Methods of neuroprotection involving macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor agonists

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for preventing, attenuating neuronal damage or stimulating neuronal repair prior or following central nervous system injury.

1 . A method of treating a human subject following acute central nervous system injury, the method comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor agonist to said human within a predetermined time period following said acute central nervous system injury. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said acute central nervous system injury is caused by a traumatic brain injury, cerebral ischemia, cerebral glucose deprivation, cerebral oxidative stress, spinal cord injury or excitotoxic injury. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor agonist is macrophage colony stimulating factor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises attenuating neuronal damage in the human subject. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises stimulating neuronal repair in the human subject. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said acute central nervous system injury is caused by a traumatic brain injury, cerebral ischemia, cerebral glucose deprivation, cerebral oxidative stress, spinal cord injury or excitotoxic injury. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor agonist is macrophage colony stimulating factor. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating a human subject suffering from a chronic central nervous system injury, the method comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor agonist to said human subject following or during said chronic central nervous system injury. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said chronic central nervous system injury is caused by a neurodegenerative disease. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Huntington's disease. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor agonist is macrophage colony stimulating factor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said method comprises attenuating neuronal damage in the human subject. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method comprises stimulating neuronal repair in the human subject. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said chronic central nervous system injury is caused by a neurodegenerative disease. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Huntington's disease. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor agonist is macrophage colony stimulating factor. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of attenuating or preventing neuronal damage in a human subject at risk of chronic central nervous system injury, the method comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor agonist to said human subject prior to said chronic central nervous system injury. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said chronic central nervous system injury is caused by a neurodegenerative disease. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Huntington's disease. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor agonist is macrophage colony stimulating factor. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled)