Targeting sites of damaged lung tissue

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for targeting damaged lung tissue. Compositions provided feature a targeting moiety coupled to one or more other moieties, including, for example, a cross-linkable moiety, an imaging moiety, and / or one or more other targeting moieties. The methods and compositions of the invention find use, for example, in detecting and treating a pulmonary condition such as emphysema.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to provisional applications U.S. 60 / 580,444, entitled “Targeting Damaged Lung Tissue,” filed Jun. 16, 2004; U.S. 60 / 586,932, entitled “Targeting Damaged Lung Tissue Using Various Formulations,” filed Jul. 8, 2004; and U.S. 60 / 586,950, entitled “Lung Volume Reduction Using Glue Composition,” filed Jul. 8, 2004, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Pulmonary conditions affect millions of Americans and many more individuals worldwide. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), for example, including emphysema, asthma, bronchiectais and chronic bronchitis, is one of the most common chronic conditions and the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. While various environmental and genetic factors may contribute to COPD, cigarette smoking is the primary cause. Cigarette smoke can trigger inflammatory responses within the lungs, activating elastase, cathepsin G, and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of reducing lung volume by administering to a subject a composition comprising a first targeting moiety and a second targeting moiety where the targeting moieties are coupled and where the targeting moieties target damaged lung tissue; and allowing the targeting moieties to target different sites of damaged lung tissue, thereby reducing lung volume. In some embodiments, the lung tissue comprises epithelial lining fluid. In some embodiments, the different sites comprise different sites within an enlarged air space. In some embodiments, the first targeting moiety targets a first damage-correlated moiety and the second targeting moiety targets a second damage-correlated moiety, the first and second damage-correlated moieties occurring at the different sites. In some embodiments, the first and second damage-correlated moieties are the same. In some embodiments, the first and second damage-correlated moieties are different.

Problems solved by technology

In some embodiments, the method damages epithelial cells within lung tissue by use of a sclerosing agent.

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