Methods and compositions for the treatment of polycystic diseases

摘要

This invention provides compositions and methods to diagnose and treat polycystic disorders by inhibiting the biological activity of a gene now correlated with appearance of this disorder. By way of illustrative only, the Tissue Growth Factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) gene is an example of such a gene. Also provided by this invention are compositions and methods to treat or ameliorate abnormal cystic lesions and diseases associated with the formation of cysts in tissue. The methods and compositions treat and ameliorate pathological cyst formation in tissue by inhibiting or augmenting gene expression or the biological activity the gene expression product, or its receptor.