Chlorite in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disease

Abstract

The invention features methods of treating a macrophage-associated neurodegenerative disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), or multiple sclerosis (MS) in a subject by administering chlorite in an amount effective to decrease blood immune cell activation. The invention also features methods of monitoring therapy by assessing blood immune cell activation before and after therapy.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating a macrophage-associated neurodegenerative disorder in a subject, the method comprising:
 administering chlorite salt to a subject having a macrophage-associated neurodegenerative disorder, wherein chlorite salt is administered in an amount effective to treat the macrophage-associated neurodegenerative disorder in the subject.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the chlorite salt is sodium chlorite. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the macrophage-associated neurodegenerative disorder is multiple sclerosis (MS). 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the macrophage-associated neurodegenerative disorder is multiple sclerosis (MS). 
     
     
         25 . A method of reducing pathologic macrophages in a subject having a macrophage-associated neurodegenerative disorder, the method comprising:
 administering chlorite salt to a subject having a macrophage-associated neurodegenerative disorder, wherein the chlorite salt is administered in an amount effective to reduce a level of pathologic macrophages in the subject relative to a level prior to said administering.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the chlorite salt is sodium chlorite. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the macrophage-associated neurodegenerative disorder is multiple sclerosis (MS). 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the macrophage-associated neurodegenerative disorder is multiple sclerosis (MS). 
     
     
         29 . A pharmaceutical composition suitable for intravenous treatment of human patients with a macrophage-associated neurodegenerative disease, said composition comprises sodium chlorite in an amount effective for treatment of the neurodegenerative disease and a carrier suitable for intravenous administration. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein said composition is formulated as a unit dose formulation. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein said composition is formulated to have a concentration of sodium chlorite from about 40 mmol per liter to about 80 mmol per liter. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein said composition is formulated to have a concentration of sodium chlorite from about 60 mmol per liter to about 80 mmol per liter. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein said carrier is saline.