PREPARATION FOR TREATING SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Abstract: An preparation for treating systemic lupus erythematosus containing the following compound: wherein, when n is 1, Z represents a hydrogen, lithium, potassium, sodium, ammonium or organic ammonium, and when n is 2, Z represents calcium, barium or magnesium, as an active ingredient and pharamacologically permittable carrier. The preparation of the present invention may be used in any administration method such as hypodermic, intramuscular and intravenous.

Description: This invention relates to a preparation for treating systemic lupus erythematosus, more particularly to a preparation containing N-acetylneuraminic acid as an effective substance. In vivo, a sialic acid combines with heteropolysaccharides in various ways and carries biological functions as an important constituent for the heteropolysaccharides. Regarding biological functions of the sialic acid in an immune system, there have heretofore been carried out many researches thereon, and have been reported that it shows specific antigenic property, is essential component for receptor molecule, or shows anti-recognition effect which masks immune recognition site. In recent years, there has been reported that N-acetylneuraminic acid which is one of the most representative sialic acids shows antiviral effect or anti-inflammatory effect [(1) Robert L.Hirsch, et al., The Journal of Immunology, vol. 127, No. 5 (1981), pp. 1740-1743;(2) P. Gorog, et al., Agents and Actions, vol. 8, No. 5 (1978), pp. 543-545; (3) Hiromi Itoh, et al., Pharmacology and Therapy, vol. 13, No. 7 (1985), pp. 479-494, et al]. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventors have investigated concerning the pharmacological effect of sialic acid for a long time, and have found that N-acetylneuraminic acid which is a representative compound thereof has inhibiting effect to Arthus reaction. An object of the present invention is to provide a preparation for treating immune systemic lupus erythematosus containing N-acetylneuraminic acid or salt thereof represented by the following formula: wherein, when n is 1, Z represents a hydrogen, lithium, potassium, sodium, ammonium or organic ammonium, and when n is 2, Z represents calcium, barium or magnesium, as an active ingredient. The Arthus reaction is an inflammation reaction which can be observed particularly at skin as edema and bleeding, and its representative disease is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Other diseases of the Arthus reaction are serum disease, complex glomerular nephritis, etc. Main reaction procedures of the Arthus reaction are (1) sedimentation of immune complex at vessel wall and surrounding tissues, (2) activation of complement system through classical pathway (partially, through the alternative pathway), (3) aggregation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to a reaction site, (4) immune adhesion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to materials and cells in which C3b is coated thereon, (5) reinforcement of phagocytosis of polymorphocuclear leukocytes, (6) release of lysosomal enzyme from plymorphonuclear leukocytes, and (7) disorder of cells (erythrocytes, etc.) and tissues. N-acetylnueraminic acid and its salts, in vivo, show inhibitory effect to bleeding due to above Arthus reaction depending on amount to be used. N-acetylneuraminate can be obtained, for example, by neutralizing N-acetylneuraminic acid with hydroxide or carbonate of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, and separating salt from reactant (Japanese Patent Application No. 61-51898). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a graphical representation of effects of N-acetylneuraminate against passive Arthus reaction, showing diameters of bleedings measured after 2 hours of antigen challenge, and Fig. 2 is a graphical representation of effects of N-acetylneuraminate agaist passive Arthus reaction, showing diameters of bleedings measured after 24 hours of antigen challenge. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Example 1 Effects on N-acetylneuraminate against passive Arthus reaction (1) Animal for experiment Male Hartley guinea pig weighing 300 to 400 g was used. (2) Preparation of antiserum (rabbit heterocellular affinity antiserum) According to the conventional method, Anti-OA (rabbit) was prepared. That is, by using New Zealand strain rabbits having a weight of 2.0 to 2.2 kg, 1 ml of an emulsion comprising 20 mg of OA and Freund complete adjuvant (available from DIFCO LABORATORIES) was subcutaneously injected to back side portion and active sensitization was effected for total 4 times for every two weeks. After two weeks from the final sensitizing date, blood was gathered from common carotid artery and after separation of antiserum, it was stored under freezing at -20°C by the usage for experiment. (3) Experimental method The passive Arthus reaction was effected according to the method of Katayama et al. [S. Katayama, et al., Arzneim.-Forsh., vol. 31, p. 1196 (1981)]. However, in order to cause sufficient reaction, change were added to a concentration of OA solution. That is, sensitization was effected by intravenously injecting 1 ml of antiserum stock solution and 30 minutes after, the reaction was caused by intradermally injecting respective 0.05 ml of OA solutions, each containing 0.025 mg and 0.05 mg of OA respectively, to each one portion of an abdominal part and total two portions of guinea pig at which hair was cut at the day before. At this time, a physiological saline solution was intradermal injected simultaneously in the same manner as a blank. After 2 hours and 24 hours of challenge of antigen, a diameter of bleeding at each stimulated portion was measured and a square of the diameter was made as an index of a degree of the reaction. And, the value was calibrated by the blank to be made as the experimental results. 1, 5 or 20 mg/kg of sodium N-acetylneuraminate, or physiological saline solution (1 mg/kg) as a control was intravenously injected before 30 minutes of antigen-challenge or immediately after sensitization. (4) Statistical treatment Experiments more than 6 were carried out and the resulting experimental results were shown as an average ± standard deviation. Also, Student's t-test was employed for significant test and p < 0.05 was made as statistically significant. Experimental results are shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. (5) Results As clearly seen from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, by administering sodium N-acetylneuraminate, bleeding of skin can be depressed depending on an amount to be used, and it is remarkable at 20 mg/kg. Also, this inhibiting effect is continued even after 24 hours from antigen challenge. Example 2 Acute toxicity test Acute toxicity tests of sodium N-acetylneuraminate against mouse, rat and guinea pig due to oral, subcutaneous injection, intraperitoneal injection, intravenous injection and inhalation were effected as shown below. (1) Animals to be tested ICR mouse 6 weeks old SD rat 6 weeks old Hartley guinea pig 6 weeks old (2) Chemicals concentration 20 % (w/v) dissolved in distilled water (3) Animal number per one level Ten (4) Terms observed 14 days (5) Calculation method of LD₅₀ Probit method The results are shown in Table 1. Inhalation is effected by exposing powder to be tested for one hour. Example 3 Simple acute toxicity test Simple acute toxicity test of the agent to be tested due to intravenous injection to mouse was effected as shown below. 1. Experimental material and method (1) Agents to be tested Lithium salt, potassium salt, barium salt and magnesium salt of N-acetylneuraminic acid (all available from MECT Corporation) were used. (2) Animal for experiment ddy male mouse Weight at initial of the test : 17.7 to 21.1 g Animal number per one level : 3 (3) Room temperature : 23 ± 1 °C, Humidity : 55 ± 7 % (4) Administration route : intravenous (5) Administration method and amount thereof The above agent to be tested was dissolved with a physiological saline solution, and that which is prepared so as to become the administration amount of 0.2 ml per 20 g of mouse weight was injected into a tail vein. An administered amount was made to three levels of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg. (6) Observation of general condition and death condition Observations of the general condition and presence or absence of death were conducted from immediately after administration to after 7 days. 2. Results (1) Death rate Death rate was shown in Table 2. At 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, 3 per 3 samples were died in magnesium salt, barium salt and potassium salt of N-acetylneuraminic acid. At 500 mg/kg, 3 per 3 samples were died in N-acetylneuraminic acid barium salt. Other than the above, no death was observed. (2) General condition Died samples were accompanied by clonic convulsion and incontinence of urine and almost all the samples died immediately after administration or within one minute. In the viral samples, inhibition in ultromotivity can be observed in a little sample but recovered within one hour.

Claims: Use of a preparation containing an effective amount of a compound represented by the formula: wherein, when n is 1, Z represents a hydrogen, lithium, potassium, sodium, ammonium or an organic ammonium; and when n is 2, Z represents calcium, barium or magnesium as an active ingredient and a pharmacologically permittable carrier, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Use of the preparation according to claim 1, wherein the preparation is a powder preparation and dissolved when using. Use of the preparation according to claim 1, wherein the preparation is a lyophilized preparation. Use of the preparation according to claim 1, wherein the preparation is a water soluble preparation. Use of the preparation according to claim 1, wherein the preparation contains at least one of agents selected from stabilizers, buffers, isotonic agents, excipients, pH adjusters and preservatives as a carrier.

Inventors: ISHII, TAKAYUKI, KAI, HIROFUMI, KOMATSU, KENJI, MIYATA, TAKESHI, OGASAWARA, SADANORI, TAKAHAMA, KAZUO
Applicants: MECT CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A61K31
IPC codes: A61K31, A61P37, C07H13