Methods For Treating Congestive Heart Failure

Abstract

The invention features methods of treating or preventing congestive heart failure by administering a polypeptide containing an epidermal growth factor-like domain encoded by a neuregulin gene.

1 . A method for treating or preventing congestive heart failure in a mammal, said method comprising administering a polypeptide comprising an epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain to said mammal, wherein said EGF-like domain is encoded by a neuregulin gene, wherein said administering is in an amount effective to treat or prevent heart failure in said mammal. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neuregulin gene is the NRG-1 gene. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said polypeptide is encoded by the NRG-1 gene. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said polypeptide is recombinant human GGF2. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neuregulin gene is the NRG-2 gene. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said polypeptide is encoded by the NRG-2 gene. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neuregulin gene is the NRG-3 gene. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said polypeptide is encoded by the NRG-3 gene. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said congestive heart failure results from hypertension; ischemic heart disease; exposure to a cardiotoxic compound; myocarditis; thyroid disease; viral infection; gingivitis; drug abuse; alcohol abuse; periocarditis; atherosclerosis; vascular disease; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; acute myocardial infarction; left ventricular systolic dysfunction; coronary bypass surgery; starvation; an eating disorder; or a genetic defect. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said mammal has undergone a myocardial infarction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said cardiotoxic compound is an anthracycline; alcohol; or cocaine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said anthracyline is doxorubicin, or daunomycin. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein an anti-ErbB2 or anti-HER2 antibody is administered to said mammal before, during, or after anthracycline administration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said cardiotoxic compound is an anti-ErbB2 or anti-HER2 antibody. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  or  15 , wherein said anti-ErbB2 or anti-HER2 antibody is HERCEPTIN®. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said polypeptide is administered prior to exposure to said cardiotoxic compound. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said polypeptide is administered during exposure to said cardiotoxic compound. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said polypeptide is administered after exposure to said cardiotoxic compound. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered prior to the diagnosis of congestive heart failure in said mammal. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered after the diagnosis of congestive heart failure in said mammal. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered to a mammal that has undergone compensatory cardiac hypertrophy. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein administration of said polypeptide maintains left ventricular hypertrophy. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method prevents progression of myocardial thinning. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein administration of said polypeptide inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is administered by administering an expression vector encoding said polypeptide to said mammal.