Current State of the Art:
Current clinical therapy for heart attack victims focuses on the
rapid restoration of blood flow by thrombolysis, angioplasty, stenting and when
appropriate surgical coronary artery bypass grafts.
Problems with the Current Art:
The majority of cardiac cell death associated with a heart attack
actually occurs during the early phases of reperfusion when blood flow is
restored. Cardioprotective agents that minimize cell death during reperfusion
therapy are desperately needed and would greatly improve the outcomes of these
patients.
Advantages of the Novel Invention:
One important event contributing to cardiac injury during
reperfusion therapy is an excessive inhibition of the F1Fo ATP
synthase by δPKC. Enhancing the return of aerobic ATP production following
cardiac ischemia reperfusion would dramatically improve the survival and
functionality of the heart. d-subunit F1Fo-derived peptides interfere
with or enhance δPKC modulation of F1Fo ATP synthase or ATPase
activities. These peptides are first-in-class drugs that potentially protect the
myocardium by facilitating a more rapid return of aerobic ATP synthesis
following an ischemia reperfusion or hyperglycemic insult. They have potential
as solo or adjunctive therapy with other cardio-protective
drugs.
Patent
Status: PCT
Filed
Inventors:
John
Johnson, Ph.D; Tiffany Tuyen Nguyen; Mourad Ogbi;
Case
Number:
GHSU 2009-042