Claims
- 1. A method for treating an individual suffering from glaucoma, comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that increases DOPA or DOPA metabolite activities, and/or modulates at least one downstream signaling pathway.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of: L-DOPA, dopaquinone, dopamine, an L-DOPA derivative, an L-DOPA metabolite, and a catecholamine.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound increases the mono-oxygenation or hydroxylation of tyrosine.
- 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the compound increases the activity of an enzyme with tyrosine hydroxylase or tyrosine monoxygenase activity.
- 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the compound increases the expression of an enzyme with tyrosine hydroxylase or tyrosine monoxygenase activity.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the glaucoma is a developmental glaucoma.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the onset of glaucoma is in a juvenile or in an adult.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is formulated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
- 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the compound is administered orally, intravitreally, topically, ocularly or parenterally.
- 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising administering a second glaucoma therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of: a miotic, epinephrine; a beta-blocker; a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor; an alpha-adrenergic agonist; and a prostaglandin analog.
- 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising treating the individual with a glaucoma therapy selected from the group consisting of: trabeculoplasty; iridotomy; and cyclophotocoagulation.
- 12. A method of reducing damage to retinal ganglion cells associated with glaucoma in an individual, comprising administering to the individual a compound that increases DOPA or DOPA metabolite activities, and/or modulates at least one downstream signaling pathway, in an amount sufficient to reduce glaucoma-associated damage to the cells.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of: L-DOPA, dopaquinone, dopamine, an L-DOPA derivative, an L-DOPA metabolite, and a catecholamine.
- 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the compound increases the mono-oxygenation or hydroxylation of tyrosine.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the compound increases the activity of an enzyme with tyrosine hydroxylase or tyrosine monoxygenase activity.
- 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the compound increases the expression of an enzyme with tyrosine hydroxylase or tyrosine monoxygenase activity.
- 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the glaucoma is a developmental glaucoma.
- 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the onset of glaucoma is in a juvenile or in an adult.
- 19. A method of preventing or reducing the onset of glaucoma in an individual, comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that increases DOPA or DOPA metabolite activities, and/or modulates at least one downstream signaling pathway.
- 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of: L-DOPA, dopaquinone, dopamine, an L-DOPA derivative, an L-DOPA metabolite, and a catecholamine.
- 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the compound increases the mono-oxygenation or hydroxylation of tyrosine.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the compound increases the activity of an enzyme with tyrosine hydroxylase or tyrosine monoxygenase activity.
- 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the compound increases the expression of an enzyme with tyrosine hydroxylase or tyrosine monoxygenase activity.
- 24. A method of predicting glaucoma in an individual, comprising measuring the level of L-DOPA in the aqueous humor of the individual, wherein a reduced level of L-DOPA in the aqueous humor is indicative of increased likelihood that the individual will develop glaucoma.
- 25. A method of diagnosing glaucoma in an individual, comprising measuring the level of L-DOPA in the aqueous humor of the individual, wherein a reduced level of L-DOPA in the aqueous humor is indicative of glaucoma in the individual.
- 26. A method of predicting glaucoma in an individual, comprising measuring the function of an enzyme with tyrosine hydroxylase or tyrosine monoxygenase activity in the individual, wherein a reduced function of the enzyme is indicative of increased likelihood that the individual will develop glaucoma.
- 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the function includes activity and expression level of the enzyme.
- 28. A method of diagnosing glaucoma in an individual, comprising measuring the function of an enzyme with tyrosine hydroxylase or tyrosine monoxygenase activity in the individual, wherein a reduced function of the enzyme is indicative of glaucoma.
- 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the function includes activity and expression level of the enzyme.
- 30. A method for treating an individual with ocular manifestation associated with albinism or with ocular albinism, comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that increases DOPA or DOPA metabolite activities, and/or modulates at least one downstream signaling pathway.
- 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of: L-DOPA, dopaquinone, dopamine, an L-DOPA derivative, an L-DOPA metabolite, and a catecholamine.
- 32. The method of claim 30, wherein the compound increases the mono-oxygenation or hydroxylation of tyrosine.
- 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the compound increases the activity of an enzyme with tyrosine hydroxylase or tyrosine monoxygenase activity.
- 34. The method of claim 32, wherein the compound increases the expression of an enzyme with tyrosine hydroxylase or tyrosine monoxygenase activity.
- 35. A pharmaceutical composition comprising: (a) a first compound that increases DOPA or DOPA metabolite activities, and/or modulates at least one downstream signaling pathway, and (b) a second compound selected from the group consisting of: a miotic, epinephrine; a beta-blocker; a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor; an alpha-adrenergic agonist; and a prostaglandin analog.
- 36. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 35, wherein the first compound is selected from the group consisting of: L-DOPA, dopaquinone, dopamine, an L-DOPA derivative, an L-DOPA metabolite, and a catecholamine.
- 37. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 35, wherein the first compound increases the mono-oxygenation or hydroxylation of tyrosine.
- 38. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 37, wherein the first compound increases the activity of an enzyme with tyrosine hydroxylase or tyrosine monoxygenase activity.
- 39. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 37, wherein the first compound increases the expression of an enzyme with tyrosine hydroxylase or tyrosine monoxygenase activity.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/452,805, filed Mar. 7, 2003; the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FUNDING
[0002] Work described herein was funded, in whole or in part, by National Cancer Institute Grant CA34196. The United States government has certain rights in the invention.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60452805 |
Mar 2003 |
US |