Compositions and methods for treatment of aortic fibrosis

Abstract

The invention relates to compositions comprising vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) or fragments thereof, and the use of such compositions in the treatment of aortic fibrosis and other associated conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of aortic fibrosis in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject at risk of developing aortic fibrosis, or to a subject having aortic fibrosis, a composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (SEQ ID NO:1) or one or more functional VIP fragments selected from SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, or SEQ ID NO:16. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the treatment prevents or slows down the development of fibrosis in a subject. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the treatment prevents or slows down progression of established aortic fibrosis, or reduces the degree of established fibrosis. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising administration of one or more other active agents useful in the treatment of aortic fibrosis. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein VIP or one or more functional VIP fragments are administered by a route selected from intravenous, intramuscular, by subcuticular injection, oral, sublingual or nasal. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein VIP or one or more functional VIP fragments are administered in a dosage form selected from tablets, capsules, powders, liquid formulations, delayed or sustained release, patches, snuffs, nasal sprays and the like. 
     
     
         7 . A method of reducing collagen formation or enhancing collagen degradation in the aorta of a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of vasoactive intestine peptide (VIP) (SEQ ID NO:1) or one or more functional VIP fragments selected from SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, or SEQ ID NO:16. 
     
     
         8 . A composition for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of aortic fibrosis, the composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (SEQ ID NO:1) or one or more functional VIP fragments selected from SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, or SEQ ID NO:16.