Patent ID: 6096716
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: A61K,C07K,C12N

Abstract:
A method for treating nerve cells by transfection comprising the steps of:(a) selecting a nerve cell tissue site of an animal suffering a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury;(b) administering to the cells of said nerve tissue site of said animal by direct injection an effective amount of a composition comprising a nucleic acid segment encoding a neurotrophin, and a liposome comprising at least one cationic lipid; wherein said neurotropin is selected from the group consisting of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived nerve growth factor (BDNF), and wherein said cells of said nerve tissue site in said animal are transfected with said composition resulting in the transient expression of said neurotrophin in said cells causing a reduction of neuron death or cytoskeletal protein damage in said nerve tissue site.