Abstract: The incidence of high blood pressure is strikingly high with advancing age, and is an independent prognostic factor for the onset or progression of a variety of cardiovascular disorders (CVD). There is a critical need for a curative therapy against age-related hypertension. Overexpression of human thioredoxin (Trx) a redox protein in mice prevented age-related hypertension. Chronic injection of recombinant human Trx (rhTrx) for 3-consecutive days reversed hypertension in aged wildtype mice that lasted for at least 20 days. Arteries of wildtype mice so injected or mice with Trx overexpression exhibited decreased arterial stiffness, greater endothelium-dependent relaxations, increased nitric oxide (NO) production and decreased superoxide anion (O2.?) generation compared to appropriate controls. Collectively, a translational role of rhTrx in reversing age-related hypertension with long lasting efficacy is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders comprising: a therapeutically effective amount of thioredoxin-1 or a thioredoxin-1 derivative in a pharmaceutical carrier to ameliorate one or more symptom of a cardiovascular disorder.

Abstract: The present invention provides for treatment of cancer by enhancing the effectiveness of anticancer agents. The present invention therefore provides methods of increasing the apoptotic potential of anticancer drugs by increasing the expression of the cellular redox protein thioredoxin or thioredoxin-like molecules and thereby sensitizing the cancer to the anticancer agent. The present invention also provides methods of ameliorating negative side-effects of an anticancer therapy comprising a thioredoxin or a thioredoxin-like molecule and an anticancer therapy.