Method of treating conditions associated with airway tissue remodeling

Abstract

The invention provides a method for improving airway conductance in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of one or more of tumstatin; a derivative, variant or homologue thereof; a polynucleotide encoding tumstatin or a derivative, variant or homologue thereof; or an agent capable of increasing the expression or production of tumstatin.

1 . A method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of LAM in a subject, said method comprising normalizing levels of the NC1 domain of an α5 chain of type IV collagen in the tracheal, bronchus and/or bronchiolar tissue of the subject relative to normal endogenous levels. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising normalizing levels of an α3 chain of type IV collagen in the tracheal, bronchus and/or bronchiolar tissue of the subject. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein normalizing the levels of the NC1 domain of an α5 chain of type IV collagen is achieved by administering an NC1 domain of an α5 chain of type IV collagen to the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein normalizing the levels of the NC1 domain of an α5 chain of type IV collagen downregulates tissue remodelling in said tracheal, bronchus and/or bronchiolar tissue. 
     
     
         5 . A method for diagnosing LAM in a subject, the method comprising determining in vitro the level of the NC1 domain of an α5 chain of type IV collagen in airway tissue or cells isolated from the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising determining in vitro the level of an α3 chain of type IV collagen in airway tissue or cells of the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the airway tissue is tracheal, bronchus or bronchiolar tissue.