Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating peripheral artery disease in a patient are provided. Compositions comprise recombinant fibroblast growth factor-2. Fibroblast growth factor, such as FGF-2, is administered in therapeutically effective amounts to treat or prevent peripheral artery disease including claudication and critical limb ischemia. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of FGF-2 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier are also provided. The methods of the invention to treat peripheral artery disease and claudication comprise administering at least a single dose of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the FGF, such as FGF-2, via intra-arterial, intravenous, or intramuscular infusion to the patient. It is recognized that increased benefits may result from multiple dosing, including intermittent dosing.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of identifying a compound that modulates SP-induced paraptosis by (a) contacting a population of cells with an effective amount of substance P to induce SP-induced paraptosis; (b) contacting a first sub-population of the cells with a test-compound, and a second sub-population of the cells with a control-compound; and (c) comparing the amount of cell death between the first and second sub-populations of cells, where a difference in the amount of cell death between the first and second sub-populations of cells indicates that the test-compound is a compound that modulates SP-induced paraptosis. The invention is also directed to a method of treating a condition associated with excessive cell accumulation by administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound identified from the method described above where the effective amount of the compound increases SP-induced paraptosis.