal acid lipase to cells of a mammal with atherosclerosis, comprising administration into the cells of said mammal an amount of a vector comprising and expressing a DNA sequence encoding lysosomal acid lipase and which is effective to transfect and sustain expression of biologically active lysosomal acid lipase in cells deficient therein. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the expressed lysosomal acid lipase is secreted from the infected cells and is taken up by other cells deficient therein. 
     
     
         28 . A method for treatment of Wolman's Disease in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal a safe and effective amount of lysosomal acid lipase sufficient to treat said condition. 
     
     
         29 . A method for treatment of Cholesteryl Ester Storage Disease in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal a safe and effective amount of lysosomal acid lipase sufficient to treat said condition.