Combination Therapy for Treating Disorders of the Ear

Abstract

Methods and compositions using a nucleic acid molecule encoding an atonal-associated factor in combination with a co-transcription factor and/or inhibitor of a gene silencing complex to change the sensory perception of an animal are described.

We claim: 
     
         1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an expression vector harboring a nucleic acid molecule encoding an atonal-associated factor in combination with at least one co-transcription factor wherein the at least one co-transcription factor is Isl1 or a co-transcription factor regulated by Isl1. 
     
     
         11 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A kit comprising
 (i) a nucleic acid molecule encoding an atonal-associated factor; and   (ii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a co-transcription factor wherein the at least one co-transcription factor is Isl1 or a co-transcription factor regulated by Isl1.   
     
     
         20 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , wherein the atonal-associated factor is Atoh1. 
     
     
         29 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , further comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding an at least one neurotrophic agent. 
     
     
         30 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , further comprising a pharmaceutically active compound. 
     
     
         31 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 30 , wherein the pharmaceutically active compound is an agent to control inflammation. 
     
     
         32 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 30 , wherein the pharmaceutically active compound is an immunosuppressive agent. 
     
     
         33 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , wherein the co-transcription factor regulated by Isl1 is Tub. 
     
     
         34 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , wherein the co-transcription factor regulated by Isl1 is Znf523. 
     
     
         35 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , wherein the co-transcription factor regulated by Isl1 is selected from the group consisting of: Mlxip, Zbtb38, Aff3, and Zfp827. 
     
     
         36 . The kit of  claim 19 , further comprising an inhibitor of a gene silencing complex. 
     
     
         37 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein the co-transcription factor regulated by Isl1 is Tub. 
     
     
         38 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein the co-transcription factor regulated by Isl1 is Znf523. 
     
     
         39 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein the co-transcription factor regulated by Isl1 is selected from the group consisting of: Mlxip, Zbtb38, Aff3, and Zfp827. 
     
     
         40 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein the atonal-associated factor is Atoh1.