Methods of treating age-related defects and diseases

摘要

The invention provides a method of preventing or amelioriating age-related proliferation defects or age-related diseases in a patient by stimulating FoxM1B protein expression, nuclear localization, or both protein expression and nuclear localization of FoxM1B or by introducing a recombinant nucleic acid construct that comprises a truncated FoxM1B gene into target cells, thereby restoring proliferative potential of the target cells. The invention also provides a method of treating diseases or disorders associated with premature aging. The invention further provides a method of treating or ameliorating lung damage. Specifically, the methods of the invention comprise inducing expression and nuclear localization of FoxM1B protein in a target cell by contacting the cell with a growth factor or a cytokine.