Treatment of Cardiovascular Disorders Using the Cell Differentiation Signaling Protein Nell1

Abstract

It has been identified in accordance with the present invention that Nell1 is essential for normal cardiovascular development by promoting proper formation of the heart and blood vessels. The present invention therefore provides therapeutic methods for treating cardiovascular disorders by employing a Nell1 protein or nucleic acid molecule.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a cardiovascular disorder in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a Nell1 protein to said subject. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said Nell1 protein comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 6. 
     
     
         3 . A method of treating a cardiovascular disorder in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a nucleic acid coding for a Nell1 protein to said subject. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said nucleic acid is an expression vector to effect expression of Nell1 in said subject. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said expression vector is a viral or non-viral vector. 
     
     
         6 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 5 , wherein said cardiovascular disorder is myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiac ischemia, hypertrophy, or cardiomyopathy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said Nell1 protein or said nucleic acid is administered systemically. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said Nell1 protein or said nucleic acid is administered by ingestion, injection or implantation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said Nell1 protein or said nucleic acid is administered locally. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said Nell1 protein or said nucleic acid is administered by injection or implantation at or near the site of cardiac muscle damage. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said Nell1 protein or said nucleic acid is administered via catheter to or near the site of cardiac muscle damage. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said Nell1 protein or said nucleic acid is administered in conjunction with cells for the repair and regeneration of damaged cardiac muscles and blood vessels. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said cells are cardiomyocytes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said cells are stem cells. 
     
     
         15 . A method of treating myocardial infarction in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a Nell1 protein to said subject. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treating heart failure in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a Nell1 protein to said subject. 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating cardiac ischemia in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a Nell1 protein to said subject. 
     
     
         18 . A method of treating hypertrophy in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a Nell1 protein to said subject. 
     
     
         19 . A method of cardiomyopathy in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a Nell1 protein to said subject. 
     
     
         20 . The method of anyone of  claims 15 - 19 , wherein said Nell1 protein is administered in conjunction with cells. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the cells are cardiomyocytes. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the cells are stem cells.