Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Treatment of micro-organisms or enzymes with electrical or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-21
2001-11-27
Huang, Evelyn Mei (Department: 1612)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Treatment of micro-organisms or enzymes with electrical or...
C424S529000, C435S002000, C435S236000, C435S238000, C514S185000, C514S410000, C514S561000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06323012
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a precursor of haem biosynthesis and its synthesis is a rate-limiting step in this pathway. When ALA is supplied to certain cells exogenously, protoporphyrin IX is accumulated in the cells because conversion of protoporphyrin to haem by ferrochelatase becomes rate-limiting (Malik, Z. and M. Djaldetti,
Cell Different.
8:223-233 (1979)). Because protoporphyrin is a photosensitizer, subsequent exposure to light leads to cell destruction, primarily by damage to the mitochondria (Linuma, S., et al.,
Br. J. Cancer
70:21-28 (1994)).
Photodynamic therapy mediated by ALA was proposed in 1990 as a new cancer treatment (Kennedy, J. C., et al.,
J. Photochem. Photobiol. B:Biol.
6:143-148 (1990)). Topical application of ALA followed by exposure to light has been used successfully for eradication of various skin cancers in clinical studies (Kennedy, J. C. and R. H. Pottier,
J. Photochem. Photobiol. B:Biol.
14:275-292 (1992); Fijan, S., et al.,
Br. J. Dermatol.
133:282-288 (1995); Roberts, D. J. H. and F. Cairnduff,
Br. J. Plastic Surg.
48:360-370 (1995)). In addition, the combination of ALA and light has been suggested for treating mycosis fungoides (Wolf, P., et al.,
J. Am. Acad. Dermatol.
31:678-680 (1994)), as well as the ablation of the endometrium as an alternative to hysterectomy or for sterilization (Yang, J. Z., et al.
Am. J. Obst. Gynecol.
168:995-1001 (1993)). However, prior to the present invention, the combined use of ALA and light has not been demonstrated to be useful for inactivating intracellular viruses either in vitro or in vivo.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method for treating a viral infection in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of 5-aminolevulinic acid to cause virus-infected cells to accumulate protoporphyrin in amounts such that upon application of a sufficient dose of red light, the virus-infected, protoporphyrin-accumulated cells will be destroyed; and applying a sufficient dose of red light to the virus-infected, protoporphyrin-accumulated cells to destroy the virus-infected, protoporphyrin-accumulated cells.
The present invention also provides a method for destroying virus-infected cells contained in blood or a cellular component thereof in vitro comprising treating the blood or cellular component thereof with an amount of 5-aminolevulinic acid to cause virus-infected cells contained in the blood or cellular component thereof to accumulate protoporphyrin in amounts such that upon application of a sufficient dose of red light, the virus-infected, protoporphyrin-accumulated cells will be destroyed; and applying a sufficient dose of red light to the virus-infected, protoporphyrin-accumulated cells to destroy the virus-infected, protoporphyrin-accumulated cells contained in the blood or cellular component thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5484803 (1996-01-01), Richter
patent: 0 457 196 A (1991-11-01), None
patent: WO 94 06424 A (1994-03-01), None
patent: WO 96 28412 A (1996-09-01), None
Iinuma S et al. Br. J. Cancer. 70, 21-28, 1994.*
North J et al. Blood Cells. 18, 129-140, 1992.*
Lofgren LA et al. Br. J. Cancer, 72, 857-864, 1995.
Ben-Hur Ehud
Malik Zvi
Amster Rothstein & Ebenstein
Huang Evelyn Mei
New York Blood Center Inc.
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