Looking for breakthrough ideas for innovation challenges? Try Patsnap Eureka!

Nucleic acid constructs and cells, and methods utilizing same for modifying the electrophysiological function of excitable tissues

a technology of nucleic acid and constructs, which is applied in the field of nucleic acid constructs and cells, can solve the problems of damage to cells and/or channels of excitable tissues, no longer supporting normal electrophysiological functions, and severe effects on nerve signal function

Inactive Publication Date: 2004-02-12
GENEGRAFTS LTD
View PDF8 Cites 77 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028] This novel approach, which according to one embodiment of the present invention utilizes cellular implants, can be utilized for restoring normal electrophysiological function to damaged tissues such as heart, nerve or glandular tissues.
[0060] According to an additional aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of modifying the electrophysiological function of an excitable tissue region of an individual, the method comprising the step of expressing an exogenous polypeptide in at least a portion of cells forming a part of, or being in contact with, the excitable tissue region, the exogenous polypeptide being capable of forming functional ion channels or transporters within the at least a portion of the cells to thereby modify the electrophysiological function of the excitable tissue region.

Problems solved by technology

Since ion channels participate in numerous physiological processes, damage to cells and / or channels of excitable tissues can be a cause for numerous disorders.
For example, heart conditions, such as reentrant arrhythmia, are brought about by the damage or death of myocardial cells, which can no longer support normal electrophysiological function.
Secretion of factors from glandular tissue, such as insulin is also effected by damage to excitable cells forming this tissue, while nerve cell changes, as for instance in disorders such as, epilepsy severely effects nerve signal function.
Since such transporters are typically slower than channels in transporting ions across cell membranes, their use is limited to cases where rapid influx or outflux of ions is not required.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Nucleic acid constructs and cells, and methods utilizing same for modifying the electrophysiological function of excitable tissues
  • Nucleic acid constructs and cells, and methods utilizing same for modifying the electrophysiological function of excitable tissues
  • Nucleic acid constructs and cells, and methods utilizing same for modifying the electrophysiological function of excitable tissues

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

Cardiac Applications

[0133] Cardiac arrhythmias are rhythm disturbances that result from alteration of the electrophysiological substrate of the heart. These arrhythmias include bradyarrhythmias (slow heart rate) which result from abnormalities in impulse formation or conduction and tachyarrhythmias (high heart rate) which result from abnormalities in the electrophysiological substrate and which lead to the formation of tachyeardia via abnormal foci firing at high rate or via formation of reentry circuits.

[0134] Cardiac arrhythmia often results from damage to the electrophysiological tissue substrate of the heart. By transplanting cells transfected with various ionic channels of specific and predetermined properties, the methods of the present invention enable one to modify the electrophysiological properties of heart tissue and thus repair such arrhythmias. Thus, the present invention can be used to either increase excitability to treat bradyarrhythmias or modify the electrophysiolo...

example 2

Pancreas

[0166] Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disease in which carbohydrate utilization is reduced while utilization of lipid and protein enhanced. Diabetes Mellitus is caused by relative deficiency of insulin, and is characterized, in more severe cases, by chronic hyperglycemia, glycosuria, water and electrolyte loss, and various organ damage causing significant morbidity and mortality.

[0167] Gap junctions and junction-mediated cell-to-cell communications are obligatory features of gland cells, regardless of their secretory products. Studies on pancreatic islets and acinar cells indicate that cell-to-cell communication via gap junction channels is required for proper biosynthesis, storage and release of both insulin and amylase. However, the endocrine and exocrine portions of the pancreas show opposite connexin (Cx) and coupling changes in relation to the activation and inhibition of their secretory functions. These differences may be accounted for by the expression of connexin43...

example 3

CNS

[0174] Epilepsy

[0175] Epilepsy is a chronic disorder usually associated with some alteration of consciousness and characterized by paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to excessive neuronal discharge.

[0176] Astroglial cells contribute to neuronal maintenance and function in the normal and diseased brain. Gap junctions, formed predominantly by connexin43 between astroglias, provide important pathways which coordinate astroglial responses (Reuss et al, 2000, Glia May; 30(3):231-41). Neuronal-glial interactions play an important role in information processing in the CNS. Previous studies have indicated that electro-tonic coupling between locus ceruleus (LC) neurons is involved in synchronizing the spontaneous activity. Moreover, Spontaneous oscillations in the membrane potential were observed in a subset of glial cells. These oscillations were synchronous with the firing of neurons, insensitive to transmitter receptor antagonists and disrupted by carbenoxolone, a gap junction blocker. F...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

PropertyMeasurementUnit
Timeaaaaaaaaaa
Permeabilityaaaaaaaaaa
Login to View More

Abstract

A method of modifying the electrophysiological function of an excitable tissue region of an individual is provided. The method includes the step of implanting cells into the excitable tissue region. Each implanted cell is (a) capable of forming gap junctions with at least one cell of the excitable tissue region; and (b) capable of forming a functional ion channel or transporter, wherein the functional ion channel or transporter is capable of modifying the electrophysiological function of the excitable tissue region.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001] The present invention relates to nucleic acid constructs and cells, and further to methods utilizing same for modifying the electrophysiological function of excitable tissues. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to the use of cells having gap junctions and ion channels or transporters for modifying the electrophysiological function of excitable tissues.[0002] The biological cell membrane, the interface between the cell and its environment, is a complex biochemical entity one of whose major involvement is the directed transport of specific substances. A related major involvement of the cell membrane is the maintenance of chemical gradients, particularly electrochemical gradients, across this interface. These gradients are of great functional significance (e.g., in the production of action potentials in nerve and muscle cells).[0003] Ion channels are macromolecular protein pores, which span the cell membrane lipid ...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
IPC IPC(8): A61K38/00A61K48/00C07K14/705C12N5/02
CPCA61K38/00A61K48/00C07K14/705C12N5/0657C12N5/0697C12N2500/12C12Q1/6897C12N2502/1323C12N2502/1329C12N2502/99C12Q2565/631
Inventor FELD, YAIRGEPSTEIN, LIORMAROM, SHIMONFRANK, MEIRA
Owner GENEGRAFTS LTD
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic, Popular Technical Reports.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap|About US| Contact US: help@patsnap.com