| Rnai-mediated inhibition of rho kinase for treatment of ocular disorders -> Monitor Keywords |
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Rnai-mediated inhibition of rho kinase for treatment of ocular disordersRelated Patent Categories: Drug, Bio-affecting And Body Treating Compositions, Designated Organic Active Ingredient Containing (doai), O-glycoside, , Nitrogen Containing Hetero Ring, Polynucleotide (e.g., Rna, Dna, Etc.)Rnai-mediated inhibition of rho kinase for treatment of ocular disorders description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070149473, Rnai-mediated inhibition of rho kinase for treatment of ocular disorders. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/754,094 filed Dec. 27, 2005, the text of which is specifically incorporated by reference herein. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the field of interfering RNA compositions for inhibition of expression of Rho kinase mRNA targets in ocular disorders, particularly for reducing intraocular pressure in the treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Glaucoma is a heterogeneous group of optic neuropathies that share certain clinical features. The loss of vision in glaucoma is due to the selective death of retinal ganglion cells in the neural retina that is clinically diagnosed by characteristic changes in the visual field, nerve fiber layer defects, and a progressive cupping of the optic nerve head (ONH). One of the main risk factors for the development of glaucoma is the presence of ocular hypertension (OHT), i.e., elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). An adequate IOP is needed to maintain the shape of the eye and to provide a pressure gradient to allow for the flow of aqueous humor to the avascular cornea and lens. IOP levels also may be involved in the pathogenesis of normal tension glaucoma (NTG), as evidenced by patients benefiting from IOP lowering medications. Once adjustments for central corneal thickness are made to IOP readings in NTG patients, many of these patients may be found to be ocular hypertensive. [0004] The elevated IOP associated with glaucoma is due to elevated aqueous humor outflow resistance in the trabecular meshwork (TM), a small specialized tissue located in the iris-corneal angle of the ocular anterior chamber. Glaucomatous changes to the TM include a loss in TM cells and the deposition and accumulation of extracellular debris including proteinaceous plaque-like material. In addition, there are also changes that occur in the glaucomatous ONH. In glaucomatous eyes, there are morphological and mobility changes in ONH glial cells. In response to elevated IOP and/or transient ischemic insults, there is a change in the composition of the ONH extracellular matrix and alterations in the glial cell and retinal ganglion cell axon morphologies. [0005] Primary glaucomas result from disturbances in the flow of intraocular fluid that has an anatomical or physiological basis. Secondary glaucomas occur as a result of injury or trauma to the eye or a preexisting disease. Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), also known as chronic or simple glaucoma, represents the majority of all primary glaucomas. POAG is characterized by the degeneration of the trabecular meshwork, resulting in abnormally high resistance to fluid drainage from the eye. A consequence of such resistance is an increase in the IOP that is required to drive the fluid normally produced by the eye across the increased resistance. [0006] Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinases, also known as Rho kinases or ROCKs, are effectors of the Rho family of small GTP-binding proteins (Rho GTPases). The Rho GTPase signaling pathway appears to play a role in regulating aqueous humor outflow, for example, by altering the cytoskeletal organization of trabecular meshwork (TM) and/or ciliary muscle (CM) cells. Small molecule inhibitors of Rho kinase cause reversible changes in TM cell morphology and cytoskeletal organization, decrease contractility of isolated CM tissue, and increase aqueous humor outflow facility in organ culture (Waki M. et al., Curr Eye Res. 22:470-4 (2001); Honjo M. et al., Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 42:137-44 (2001); Rao P V. et al., Mol Vis. 11:288-97 (2005); Rao P V. et al., Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 42:1029-37 (2001)). Similar effects are generated by expression of dominant negative Rho-binding domains. However, treatment with small molecule inhibitors of Rho kinase also causes vasodilation and conjunctival hyperemia. In addition, the efficacy of small molecule-based therapies is relatively short-lived requiring repeated dosing during each day and, in some cases, the efficacy decreases with time. [0007] In view of the importance of ocular hypertension in glaucoma and the side effects of prior methods of treatment, it would be desirable to have an improved method of treating ocular hypertension. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention is directed to interfering RNAs that silence Rho kinase mRNA expression, thus lowering intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma or at risk of developing hypertension or glaucoma. Rho kinase targets include ROCK1 (also known as ROCK1, ROK.beta., or p160ROCK) and ROCK2 (also known as ROCKII or ROK.alpha.). The interfering RNAs of the invention are useful for treating patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma such as normal tension glaucoma and open angle glaucoma. [0009] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of attenuating expression of a Rho kinase mRNA in a subject. The method comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In one embodiment, administration is to the eye of the subject for attenuating expression of an ocular hypertension target in a human. [0010] In one embodiment of the invention, the interfering RNA comprises a sense nucleotide strand, an antisense nucleotide strand and a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides. Further, the antisense strand hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 which are sense cDNA sequences encoding ROCK1 and ROCK2, respectively (GenBank accession no. NM.sub.--005406, and NM.sub.--004850, respectively). The antisense strand has a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2, respectively. The administration of such a composition attenuates the expression of Rho kinase in the subject. [0011] In one embodiment of the invention, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 comprising nucleotide 605, 653, 659, 1248, 1562, 1876, 2266, 2474, 2485, 2740, 2808, 2834, 3007, 3146, 3199, 3245, 3379, 3453, 3511, 3513, 3519, 3781, 3782, 998, 1132, 1200, 1648, 1674, 1708, or 2077. In another embodiment of the invention, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:2 comprising nucleotide 1102, 1865, 2000, 2229, 2514, 2584, 2738, 3305, 4111, 4652, 5184, 5187, 5255, 5315, 5439, 5450, 5578, 5579, 5611, 5625, 5795, 6000, 6228, 6264, 584, 1337, 1678, 2773, 2814, 2941, 3357, 3398, 3481, 3633, 3644, 3645, 3767, 3836, 4023, 4097, 5202, or 5440. [0012] The present invention further provides for administering a second interfering RNA to a subject in addition to a first interfering RNA. The method comprises administering to the subject a second interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and comprising a sense nucleotide strand, an antisense nucleotide strand, and a region of at least near-perfect complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides; wherein the antisense strand of the second interfering RNA hybridizes under physiological conditions to a second portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 and the antisense strand has a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the second hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2, respectively. The second interfering RNA may target the same mRNA as the first interfering RNA or may target a different mRNA. Further, a third, fourth, or fifth, etc. interfering RNA may be administered in a similar manner. [0013] Another embodiment of the invention is a method of attenuating expression of Rho kinase in a subject comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of single-stranded interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. [0014] For attenuating expression of ROCK1, the single-stranded interfering RNA hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 comprising nucleotide 605, 653, 659, 1248, 1562, 1876, 2266, 2474, 2485, 2740, 2808, 2834, 3007, 3146, 3199, 3245, 3379, 3453, 3511, 3513, 3519, 3781, 3782, 998, 1132, 1200, 1648, 1674, 1708, or 2077, and the interfering RNA has a region of at least near-perfect complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1. Expression of ROCK1 is thereby attenuated. [0015] For attenuating expression of ROCK2, the single-stranded interfering RNA hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:2 comprising nucleotide 1102, 1865, 2000, 2229, 2514, 2584, 2738, 3305, 4111, 4652, 5184, 5187, 5255, 5315, 5439, 5450, 5578, 5579, 5611, 5625, 5795, 6000, 6228, 6264, 584, 1337, 1678, 2773, 2814, 2941, 3357, 3398, 3481, 3633, 3644, 3645, 3767, 3836, 4023, 4097, 5202, or 5440 and the interfering RNA has a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:2. Expression of ROCK2 is thereby attenuated. [0016] A further embodiment of the invention is a method of treating ocular hypertension or glaucoma in a subject in need thereof. The method comprises administering to the eye of the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the interfering RNA comprising a sense nucleotide strand, an antisense nucleotide strand, and a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides. The antisense strand hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 and has a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2, respectively. The ocular hypertension or glaucoma is treated thereby. [0017] Another embodiment of the invention is a method of treating ocular hypertension or glaucoma in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to an eye of the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the interfering RNA comprising a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of an mRNA corresponding to any one of SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:9-SEQ ID NO:79, wherein the ocular hypertension or glaucoma is treated thereby. [0018] Another embodiment of the invention is a method of attenuating expression of a Rho kinase target mRNA in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, where the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of an mRNA corresponding to any one of SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:9-SEQ ID NO:79 as follows. [0019] When the Rho kinase target mRNA is ROCK1 mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:73, SEQ ID NO:74, SEQ ID NO:75, SEQ ID NO:76, SEQ ID NO:77, SEQ ID NO:78, or SEQ ID NO:79. [0020] When the Rho kinase target mRNA is ROCK2 mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO:45, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:48, SEQ ID NO:49, SEQ ID NO:50, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53, SEQ ID NO:54, SEQ ID NO:55, SEQ ID NO:56, SEQ ID NO:57, SEQ ID NO:58, SEQ ID NO:59, SEQ ID NO:60, SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:62, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:64, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:68, SEQ ID NO:69, SEQ ID NO:70, SEQ ID NO:71, or SEQ ID NO:72. [0021] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the region of contiguous nucleotides is a region of at least 14 contiguous nucleotides having at least 85% sequence complementarity to, or at least 85% sequence identity with, the penultimate 14 nucleotides of the 3' end of an mRNA corresponding to the sequence of the sequence identifier. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the region of contiguous nucleotides is a region of at least 15, 16, 17, or 18 contiguous nucleotides having at least 80% sequence complementarity to, or at least 80% sequence identity with, the penultimate 15, 16, 17, or 18 nucleotides, respectively, of the 3' end of an mRNA corresponding to the target sequence identified by the sequence identifier. Continue reading about Rnai-mediated inhibition of rho kinase for treatment of ocular disorders... 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