Method of treating degenerative disorders of the nervous system by administration of fibrinogen fragment

Abstract

The invention herein related to methods and compositions for treating nervous system disorders. The methods comprise peptides that bind to receptors important in disease progression, thus attenuating the disease.

1 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A composition for the treatment of a degenerative disorder of the nervous system, the composition comprising:
 a peptide consisting essentially of about 19 amino acids and having at least about 89% sequence identity with the peptide sequence YSMKKTTMKIIPFNRLTIG (SEQ ID NO: 1); and   a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.   
     
     
         7 . A composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the peptide consists essentially of the sequence YSMKKTTMKIIPFNRLTIG (SEQ ID NO:
 1).   
     
     
         8 . A composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the peptide consists of the sequence YSMKKTTMKIIPFNRLTIG (SEQ ID NO: 1). 
     
     
         9 . A composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, stroke and Alzheimer's Disease. 
     
     
         10 . A composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the disorder is multiple sclerosis. 
     
     
         11 . Use of a peptide in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a neurodegenerative disease, wherein the peptide consists essentially of about 19 amino acids and having at least about 89% sequence identity with the peptide sequence YSMKKTTMKIIPFNRLTIG (SEQ ID NO: 1). 
     
     
         12 . Use in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the peptide consists essentially of the sequence YSMKKTTMKIIPFNRLTIG (SEQ ID NO: 1). 
     
     
         13 . Use in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the peptide consists of the sequence YSMKKTTMKIIPFNRLTIG (SEQ ID NO: 1). 
     
     
         14 . A method of inhibiting microglia activation, the method comprising contacting the microglia with a composition comprising a peptide consisting essentially of amount 19 amino acids and having at least about 90% sequence identity with the peptide sequence YSMKKTTMKIIPFNRLTIG (SEQ ID NO: 1). 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the peptide consists essentially of the sequence YSMKKTTMKIIPFNRLTIG (SEQ ID NO: 1). 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the peptide consists of the sequence YSMKKTTMKIIPFNRLTIG (SEQ ID NO: 1). 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the microglia are microglia comprised by a mammalian subject. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the mammalian subject is a human in need of treatment for a degenerative neurological disease. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the degenerative neurological disease is selected from the group consisting of multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, stroke and Alzheimer's Disease. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the peptide is comprised by a composition further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         21 . A method of preventing development of a neurological disorder, the method comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a peptide consisting essentially of about 19 amino acids and having at least about 90% sequence identity with the peptide sequence tyr-ser-met-lys-thr-thr-met-lys-ile-ile-pro-phe-asn-arg-leu-thr-ile-gly (YSMKKTTMKIIPFNRLTIG) (SEQ ID NO: 1). 
     
     
         22 . A method according to with  claim 21 , wherein the peptide consists essentially of the sequence YSMKKTTMKIIPFNRLTIG (SEQ ID NO: 1). 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the peptide consists of the sequence YSMKKTTMKIIPFNRLTIG (SEQ ID NO: 1). 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, stroke and Alzheimer's Disease. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the disorder is multiple sclerosis. 
     
     
         26 . An isolated antibody for the treatment of a degenerative disorder of the nervous system that binds. 
     
     
         27 . The antibody of  claim 26 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         28 . The antibody of  claim 26 , wherein said antigen-binding fragment is a fragment selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab′, F(ab′) 2  and F(v).