Method of treatment and composition for inhibiting the production of toxic free radical and reactive oxygen species using metalloproteins found in bacteria

摘要

Compositions and methods for treating, reducing the risk of, or slowing the onset of a neurological disorder or pathological condition in a subject are provided. An inhibitor of the formation of free radical or reactive oxygen species is administered in an effective amount to the subject and the inhibitor prevents tissue and cellular damage and/or necrosis by inhibiting the release of free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can cause such damage in the subject. The inhibitor may be a bacterial metalloprotein. An exemplary free radical production inhibitor is the metalloprotein rusticyanin, a type I blue-copper metalloprotein found in the aerobic acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidan. A composition containing the inhibitor of the formation of free radical or reactive oxygen species includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.