Treatment of inflammatory skin disorders

Abstract

The invention relates to methods of using an effective amount of activated protein C (APC) to treat an individual for a skin disorder characterised by the presence of hyperproliferative keratinocytes.

1 . A method of treating an individual for a skin disorder characterised by the presence of hyperproliferative keratinocytes including:
 providing an individual having a region of skin characterised by the presence of hyperproliferative keratinocytes;   contacting the region of skin with a therapeutically effective amount of activated protein C (APC);   thereby treating the individual for the skin disorder.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the therapeutically effective amount of APC minimises inflammation in the region of skin. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the therapeutically effective amount of APC minimises apoptosis in the region of skin. 
     
     
         4 . The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the therapeutically effective amount of APC does not inhibit the growth of normal keratinocytes, or induces proliferation of normal keratinocytes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the therapeutically effective amount of APC is from 1 ug to 5 mg of APC per cm 2  of the region of skin. 
     
     
         6 . The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the APC is provided for contact with the region of skin in the form of a gel, cream, ointment, spray, lotion or like formulation adapted for contact with the skin surface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  5  wherein the APC is provided for contact with the region of skin in the form of a composition adapted for subcutaneous injection. 
     
     
         8 . The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the skin disorder is characterised by one or more of the following processes: apoptosis, inflammation, impaired barrier function. 
     
     
         9 . The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the skin disorder is selected from the group consisting of psoriasis, dermatitis herpetiformis, pemphigus vulgaris, and vitiligo. 
     
     
         10 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  9  wherein the skin disorder is non pustular psoriasis. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the psoriasis is psoriasis vulgaris or erythrodermic psoriasis. 
     
     
         12 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  9  wherein the skin disorder is pustular psoriasis. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the psoriasis is generalized pustular psoriasis, pustolosis palmaris et plantaris, annula postular psoriasis, acrodermatitis continua or impetigo herptiformis. 
     
     
         14 . The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the region of skin contacted with APC is a psoriatic plaque. 
     
     
         15 . The method of any one of the preceding claims including the further step of providing an anti-inflammatory agent to the individual. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treating an individual for psoriasis including:
 providing an individual having a psoriatic plaque;   applying a composition including a therapeutically effective amount of activated protein C (APC) to the plaque;   thereby treating the individual for psoriasis.   
     
     
         17 . A method of treating an individual for acne including:
 providing an individual having acne;   applying a composition including a therapeutically effective amount of activated protein C (APC) to the acne;   
       thereby treating the individual for acne. 
     
     
         18 . A method of treating an individual for atopic dermatitis including:
 providing an individual having atopic dermatitis;   applying a composition including a therapeutically effective amount of activated protein C (APC) to the atopic dermatitis;   
       thereby treating the individual for atopic dermatitis. 
     
     
         19 . A composition including a therapeutically effective amount of APC for use in minimising a skin disorder characterised by the presence of hyperproliferative keratinocytes in an individual.