Regulators of mmp-9 and uses therof

Abstract

A method of regulating an activity of metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is disclosed. The method comprises contacting the MMP-9 with an agent which specifically interacts with an OG domain of the MMP-9. Molecules capable of specifically interacting with the OG domain, methods of identifying same, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same and uses thereof are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of regulating an activity of metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), the method comprising contacting the MMP-9 with an agent which specifically interacts with an OG domain of the MMP-9, thereby regulating the activity of MMP-9. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said MMP-9 is native MMP-9. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said activity is a collagenolytic activity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said activity is a gelatinolytic activity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the regulating is up-regulating. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the regulating is down-regulating. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said agent comprises a polypeptide agent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide agent comprises an antibody. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said agent comprises a small molecule. 
     
     
         10 . A method of identifying an agent capable of specifically regulating MMP-9, the method comprising determining whether the agent is capable of interacting with an OG domain of MMP-9, said agent being a putative MMP-9 specific regulator. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said determining is effected by comparing a structure of the agent to a structure of an OG domain of MMP-9. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said determining is effected by contacting said agent with an isolated OG domain of MMP-9. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said agent comprises a polypeptide. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said polypeptide comprises an antibody. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said agent comprises a small molecule. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treating a MMP-9 mediated medical condition, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an agent which specifically interacts with an OG domain of MMP-9, thereby treating the MMP-9 mediated medical condition. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said agent is identified according to  claim 7 . 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said agent comprises a small molecule or a polypeptide agent. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said polypeptide agent comprises an antibody. 
     
     
         20 . A molecule capable of specifically regulating an activity of MMP-9, wherein the molecule interacts with an OG domain of the MMP-9, with the proviso that the molecule is not a non-humanized antibody. 
     
     
         21 . A humanized antibody comprising an antigen recognition domain which specifically interact with an OG domain of MMP-9. 
     
     
         22 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient the molecule of  claim 20  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         23 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 22 , wherein said molecule comprises a humanized antibody comprising an antigen recognition domain which specifically interacts with said OG domain of MMP-9.