Regulation of lung tissue by hedgehog-like polypeptides, and formulations and uses related thereto

Abstract

The present application relates to a method for modulating the growth state of an lung tissue, or a cell thereof, e.g., by ectopically contacting the tissue, in vitro or in vivo, with a hedgehog therapeutic, a ptc therapeutic, or an FGF-10 therapeutic in an amount effective to alter the rate (promote or inhibit) of proliferation of cells in the lung tissue, e.g., relative to the absence of administeration of the hedgehog therapeutic or ptc therapeutic. The subject method can be used, for example, to modulate the growth state of epithelial and/or mesenchymal cells of a lung tissue, such as may be useful as part of a regimen for prevention of a disease state, or in the treatment of an existing disease state or other damage to the lung tissue.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for inducing the formation of, or the maintenance or functional performance of, lung tissue, comprising contacting the lung tissue with an amount of an agent effective to induce the formation of new lung tissue, wherein the agent is a hedgehog therapeutic or a ptc therapeutic, wherein said hedgehog therapeutic is a hedgehog agonist, and wherein said ptc therapeutic mimics the effect of a wild-type hedgehog protein on patched signalling. 
     
     
         3 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said method is used for central wound healing in lung tissue in a patient. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said method is used for augmenting lung transplantation in a patient. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said method is used for treating health consequences of smoking 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said method is used for treating or preventing occupational lung disease. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said occupational lung disease is selected from the group of diseases consisting of: asbestos-related disease, silicosis, occupational asthma, coal worker's pneumoconiosis, berylliosis, and industrial bronchitis. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said method is used for treating or preventing damage to lung tissue. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said damage to lung tissue results from allergic rhinitis, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, pneumoconiosis, respiratory distress syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or primary pulmonary hypertension. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said method is for treating or lessening the severity of damage to lung tissue as a complication of respiratory diseases. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said respiratory disease is broncho-pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, asthma, bronchospasm, or an apical interstitial lung disease. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said apical interstitial lung disease is selected from the group consisting of: cystic fibrosis, ankylosing spondylitis, sarcoidosis, silicosis, eosinophilic granuloma, tuberculosis and a lung infection. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said agent is a hedgehog therapeutic. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the hedgehog therapeutic is a polypeptide including a hedgehog polypeptide sequence of at least a bioactive extracellular portion of a hedgehog protein. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said cell is treated in an animal and the agent is administered to the animal as a therapeutic composition. 
     
     
         35 . A method for inhibiting the growth of a lung tumor which expresses hedgehog, comprising contacting the lung tumor with an amount of an agent effective to inhibit the growth of the lung tumor, wherein the agent is an hedgehog antagonist.