METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS EMPLOYING UNIQUE MIXTURES OF POLAR AND NEUTRAL LIPIDS FOR PROTECTING THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT AND ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS FOR SURFACTANT REPLACEMENT THERAPY AND OTHER CONDITIONS REQUIRING RAPID PHOSPHOLIPID ABSORPTION TO SURFACES

摘要

Disclosed are methods employing compositions composed of unique mixtures of phospholipids and neutral lipids to treat the luminal lining of the gastrointestinal tract in the prevention or treatment of ulcerogenic processes such as peptic ulcer disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Compositions including mixtures of saturated or unsaturated phospholipids, together with saturated or unsaturated triglycerides and/or sterols, are shown to provide a surprising ulcer protective efficacy in experimental models. Further enhancement of activity is found upon the addition of a polyvalent cation or anti-oxidant to the various lipid mixtures. The present invention also discloses unique methods employing mixtures of phospholipids and neutral lipids for surfactant replacement therapy in the treatment of the various forms of respiratory distress syndrome. These compositions are shown to greatly enhance the surfactant replacement efficiency of surface-active lipids. In this regard, experimental models have shown that both the surface-tension lowering effect and rate of phospholipid absorption to an air/liquid interface are accelerated by the addition of triglycerides and/or sterols to mixtures of saturated or unsaturated phospholipids. Such compositions are therefore theorized to give new and enhanced therapeutic value to the use of surface-active lipids for surfactant replacement therapy in a subject without risk of immunogenic response. The subject methods also comprise a simple, rapid and inexpensive means for the deposition of polar lipids to a variety of air/liquid interfaces.