Methods and compositions for the treatment of retinopathy and other ocular diseases

Abstract

Compositions and methods for the treatment of ocular diseases are disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the instant invention, methods for treating, inhibiting (e.g., reducing), and/or preventing an ocular disease in a subject are provided. The methods comprise the administration of at least one inhibitor of the induction or activity of tryptophan degradation and/or of the downstream pathways that respond to this process. In a particular embodiment, the methods comprise the administration of an inhibitor of IDO1.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating an ocular disease characterized by abnormal vascularization comprising administering to a subject having said ocular disorder:
 (a) a composition that directly reduces, inhibits or ablates the activity or expression of indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1); and   (b) a composition that directly reduces, inhibits or ablates the activity or expression of C/EBP homologous protein 10 (CHOP).   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein composition (a) and composition (b) are administered by the same route. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein composition (a) and composition (b) are administered by different routes. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein composition (b) is siRNA targeting CHOP, anti-CHOP antibody, or antibody fragment. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein composition (b) is an anti-CHOP aptamer. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein composition (b) is a CHOP inhibitor. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein composition (a) is a small molecule enzymatic inhibitor of IDO-1 or a small molecule that blocks IDO-1 pathway activity. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein composition (a) is 1-methyl-tryptophan, 1-methyl-D-tryptophan, a racemic mix of 1-methyl-tryptophan, epacadostat, or (1R,4r)-4-((R)-2-((S)-6-Fluoro-5H-imidazo[5,1-a]isoindol-5-yl)-1-hydroxyethyl)cyclohexanol. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein composition (a) is an antibody immunologically specific for IDO1 or another target in an IDO-1 downstream signaling pathway.