Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
  • A61K38/16—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • A61K38/17—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • A61K38/1767—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from invertebrates
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
  • A61K38/02—Peptides of undefined number of amino acids; Derivatives thereof
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
  • A61K38/04—Peptides having up to 20 amino acids in a fully defined sequence; Derivatives thereof
  • A61K38/12—Cyclic peptides, e.g. bacitracins; Polymyxins; Gramicidins S, C; Tyrocidins A, B or C
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
  • A61K38/16—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • A61K38/17—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K45/00—Medicinal preparations containing active ingredients not provided for in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
  • A61K45/06—Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/0012—Galenical forms characterised by the site of application
  • A61K9/0085—Brain, e.g. brain implants; Spinal cord
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
  • A61P25/28—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia

Definitions

• the invention involves prevention, amelioration or treatment of learning
• SK2 channel or other SK channel inhibitor Exposure of the brain, such as a developing fetal brain, to alcohol or other harmful agents or conditions, causes learning disabilities that persist and can present life-long challenges for an individual so exposed.
• the inventors have found that such learning disabilities caused by stressors like alcohol exposure in utero, can be treated by administering a SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier, such as the SK2 channel blocker tamapin which is a short peptide found in scorpion venom.
• the CDC estimates that 0.2 to 1.5 infants for every 1 ,000 live births have fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) caused by exposure of the fetus in utero to alcohol. It estimates the lifetime cost for one individual with FAS to be $2 million dollars and the total cost to the U. S. to be $4 billion annually. Maternal alcohol consumption is the most commonly identifiable non- genetic cause of mental retardation or learning disability and damage to the brain associated with FAS. Ethanol is a common environmental toxin known to have age dependent effects on brain development and behavior. The cardinal features of intrauterine fetal exposure to EtOH include microcephaly, dysmorphic features, intellectual disability, and executive and behavioral dysfunction. In view of the significant consequences and costs, there is a need to identify prophylactic agents that ameliorate ethanol associated damage the brain and nervous system of a fetus as well as to treat such damage once it occurs, for example, in a neonate or child.
• FAS fetal alcohol syndrome
• Tamapin is a short polypeptide toxin isolated from the Indian Red Scorpion
• SK2 channel also known as a CNN2 or Ca 2.2 channel, is a potassium intermediate/small conductance calcium-activated channel, subfamily N, member 2, SK2 is an ion channel protein that is activated before membrane hyperpolarization and is thought to regulate neuronal excitability by contributing to the slow component of synaptic
• the SK2 channel has not previously been associated with learning disabilities caused by fetal exposure to alcohol.
• FIG. 1 describes impaired motor skill learning in the mice exposed to EtOH at prenatal stages.
• FIG. 1A Timeline of the experiment.
• FIG. IB Experimental paradigm of accelerated rotarod tests.
• FIG. 1C Learning rates of EtOH-exposed mice are decreased compared to those of PBS-exposed mice both in males and females.
• F (1,185) 16.37, P ⁇ 0.0001 by two-way ANOVA, P ⁇ 0.05 by post hoc Tukey's test. The interaction between the sex (male: M or female: F) and exposure type (PBS or EtOH) was not observed.
• FIG. ID The initial motor coordination (terminal speed at trial 1 ) was not affected by EtOH exposure.
• FIG. ID The initial motor coordination (terminal speed at trial 1 ) was not affected by EtOH exposure.
• FIG. 2 shows that Heat Shock reporter system for long-term labeling of the cells responded to prenatal alcohol exposure.
• FIG. 2A Timeline of the experiment.
• FIG. 2B Design of the heat shock signaling reporter construct.
• FIG. 2C RFP reporter expression in GF 1 electroporated cells in the Ml cortex of the mice prenatally exposed to PBS or EtOH.
• FIG. 3 describes the increase of KCNN2-expressing pyramidal neurons in Ml cortex correlates with the severity of motor learning deficits in mice prenatally exposed to EtOH.
• FIG. 3A KCNN2 expression in layers II/III in Ml cortex in P30 mice. White arrows indicate the KCNN2 + celis.
• FIG. 3A KCNN2 expression in layers II/III in Ml cortex in P30 mice. White arrows indicate the KCNN2 + celis.
• FIG. 3C KCNN2 expression enriched in RFP + yramidal neurons in layers II/III in Ml cortex in EtOH-exposed mice (insets show the higher magnification view of the squared areas).
• FIG. 3D The percentages of KCNN2 + neurons in GFP 1 . /RFP " cells in PBS (black)- or EtOH (white)-exposed mice and GFP7RFP + cells in EtOH-exposed (gray) mice.
• F (2, 34) 3 8.40, **P ⁇ 0.01, *P ⁇ 0.05 by posthoc Tukey's test.
• FIG. 4 shows that a KCNN2 antagonist affects the medium AHP in reporter-positive pyramidal neurons in Ml.
• FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C comprises four vertically arranged panels which are sublabeled a, b, c and d.
• FIGS. 4A-4C KCNN2 antagonist (tamapin, 100 nM)-sensitive afterhyperpolarization (mAHP) examined in PBS- or EtOH-exposed GFP7RFP 1 or GFP + /RFP _ neurons as indicated.
• FIGS. 4A-4C panels a4-c4, left graph: Cumulative distributions of the amplitude of action potential and the mean amplitude of action potentials (insets) recorded from control (black)- and Tamapin (light gray)-stimulated neurons.
• FIGS. 4A-4C, panels a4-c4, right graph; Firing frequencies, showing significant increase in RFP + neurons. *P 0.016 by Student's t-test.
• FIG. 5 shows that a KCNN2 antagonist improves motor skill learning in mice exposed to EtOH prenataliv.
• FIG. 5 A Timeline of the experiment.
• FIG. 5B The mice were tested for the motor learning before and after the Tamapin injection (i.p.). Tamapin improved the motor learning in the EtOH-exposed mice (trial 7-12).
• P 0.0001 by repeated-measure ANOVA, P U.ooo i by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.
• FIG. 5 A Timeline of the experiment.
• FIG. 5B The mice were tested for the motor learning before and after the Tamapin injection (i.p.). Tamapin improved the motor learning in the EtOH-exposed mice (trial 7-12).
• P 0.0001 by repeated-measure ANOVA,
• FIG. 5C The initial motor coordination was not affected by Tamapin in EtOH-exposed mice.
• FIG. 5F The initial motor coordination was not affected by Tamapin in PBS-exposed mice.
• Non -limiting aspects and applications of these findings include the following.
• a method for treating a subject having, or at risk of acquiring a brai injury during fetal development comprising administering an inhibitor of at least one SK channel, such as tamapin or a tamapin analog that blocks, antagonizes, inhibits or modifies the SK2 channel.
• an inhibitor of at least one SK channel such as tamapin or a tamapin analog that blocks, antagonizes, inhibits or modifies the SK2 channel.
• the subject may be fetus, such as a first, second, or third trimester fetus in utero, a pregnant woman, a preterm infant, neonate, child or adult at risk of acquiring injury to the brain or nervous system, especially, a fetus, preterm infant, or child whose brain is growing or developing and thus is susceptible to disruptions to growth or development associated with over-expression or over-activity of a SK channel compared to a corresponding normal individual.
• fetus such as a first, second, or third trimester fetus in utero
• a pregnant woman a preterm infant, neonate, child or adult at risk of acquiring injury to the brain or nervous system
• a fetus, preterm infant, or child whose brain is growing or developing and thus is susceptible to disruptions to growth or development associated with over-expression or over-activity of a SK channel compared to a corresponding normal individual.
• a SK channel blocker can physically block a channel comprising a SK protein; a SK channel inhibitor or antagonist, which may also be a channel blocker, inhibits or antagonizes activity associated with a SK channel such as ion transport or signal transduction; a SK channel modifier modifies the structure of a SK channel, e.g. by allosteric effects, or modifies at least one activity associated with a SK channel.
• These compounds may selectively or predominantly block or act on one kind of SK channel or act block or act on different SK channels, such as on channels comprising SKI (KCNN1 ) and/or SK2 (KCNN2) and/or SK3 (KCN 3) and/or SK4 (KCNN4) proteins.
• a subject may also be one who is at risk, who has been diagnosed to be at risk, or who has fetal alcohol syndrome or damage to the brain or nervous system associated with exposure to alcohol, drugs or other agents or conditions that increase SK channel protein expression or activity.
• a subject also, specifically, includes a pregnant woman who carries a subject in need of treatment.
• a subject is preferably a human; however, the invention also includes treatment of other mammalian or animal subjects who express SK or SK-like channel proteins, including canines, felines, equines, simians and other valuable or commercially raised animals.
• the method comprises administering tamapin or another SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier to the subject, optionally, along with a carrier or excipient.
• Other active ingredients may be coadministered before, at the same time, or after the SK channei inhibitor.
• One or more SK inhibitors may be administered or a SK inhibitor that inhibits more than one type of SK channel may be selected.
• the invention also involves a method for treating a learning disability associated with fetal alcohol syndrome or for treating another learning disability, neurological disease, disorder or condition, comprising administering tamapin or a tamapin analog or at least one other SK channel inhibitor to a subject in need thereof.
• a subject may be one having a learning disability such as cognitive dysfunction, intellectual disability, dyspraxia, or mental retardation.
• a subject may also have another disease, disorder or condition associated with fetal alcohol syndrome, a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, have been exposed in utero to a dmg or other toxic agent, such as one inducing or triggering the expression of at least one heat shock protein.
• the subject is a fetal subject exposed to alcohol or agent(s) or condition(s) that increase the expression or activity of SK2 (KCNN2) channel or another SK channel protein such as SKI, SK3, or SK4 in utero.
• SK channel blockers, antagonists, inhibitors and modifiers include tamapin, Lei-dab7, Apamin, Scyllatoxin or analog(s) thereof.
• SK channel blockers include Dequalinium, d-Tubocurarine, UCl-1684, UCL-1848, Cyproheptadine, Fluoxetine, NS8593, Scyllatoxin (Leiurotoxin-I), Lei-Dab7, N-methyl-laudanosine, N-Me-bicuculline, Pancuronium,
• methods according to the invention will administer tamapin or a tamapin analog to a subject, such as a subject in titer o or to another subject in need thereof.
• Tamapin or a tamapin analog may be administered to a fetus who has been exposed to alcohol, ischemia or to at least one agent or condition that increases the expression or activity of SK2 channel or another SK channel in cells of the nervous system compared to those in a normal subject not exposed to alcohol, ischemia, or said at least one agent.
• a therapeutic amount of tamapin or tamapin analog within a suitable therapeutic range for a particular subject may be selected by one skilled in the art. For example, a dosage sufficient to expose SK receptors in neurons or other ceils of the nervous system to a concentration of 24 pM to 1 iiM tamapin or tamapin analog may be administered.
• tamapin analogs will be administered to a subject in need thereof.
• Such analogs include Tamapin isotype 2, peptides having 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more substitutions, deletions or additions to a native tamapin sequence as well as the specific analogs described in Table 1.
• a tamapin derivative or analog will retain at least one functional property of native tamapin, such as the ability to block, antagonize, inhibit, or modify a SK channel or SK channel activity, block in a reversible manner SK2 channels with selectivity for SK2 channels over SKI channels, block SK2 channels with higher affinity than SK3 channels and SK4 channels (affinity for SK2 channel > SK3 > SKI > SK4), exhibit activity that is not voltage dependent, or induce cellular uptake, inactivation, recycling or destruction of SK channels.
• native tamapin such as the ability to block, antagonize, inhibit, or modify a SK channel or SK channel activity, block in a reversible manner SK2 channels with selectivity for SK2 channels over SKI channels, block SK2 channels with higher affinity than SK3 channels and SK4 channels (affinity for SK2 channel > SK3 > SKI > SK4), exhibit activity that is not voltage dependent, or induce cellular uptake, inactivation
• tamapin derivatives are peptides of not more than 50 amino acids in length that have the ability to bind to SK2-type channels and affect the ability of those channel classes to transport ions, for example, to decrease their ability to transport ions.
• Tamapin derivatives and analogs include those which show specific and definable binding properties to all and/or certain subclasses of SK2-type channels. Such analogs or derivatives also include peptides whose sequences can be generated by using any combination of subparts of the peptides listed below using recombinant DNA techniques or chemical synthesis (e.g., peptide synthesis).
• a shuffled variant ca comprise residues (1 to n) of a first sequence selected from Table 1 and residues (n+1 to 31) of a second sequence selected from Table 1, where n is 2 to 30. Similar shuffling among 3 or more variants may also be used to derive a new variant or a longer peptide contract comprising a new variant.
• the analogs described in Table 1 as well as combinatorial variants thereof may comprise additional amino acid residues or other moieties at the N or C termini, for example, sequences or moieties that improve stability of tamapin or its analog in the blood or its other pharmacokinetic properties or sequences or moieties which target or facilitate passage of tamapin or its analogs into the brain or nervous system tissues. Combinatorial fusion of these sequences may be performed suing standard molecular biology techniques or by chemical synthesis such as peptide synthesis.
• tamapin or its derivatives or analogs include addition of linker peptides, effector moieties, or other covalent modifications, such as insertion or addition of non-natural ammo acids (e.g., D-amino acids, or D- or L- amino acids other than the conventional twenty amino acids), use of modified or
• Another aspect of the invention involves a method for treating a neurological disease, disorder or condition, comprising administering tamapin or a tamapin analog or at least one other SK channel inhibitor to a subject in need thereof.
• a method may, but need not be, directed to a subject having or at risk of having a learning disability.
• a method may be practiced with a subject having Alzheimer's disease or other dementia, neurofibromatosis, Angel man syndrome or another neurological disease, disorder or condition associated with aberrant expression of SK channels.
• Disease, disorders or conditions associated with stress, injury, insult or ischemia may also be mentioned when associated with the over-expression or over-activity of at least one SK channel in the cells of the nervous system compared to those of a normal individual.
• Such channels include SKI, SK2, SK3 and SK4 type channels.
• a subject who has been exposed to (or is at risk of exposure to) agent(s) or condition(s) that increase the expression or activity of SK2 channel or another SK channel in I cells of the nervous system compared to those of a normal individual may be selected for treatment.
• a fetal subject or a subject of any age who has been exposed to alcohol, drugs, toxins, poisons, or other chemical agents that increase the expression or activity of SK2 channel or another SK channel in cells of the nervous system compared to those of a normal individual may be selected.
• a fetal subject or subject of any age who has been exposed to prions, viruses, bacteria, yeast, fungi or other microbes, immunogens, allergens, or autoantigens that increase the expression or activity of SK2 channel or another SK channel in cells of the nervous system compared to those of a normal individual may be selected.
• a subject who has undergone surgery, injury, trauma or ischemia that that increases the expression or activity of a SK2 channel or another SK channel in cells of the nervous system compared to those of a normal or control individual may be selected.
• Such subjects may be administered one or more channel blockers, inhibitors or modifiers for a SK channel including those for a SKI, SK2, SK3, and/ or SK4 channel, advantageously in a form that reaches a target tissue expressing SK channels.
• a SK channel including those for a SKI, SK2, SK3, and/ or SK4 channel
• tamapin, a tamapin analog or one or more SK2 channel blockers, inhibitors or modifiers will be administered.
• Such SK2 channel blockers, inhibitors or modifiers may be selective for, or predominantly block SK2 channels. Alternatively, they may also block other kinds of SK channels.
• a subject may be a fetal subject or a subject of any age, such as first, second or third trimester human fetus, neonate, toddler, child, pre-teen, preadolescent, adolescent or other individual with a developing, growing, reorganizing or remodeling nervous system.
• Subjects having diseases, disorders or conditions that caused by, are characteri zed by, or otherwise associated with over-expression or over-activity of SK channel proteins or with epigenetic changes to the nervous system, including obesity, alcohol, drug or other substance abuse or addiction, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, and autoimmune diseases may benefit from administration of a SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier.
• SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier either prophylactically (before), currently with, or after exposure to said agent or condition in order to prevent or ameliorate the effects of said exposure.
• compositions comprising at least one SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier which may be admixed with other active ingredients or pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.
• Such channels include SKI , SK2, SK3 and/or SK4.
• the ingredients, formulations and forms of such compositions are selected so as to permit deliver ⁇ ' of a SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier to a target tissue, such as to neurons or cells in the nervous system, including the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, sensory, motor, sympathetic, parasympathetic, autonomic, somatic and other divisions thereof, including the enteric nervous system.
• Advantageously compositions containing SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier such as tamapin are formulated to permit their uptake into the blood stream and/or passage into the nervous system.
• compositions can be configured for administration to a subject by a wide variety of delivery routes including but not limited to an intravascular delivery- route such as by injection or infusion, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, epidural, or intrathecal delivery routes, or configured for oral, enteral, pulmonary (e.g. , via inlialation), intranasal, transmucosal (e.g. , by sublingual administration), transdermal or other delivery- routes and/or forms of administration known in the art.
• intravascular delivery- route such as by injection or infusion, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, epidural, or intrathecal delivery routes
• pulmonary e.g. , via inlialation
• intranasal e.g. , transmucosal
• transdermal or other delivery- routes and/or forms of administration known in the art e.g., by sublingual administration
• the pharmaceutical compositions may be prepared in liquid form, or may be in dried powder form, such as lyophilized form.
• the pharmaceutical compositions can be configured, for example, as tablets, troches, lozenges, aqueous or oily suspensions, dispersible powders or granules, emulsions, hard or soft capsules, syrups, elixirs or enteral formulas.
• compositions of the invention containing at least one SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier can be prepared in liquid form, or can be in dried powder, such as lyophilized form, implantable sustained release formulations are also useful, as are transdermal or transmucosal formulations. Additionally or alternatively, the invention provides compositions for use in any of the various slow or sustained release formulations or microparticle formulations known to the skilled artisan, for example, sustained release microparticle formulations, which can be administered via pulmonary, intranasal, or
• Liquid pharmaceutical compositions of the invention that are sterile solutions or suspensions can be administered to a patient by injection, for example, intramuscularly, intrathecal ly, epidural! ⁇ ', intravascularly, intravenously, intrarterially, intraperitoneally or subcutaneous! ⁇ 7 .
• Sterile solutions can also be administered by intravenous infusion.
• a SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier can be included in a sterile solid pharmaceutical composition, such as a lyophilized powder, which can be dissolved or suspended at a convenient time before administration to a patient using sterile water, saline, buffered saline or other appropriate sterile injectable medium.
• Implantable sustained release formulations containing at least one SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier are also useful embodiments of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention.
• the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier being a biodegradable matrix implanted within the body or under the skin of a human or non-human vertebrate, can be a hydrogel. Alternatively, it may be formed from a poly-alpha-amino acid component. Other techniques for making implants for delivery of drugs are also known and useful in accordance with the invention.
• intranasal deliver ⁇ ' of a composition containing at least one SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier is also useful. This mode allows passage of the at least one SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier to the blood stream directly after administration to the inside of the nose, without the necessity for deposition of the product in the lung.
• Formulations suitable for intransal administration include those with dextran or cyclodextran, and intranasal deliver ⁇ ' devices are known.
• An oral dosage form containing at least one SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier may be used.
• the composition can be chemically modified so that oral delivery is efficacious.
• the chemical modification contemplated is the attachment of at least one moiety to the molecule itself, where said moiety permits inhibition of proteolysis; and uptake into the blood stream from the stomach or intestine.
• the increase in overall stability of the compound and increase in circulation time in the body are also be used for this purpose.
• moieties examples include: PEG, copolymers of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, carboxymethyl cellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and po!yproline.
• Other polymers that could be used are poly-l,3-dioxolane and poly-l,3,6-tioxocane.
• PEG moieties are PEG moieties.
• the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is a finely divided solid, which is in admixture with finely divided active ingredient(s), including the inventive composition.
• a powder form is useful when the pharmaceutical composition is configured as an inhalant.
• Pulmonary delivery forms Pulmonary delivery of the inventive compositions is also useful.
• the at least one SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier is delivered to the lungs of a mammal while inhaling and traverses across the lung epithelial lining to the blood stream.
• a wide range of mechanical devices designed for pulmonary deliver ⁇ - of therapeutic products including but not limited to nebulizers, metered dose inhalers, and powder inhalers, ail of which are familiar to those skilled in the art may be employed. All such devices require the use of formulations suitable for the dispensing of the inventive compound.
• each formulation is specific to the type of device employed and can involve the use of an appropriate propeliant material, in addition to diluents, adjuvants and/or carriers useful in therapy.
• a SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier may be prepared in particulate form with an average particle size of less than 10 microns most preferably 0.5 to 5 microns for effective delivery to the distal lung.
• liposomes, microcapsules or microspheres, inclusion complexes, or other types of carriers is
• Formulations suitable for use with a nebulizer will typically comprise the inventive compound dissolved in water at a concentration of about 0.1 to 25 mg of biologically active protein per mL of solution.
• the formulation can also include a buffer and/or simple sugar for protein stabilization and regulation of osmotic pressure.
• the nebulizer formulation may also contain a surfactant to reduce or prevent surface induced aggregation of the protein caused by atomization of the solution in forming the aerosol.
• Formulations for use with a metered-dose inhaler device will generally comprise a finely divided powder containing at least one SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier suspended in a propeliant with the aid of a surfactant.
• the propeliant can be any conventional material employed for this purpose, such as a chlorofluorocarbon, a
• hydrochlorofluorocarbon a hydrofluorocarbon, or a hydrocarbon, including
• Suitable surfactants include sorbitan trioleate and soy a lecithin. Oleic acid can also be used as a surfactant.
• Formulations for dispensing from a powder inhaler device will comprise a finely divided dry powder containing the at least one SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier and can also include a bulking agent, such as lactose, sorbitol, sucrose, mannitol, trehalose, or xyiitol in amounts which facilitate dispersal of the powder from the device, e.g. , 50 to 90% by weight of the formulation.
• a bulking agent such as lactose, sorbitol, sucrose, mannitol, trehalose, or xyiitol in amounts which facilitate dispersal of the powder from the device, e.g. , 50 to 90% by weight of the formulation.
• Transdermal, transmucosal and buccal delivery In some embodiments, a
• transdermal patch drug delivery systems for example, matrix type transdermal patches, are known and useful for practicing some embodiments of the present pharmaceutical compositions.
• a variety of pharmaceutically acceptable systems for transmucosal delivery of therapeutic agents is also known in the art and is compatible with the practice of the present invention.
• a transmucosal delivery system can be in the form of a bi layer tablet, in which the inner layer also contains additional binding agents, flavoring agents, or fillers.
• Transmucosal delivery devices may be in free form, such as a cream, gel, or ointment, or may comprise a determinate form such as a tablet, patch or troche.
• deliver ⁇ - of the inventive composition can be via a transmucosal delivery system comprising a laminated composite of, for example, an adhesive layer, a backing layer, a permeable membrane defining a reservoir containing the inventive composition, a peel seal disc underlying the membrane, one or more heat seals, and a removable release liner.
• a transmucosal delivery system comprising a laminated composite of, for example, an adhesive layer, a backing layer, a permeable membrane defining a reservoir containing the inventive composition, a peel seal disc underlying the membrane, one or more heat seals, and a removable release liner.
• Buccal deliver ⁇ ' formulations are known in the art for use with peptides, such as the tamapin peptide.
• known tablet or patch systems configured for drag deliver ⁇ ' through the oral mucosa such as via sublingual mucosa include some embodiments that comprise an inner layer containing the drag, a permeation enhancer, such as a bile salt or fusidate, and a hydrophilic polymer, such as hydroxy-propyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyicellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, dextran, pectin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, starch, gelatin, or other polymers known to be useful for this memepose.
• This inner layer can have one surface adapted to contact and adhere to the moist mucosal tissue of the oral cavity and can have an opposing surface adhering to an overlying non-adhesive inert layer.
• the dosage regimen involved in a method for treating the diseases, disorders or conditions described herein will be determined by the attending physician, considering various factors which modify the action of drugs such as the age, condition, body weight, sex and diet of the patient, the severity of disability, disease, or condition, time of administration and other clinical factors. Dosages will depend on the nature of the at least one SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor, or modifier. Representative dosages include dosages in the range of 0.001-1,000 micrograms, 0.01-100, or 0.1-50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight may be selected.
• Non-limiting dosage ranges for several SK channel protein blockers, antagonists, inhibitors or modifiers are: Lei-dab 7 (min: 3 nM and max: 1.0 ⁇ ), Apamin (min 0.1 g/kg and max 2.0 g/kg) or (min 50 nM and max 1.0 ⁇ ), Scyliatoxin (min 100 pM and max 1.0 nM), and Tamapin (min 24 pM and max 1.0 nM).
• Administered dosages may be selected to provide the above molar concentrations of these agents at the sites of action.
• a device may be designed or adapted to control, meter, measure a precise volume or amount of at least one SK channel blocker, antagonist, inhibitor or modifier. It may also be designed or adapted to administer the SK inhibitor to a subject in utero, to a subject at risk of exposure to alcohol, chemical agents or deleterious conditions, or to an injured or a subject undergoing a surgical procedure. Such devices or compositions may be included in a kit that includes packaging materials or instructions for use.
• Example 1 Impaired Motor Skill Learning in mice exposed to EtOH in utero.
• mice purchased from Charles River Company and bred under a light- dark cycle at a constant temperature were injected i.p. with 2g/kg with either PBS (control) or ethanol (EtOH) thus exposing fetal mice in utero to PBS or EtOH. Thirty days after mice were born (day P30) motor skills of th e control and EtOH-treated groups were compared using Rotarod test. The treatment timeline for the mice is shown in FIG. 1A and the Rotarod test is depicted by FIG. IB.
• mice P30 were carried out using an accelerating Rotarod [5] apparatus (TSE Instruments) over 3 repeated trials (5 minutes per triaiyday for 2 consecutive days before testing phase.
• the Rotarod testing involves placing the mice on a rotating bar and determining the length of time that they can retain their bal ance as the rate of rotation is increased (max 80 rpm, for 5 min).
• mice were kept in their home cages and acclimated to the testing room for at least 15 min. 2 min acclimation session at 2 rpm one time prior to the test phase was performed.
• Testing phase consisted of 3 trials per day separated by 30 min each for 2 consecutive days (total 6 trials).
• mice that moved 180° (same direction of rotation) were gently turned around, face forward, to opposite direction of rotation.
• the latency to fall from a rotating rod was scored automatically with infrared sensors in a Rotamex 5 rotarod
• FIG. 1 C The learning index of control and EtOH treated male and female based on the Rotarod test are shown in FIG. 1 C. Learning rates of male (M) and female (F) mice exposed in utero to EtOH were decreased compared to control mice administered PBS in utero.
• mice exposed to EtOH in utero had significant shorter latency to fall time during subsequent trials 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 as shown in FIG. IE.
• Rotarod terminal speed was determined on trial 1 and again on trial 6.
• the mean Rotarod terminal speed for control mice was significantly higher than that for EtOH-treated mice as shown by the black lines in FIG. IF. These results did not correlate with body weight differences between PBS- and EtOH-treated mice which were comparable as shown by FIG. 1G.
• Example 2 Heat Shock Reporter System for Long-term labelling of cells stressed in utero.
• IEL In utero electroporation
• EtOH ethanol
• FIG. 2B shows the design of the reporter construct.
• the reporter construct expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP)(FIG. 2B left side) when transformed cells are not exposed to stress (EtOH).
• GPF green fluorescent protein
• RFP red fluorescent protein
• Red protein is depicted by the circles in the middle section of the right side of FIG. 2B and GFP by the circles in the bottom section of this figure.
• FIG. 2C left panel shows only expression of GFP m PBS-treated control mice;
• FIG. 2C right panel shows GFP and RFP reporter expression in GFP + electroporated cells in the Ml cortex of the mix prenatally exposed to EtOH (arrows indicate locations of reporter expressions in original color micrograph).
• FIG. 2D shows the relative percentage of RFP + cells in cells derived from PBS-treated control mice and those from EtOH -treated mice.
• the RFP reporter expression was induced upon Hsfl activation in a subset of GFP- positive neurons. This alcohol regimen did not induce any obvious effects in brain structure. Around 35% of the electroporated neurons expressed in the reporter positive cells. However, the reporter expression rate and pattern varied among embryos due to the stochastic activation of Hsfl . Pups were screened using an epifluorescence stereomicroscope at postnatal days (PI) that had GFP-positive cells in their primar ' motor cortex. Further experiments were performed on these mice i.e., single cell sampling, electrophysiology study, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and neurons morphology at P30. FIG. 2D shows the percentage of RFP - ⁇ - cells in GFP+ ceils.
• KCNN2 protein was expressed at a significantly higher level in layers ⁇ / ⁇ in Ml cortex in P30 mice who had been treated in utero with EtOH, compare FIG. 3 A, left (PBS) and right (EtOH) panels where white arrows indicate the KCNN2 + ceils.
• FIG. 3C shows that KCNN2 expression was enriched in RFP + pyramidal neurons in layers II/III in Ml cortex in EtOH-exposed mice (insets show the higher magnification view of the squared areas),
• FIG. 3D shows the percentages of KCNN2 + neurons in GFP + /RFP ⁇ cells in PBS (black)- or EtOH (white)-exposed mice and GFP + /RFP + cells in EtOH-exposed (gray) mice.
• F (2, 34) 38.40, **P ⁇ 0.01, *P ⁇ 0.05 by posthoc Tukey's test.
• Coronal slices containing primary motor cortex were prepared as described above by using a vibrating blade microtome (Leica VT 1000S) from DNA (HSE-FLP0, CAG GFP and RFP FRT, 2 , ug/ul each) electroporated mice (P30) brain.
• the recording chamber was perfused with oxygenated (95% 0 2 /5% CO ? ) aCSF at 2 ml/min at room temperature.
• DNA electroporated primary motor cortex neurons were visualized through an infrared charge-coupled device (CCD) camera (C2741-79; Hamamatsu Photonics, Hamamatsu, Japan).
• CCD charge-coupled device
• the electrodes were filled with internal solution containing (in mM) 130 K-giueose, 10 KC1, 10 HEPES, 10 EGTA, 2 MgCl 2 , 2 Na 2 -ATP and 0.3 Na-GTP (pH 7.3; electrode resistances: 4-6 ⁇ ).
• Cells were recorded in the whole-cell voltage or current clamp mode with a holding potential of -60 mV using a patch-clamp amplifier (700B;
• Example 4 KCNN2 antagonist, tamapin (100 nM). affects the medium duration afterhyperpolarization (niAHP) in reporter-positive pyramidal neurons in Ml .
• FIG. 4A, 4B and 4C show that KCNN2 antagonist (Tamapin, 100 nM)-sensitive afterhyperpolarization (mAHP) exarnmed in PBS- or EtOH-exposed GFPVRFP* or GFP /RFP " neurons as indicated.
• Example 5 KCNN2 antagonist improves motor skill learning in mice exposed to EtOH prenatally.
• Pregnant mice CD-I mice were injected I. p. with 2g/kg with either PBS (control) or ethanol (EtOH) thus exposing fetal mice in utero to PBS or EtOH.
• Mice were tested using the Rotarod test described above on postnatal days 30, 31, 32 and 33 days as shown by the timeline in FIG. 5A.
• mice were injected i.p. with PBS or tamapin as also shown in FIG. 5 A.
• the mice were tested for the motor learning before and after the Tamapin injection (i.p.).
• FIG. 5B treatment of mice that had been exposed in utero to EtOH with tamapin (dark squares) significantly improved latency to fall scores compared to mice exposed in utero to EtOH who did not receive the post-natal tamapin treatment (bottom trace, triangles).
• FIG. 5D describes increased learning rate for mice exposed in utero to EtOH who received tamapin treatment compared to otherwise identical EtOH-treated mice not receiving tamapin.
• FIG. 5C The initial motor coordination was not affected by Tamapin in EtOH-exposed mice.
• FIGS. 5E, 5F and 5G which are based on Rotarod terminal speed tests, show similar improvement in mice exposed in utero to EtOH and receiving tamapin compared to EtOH treated mice receiving only PBS.
• FIG. 5F The initial motor coordination was not affected by tamapin in PBS-exposed mice.

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