Patent ID: 6780837
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: A61K,C07K,F02B,G01N

Abstract:
A method of reducing degeneration of a photoreceptor in a mammal caused by exposure to light or other environmental trauma, the method comprising administering to the mammal, prior to, during or following such exposure, a dose of a neurotrophic factor effective to reduce degeneration of a photoreceptor, wherein said administration is intraocular or systemic, wherein said factor is selected from brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1&bgr;), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and insulin-like growth factor-2, or an active fragment thereof; and wherein degeneration of a photoreceptor is reduced.