Kyra Jo Becker

US Patent:

60688440, May 30, 2000

Filed:

Dec 19, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/994293

Inventors:

Kyra J. Becker - Seattle WA
John M. Hallenbeck - Kensington MD
Richard M. McCarron - Kensington MD

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health
and Human Services - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61K 3804
A61K 3817
C07K 100

US Classification:

4241841

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a method of inducing oral tolerance to ischemic injury which has the objective of minimizing the severity and size of injured regions in the brain that arise as a result of ischemia. The method responds rapidly to the onset of infarction, with treatment that is short in duration. The procedure is specifically focused on the injured area of the infarct by virtue of being targeted immunologically to the ischemic site. The method therefore avoids the possibility of inducing systemic side effects affecting other organs of the patient. The present invention involves administering myelin or a component thereof such as myelin basic protein or proteolipid protein to a subject either orally or by inhalation. The amount administered and the duration of the treatment are effective to minimize the size and severity of the infarct in the brain of the subject. The method is intended for acute conditions related either to an actual recent cerebral ischemic event or to a potential ischemic event that might arise as a result of medical or surgical treatment planned for the subject.