Thymosin Beta 4 Promotes Wound Repair

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for promoting tissue repair, angiogenesis and cell migration. The method of the invention utilizes thymosin β4 (Tβ4) peptide to promote tissue repair, angiogenesis and cell migration. The invention further relates to modulating Tβ4 activity in tissues.

1 .- 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A method of increasing extracellular matrix deposition in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence LKKTET and conservative variants thereof. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said subject is suffering from an impaired wound healing or a fibrotic disorder. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said wound is in a skin tissue, a dermal tissue, an epidermal tissue, an eye tissue, a corneal tissue, a retinal tissue, a urogenital tissue, a gastrointestinal tissue, a cardiovascular tissue, a muscle tissue, a connective tissue, a neural tissue, a bone tissue, a cartilage tissue, a breast tissue, a central nervous system tissue, a pancreatic tissue, a liver tissue, a reticulo-endothelial system tissue or an endometrial tissue. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said wound is in a skin tissue. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said fibrotic disorder is a musculo-skeletal disorder, a neurodegenerative disease, a bone disease or a cardiovascular disease. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said subject is suffering from a burn, an ulcer, a skin lesion, skin damage, corneal damage or retinal damage. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said subject is a mammal. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said polypeptide is thymosin β4 or an isoform of thymosin β4. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein said isoform of thymosin (34 has an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said polypeptide is recombinant or synthetic. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said polypeptide is substantially pure. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said composition is administered topically or systemically. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said composition is formulated in a topical formulation selected from the group consisting of a gel, cream, paste lotion, spray, suspension, dispersion, salve, hydrogel and ointment. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said method increases the biosynthesis of collagen. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said method reduces wound contraction. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising administering to said subject an agent selected from the group consisting of gelsolin, vitamin D binding protein, profilin, cofilin, depactin, DNasel, vilin, fragmin, severin, capping protein, beta-actinin, acumentin, transforming growth factor beta, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), IGF-1, IGF-2, interleukin- (IL-1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).