Methods for preventing and treating chronic kidney disease (ckd)

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for preventing and treating chronic kidney disease (CKD).

1 . A method of preventing or treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a subject in need thereof, comprising
 administering to the subject   an agent which binds to periostin, wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of antibodies, aptamers, small organic molecules and polypeptides or   an inhibitor of periostin gene expression.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said agent is an anti-periostin neutralizing antibody or aptamer. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said inhibitor of periostin gene expression is selected from the group consisting of a small inhibitory RNA (siRNA), a ribozyme, and an antisense oligonucleotide. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject in need thereof is suffering from a disease selected from the group consisting of nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis, lupus nephritis, idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), obstructive uropathy, polycystic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and kidney graft rejection. 
     
     
         6 . A pharmaceutical composition for use in the prevention or treatment of CKD comprising
 an agent which binds to periostin, wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of antibodies, aptamers, small organic molecules and polypeptides or   an inhibitor of periostin gene expression, wherein said inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of a small inhibitory RNA (siRNA), a ribozyme, and an antisense oligonucleotide; and   a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said nephropathy is selected from the group consisting of membranous nephropathy (MN), diabetic nephropathy and hypertensive nephropathy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said glomerulonephritis is selected from the group consisting of membranous glomerulonephritis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said INS is selected from the group consisting of minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said polycystic kidney disease is selected from the group consisting of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) and Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said kidney graft rejection disease is selected from the group consisting of acute kidney rejection and chronic kidney rejection. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the subject in need thereof is suffering from a disease selected from the group consisting of nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis, lupus nephritis, idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), obstructive uropathy, polycystic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and kidney graft rejection. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said nephropathy is selected from the group consisting of membranous nephropathy (MN), diabetic nephropathy and hypertensive nephropathy. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said glomerulonephritis is selected from the group consisting of membranous glomerulonephritis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN). 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said INS is selected from the group consisting of minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said polycystic kidney disease is selected from the group consisting of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) and Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said kidney graft rejection disease is selected from the group consisting of acute kidney rejection and chronic kidney rejection.