Patents by Inventor Axel H. Schönthal

Axel H. Schönthal has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Methods and compositions for including apoptosis by stimulating ER stress
    Patent number: 7981917
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inducing apoptosis in selected cells by aggravating ER-stress. The aggravation of ER-stress is achieved in a specific manner by inhibiting SERCA (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase), leading to elevated level of cytoplasmic calcium concentration, yet without inhibiting the activity of COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) or triggering the release of histamine. Induction of apoptosis may be enhanced by first inducing or further aggravating ER-stress through inhibition of proteasome or proteases. Also provided are compounds and compositions useful as ER-stress aggravating agents, methods for screening, selecting, identifying and designing the same and methods for treating diseased conditions by inducing apoptosis through specific and selective aggravation of ER-stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Axel H. Schönthal, Nicos A. Petasis, Florence M. Hofman, Stan G. Louie, Thomas C. Chen