USE OF CALPAIN INHIBITORS IN THE INHIBITION AND TREATMENT OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED CALPAIN ACTIVITY

摘要

The present invention provides a method of treating a medical condition associated with increased proteolytic activity of Calpain in a mammal. The method includes administering a pharmaceutical composition containing a Calpain inhibitor compound to the mammal in an amount that is pharmacologically effective to treat the condition. The inhibitor is a compound in one of the following groups of compounds: Peptide Keto-Compounds, Substituted Heterocyclic Compounds or Halo-Ketone Peptides. Examples of conditions that can be treated using the methods of the present invention include cardiac muscle tissue damage, cataracts, smooth muscle damage and vasospasm. The present invention also provides a method of inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation and thereby preventing the restenosis of a blood vessel which has been undergone therapeutic angioplasty. This method includes the administration of a calpain inhibitor to the blood vessel during or after the angioplasty procedure. Further, methods of blocking the establishment of the tonically contracted state in smooth muscle and relaxing tonically contracted smooth muscle are disclosed. These methods involve the administration of a calpain inhibitor, thereby reducing or preventing smooth muscle contraction associated with vasospasm and bronchospasm.