Compositions and methods for treatment during non-acute periods following cns neurological injury

Abstract

This invention relates to treatment of neuroinjury in a post-acute window or in a chronic period following neuroinjury.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for administering a polypeptide comprising an epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain to a mammal, said method comprising: administering a polypeptide comprising an epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain following neuroinjury in said mammal; and, initiating the administering at least two days after the neuroinjury. 
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said initiating step begins at a three days after the neuroinjury. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said initiating step begins at least seven days after the neuroinjury. 
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the EGF-like domain is encoded by the neuregulin (NRC)-1 gene, (NRG)-2 gene, (NRG)-3 gene, (NRC)-4 gene. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide is OGF2. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a human 
     
     
         7 . A method for administering a polypeptide comprising an epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain to a mammal, said method comprising:
 administering a polypeptide comprising an epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain following neuroinjury in said mammal;   initiating the administering at within six hours after the neuroinjury; and,   continuing the administering step into a time period more than six hours post injury.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the continuing step comprises continuing the administering step into a time period more than 48 hours post injury. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the continuing step comprises continuing the administering step into a time period more than 72 hours post injury. 
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 7  wherein the EGF-like domain is encoded by the neuregulin (NRG)-1 gene, (NRG)-2 gene, (NRG)-3 gene, (NRG)-4 gene. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said polypeptide is GGF2. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         13 . A method for administering a polypeptide comprising an epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain following an ischemic central nervous system neuroinjury in a mammal, said method comprising:
 administering the peptide following neuroinjury in said mammal; and,   initiating the administering after the mammal has achieved a complete post-injury ischemic lesion cell death volume.   
     
     
         14 . A method of  claim 13 , wherein the EGF-like domain is encoded by the neuregulin (NRG)-1 gene, (NRG)-2 gene, (NRG)-3 gene, (NRG)-4 gene. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said polypeptide is GGF2.