Methods for prevention and treatment of acute renal injury

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for protecting a kidney from renal injury. For example, acute renal injury may be associated with decreased or blocked blood flow in the subject's kidney or exposure to a nephrotoxic agent, such as a radiocontrast dye. The methods include administering to the subject an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide to a subject in need thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for protecting a kidney from acute renal injury in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a peptide selected from the group consisting of Phe-D-Arg-Phe-Lys-NH 2  (SS-20) and D-Arg-2′6′Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH 2  (SS-31). 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acute renal injury is associated with exposure of the subject to a nephrotoxic agent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the peptide is administered to the subject prior to or simultaneously with the exposure to the nephrotoxic agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the nephrotoxic agent is a radiocontrast dye. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the radiocontrast dye is selected from the group consisting of: acetrizoate; diatrizoate; iodamide; ioglicate; iothalamate; ioxithalamate; metrizoate; metrizamide; iohexol; iopamidol; iopentol; iopromide; and ioversol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the nephrotoxic agent is a drug or chemical. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the drug or chemical is one or more of the compounds selected from the group consisting of: cisplatin; gentamicin; cephaloridine; cyclosporine; amphotericin; carbon tetrachloride; trichloroethylene; and dichloroacetylene. 
     
     
         8 . A method for treating renal injury in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a peptide selected from the group consisting of Phe-D-Arg-Phe-Lys-NH 2  (SS-20) and D-Arg-2′6′Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH 2  (SS-31). 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the renal injury is associated with exposure of the subject to a nephrotoxic agent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the peptide is administered after exposure of the subject to a nephrotoxic agent. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the nephrotoxic agent is a radiocontrast dye. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the radiocontrast dye is selected from the group consisting of: acetrizoate; diatrizoate; iodamide; ioglicate; iothalamate; ioxithalamate; metrizoate; metrizamide; iohexol; iopamidol; iopentol; iopromide; and ioversol. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the nephrotoxic agent is a drug or chemical capable of causing acute kidney injury. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the drug or chemical is one or more of the compounds selected from the group consisting of: cisplatin; gentamicin; cephaloridine; cyclosporine; amphotericin; carbon tetrachloride; trichloroethylene; and dichloroacetylene. 
     
     
         15 . A method for protecting a kidney from chronic renal injury in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a peptide selected from the group consisting of Phe-D-Arg-Phe-Lys-NH 2  (SS-20) and D-Arg-2′6′Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH 2  (SS-31). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the chronic renal injury is associated with administration of or exposure to a nephrotoxic agent. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the nephrotoxic agent is a drug or chemical capable of causing chronic kidney injury. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the drug or chemical is carbon tetrachloride. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the peptide is administered prior to or simultaneously with the exposure to the nephrotoxic agent.