Method for inhibiting apoptosis induced by photodynamic therapy using a cysteine or serine protease inhibitor

摘要

A composition and method for inhibiting apoptosis, or decreasing the rate or extent of apoptosis, in target cells. The method comprises the step of the step of contacting the target cells with an apoptosis-regulating amount of at least one cysteine or serine protease inhibitor that:a. inhibits the conversion of the pro-enzyme form of CPP32 to its enzymatically-active form;b. blocks the proteolytic action of activated CPP32 against its cellular substrates; orc. both.The method is particularly applicable to ameliorating the side effects of, or enhancing the selectivity, of photodynamic therapy.