THERAPEUTIC AGENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF WOUNDS

Abstract: A therapeutic agent for skin or corneal diseases containing as the active ingredient CPB-I or recombinant CPB-I, both of which are excellent in the activities of promoting neoformation of granulations of fibroblast, extending corneal endothelial and epithelial cells, etc., and lowering PKC activity. Because this agent has an action mechanism different from that of the conventional agent, it can be used together with the conventional agent to enhance the therapeutic effect, thus being remarkably useful for treating all sorts of the skin and corneal diseases, in particular, wound and psoriasis.

Description: The present invention relates to the use of CPB-I or recombinant CPB-I for the preparation of a medicament for treating a wound. There have hitherto been provided a number of substances having a therapeutic effect on skin and corneal diseases, in particular, wounds. For example, growth factors (BIO/Technology, 135-140, 1985) such as an epidermal growth factor (EGF) (Exp. Cell Res., 164, 1-10, 1986), acid and basic fibroblast growth factors (acid and basic FGFs) (J. Surg. Res., 45, 145-153, 1988), transforming growth factors (TGF-α and TGF-β) (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 167231/1990; Science, 233, 532-534, 1986) and insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II), adhesion factors such as fibronectin, laminin and vitronectin (Ann. Rev. Biochem., 52, 961, 1983), and chemical substances such as retinoids and analogous compounds thereof (Am. J. Ophthalmol., 95, 353-358, 1983; Ann. Ophthal., 19, 175-180, 1987) have been known. The healing process of the skin wound is accompanied by granulation tissue formation, angiogenesis and re-epithelization. In these processes, fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells and epidermal cells (keratinocytes) proliferate and migrate, respectively. The above-mentioned factors and other chemical substances have been known to be effective to the skin healing. EP-A-0 330 396 discloses DNA sequences, recombinant DNA molecules and processes for producing lipocortins III, IV, V and VI. The healing process of the epithelia, parenchyma and endothelia of the cornea is accompanied by the migration and proliferation of epithelial cells, the phagocytosis of waste matter and the production of extracellular matrix by parenchymal cells, and the migration of endothelial cells, respectively. In recent years, damages of endothelial cells have become recognized after cataract surgery, keratoplasty and wearing of contact lenses. Therefore, the importance of the endothelial cells has been pointed out. Human endothelial cells are said not to proliferate or to be hard to do. In their healing process, their migration and adhesion might be important. Up to the present, it has been reported that use of rabbit cultured endothelial cells which has proliferating ability revealed the fact that EGF and FGFs promote their proliferation. However, any effective remedy has not been yet reported. There is hence a demand for development of such an agent as promote the migration and adhesion of the endothelial cells. On the other hand, as clinical pictures of skin diseases, in particular, psoriasis which is a chronic skin disease, there have been leukocyte infiltration (J. Invest. Dermatol., 68, 43-50, 1977), the hyperplasia of epidermis (J. Invest. Dermatol., 50, 254-258, 1968) and aberrant terminal differentiation (J. Invest. Dermatol., 70, 294-297, 1978), and as biochemical findings, there have been known, from the investigation on the mouse skins applied with a phorbol ester (TPA) which is a carcinogen, exhibiting psoriasis-like findings, the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) (J. Invest. Dermatol., 93, 379-386, 1989), increase in release of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 92, 749-756, 1980), induction of ornithine dehydrogenase and transglutaminase activity (Cancer Res., 39, 4183-4188, 1979; Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 97, 700-708, 1980) and increase in interleukin 1 (J. Invest. Dermatol., 88, 499A, 1987). Steroid ointments and PUVA therapy have been used in local treatment for psoriasis, and dietetic therapy, vitamin D 2 , vitamin B 12 , etretinoids, etc. in general treatment. In recent years, TGF-β having an antiproliferative effect on keratinocytes (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 167231/1990) and cyclosporin A having an antiinflammatory effect (JAMA, 256, 3110-3116, 1986) have also been studied as therapeutic agents for psoriasis. However, action mechanisms thereof have not yet been clear. Although the above-mentioned factors and chemical substances have been known as remedies for skin and corneal diseases such as wounds and psoriasis, their effects have been yet far from satisfactory. It is considered to supplementarily use an agent having the different action mechanism in order to enhance the effect of the conventional agent, heal promptly and to cure completely in the therapy of a skin or corneal disease. However, any satisfactory agent has not been yet provided. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a therapeutic agent for the treatment of a wound, which has an action mechanism different from that of the conventional agent and is excellent in therapeutic effect. In view of the foregoing circumstances, the present inventors have carried out an extensive investigation. As a result, it has been found that CPB-I, which is an anticoagulant, is excellent in therapeutic action on wounds, and its action mechanism is different from that of the conventional agent, leading to completion of the present invention. The present invention is directed to the use of CPB-I or recombinant CPB-I for the preparation of a medicament for treating a wound. FIGS. 1(1)-(3) are diagrams respectively illustrating the experimental results as to effect on the migration of HNEK, HUVEC and Flow 2000 in Experimental Example 1. FIGS. 2(1)-(3) are diagrams respectively illustrating the experimental results as to effects on the adhesion of Flow 2000, HUVEC and HNEK in Experimental Example 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the experimental results as to an effect on the PKC activity in Experimental Example 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the experimental results as to an effect on the PKC activity in Experimental Example 5. CPB-I which is an active ingredient in the therapeutic agent for skin or corneal diseases according to the present invention is an ubiquitous protein in the body, including the human placenta and secretary fluids (Chem. Pharma. Bull, 38, 1957-1960, 1990), exists in cytosol fraction in the cells and has physiological activities such as anticoagulant activity. CPB-I can be extracted from human or animal organs (Japanese Patent No. 62-174023/1987). The thus obtained CPB-I has the following properties. (1) Molecular weight (SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, in a reducing state): 34,000 ± 2,000 (2) Isoelectric point (isoelectric column electrophoresis using an ampholite): 4.7 ± 0.1 (3) Stability: (a) Deactivated by a heat treatment at 50°C for 30 minutes (b) Stable at pH 4-10 (c) Stable at 37°C for 30 minutes in a plasma (4) Action on blood coagulation system: (a) Extending recalcification coagulation time (b) Extending prothrombin time (c) Extending activated partial thromboplastin time (5) Amino acid analysis: By amino acid analysis, it is recognized that aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, cystine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, histidine, lysine and arginine exist. CPB-I can be developed in Escherichia coli by a gene recombination technique making use of a gene fragment that codes for human or animal CPB-I (Japanese Patent No.1020095/1989). CPB-I obtained by the gene recombination technique in the above-described manner (hereinafter referred to as "recombinant CPB-I") has the following amino acid sequence: Ala-Gln-Val-Leu-Arg-Gly-Thr-Val-Thr-Asp-Phe-Pro-Gly-Phe-Asp Glu-Arg-Ala-Asp-Ala-Glu-Thr-Leu-Arg-Lys-Ala-Met-Lys-Gly-Leu Gly-Thr-Asp-Glu-Glu-Ser-Ile-Leu-Thr-Leu-Leu-Thr-Ser-Arg-Ser Asn-Ala-Gln-Arg-Gln-Glu-Ile-Ser-Ala-Ala-Phe-Lys-Thr-Leu-Phe Gly-Arg-Asp-Leu-Leu-Asp-Asp-Leu-Lys-Ser-Glu-Leu-Thr-Gly-Lys Phe-Glu-Lys-Leu-Ile-Val-Ala-Leu-Met-Lys-Pro-Ser-Arg-Leu-Tyr Asp-Ala-Tyr-Glu-Leu-Lys-His-Ala-Leu-Lys-Gly-Ala-Gly-Thr-Asn Glu-Lys-Val-Leu-Thr-Glu-Ile-Ile-Ala-Ser-Arg-Thr-Pro-Glu-Glu Leu-Arg-Ala-Ile-Lys-Gln-Val-Tyr-Glu-Glu-Glu-Tyr-Gly-Ser-Ser Leu-Glu-Asp-Asp-Val-Val-Gly-Asp-Thr-Ser-Gly-Tyr-Tyr-Gln-Arg Met-Leu-Val-Val-Leu-Leu-Gln-Ala-Asn-Arg-Asp-Pro-Asp-Ala-Gly Ile-Asp-Glu-Ala-Gln-Val-Glu-Gln-Asp-Ala-Gln-Ala-Leu-Phe-Gln Ala-Gly-Glu-Leu-Lys-Trp-Gly-Thr-Asp-Glu-Glu-Lys-Phe-Ile-Thr Ile-Phe-Gly-Thr-Arg-Ser-Val-Ser-His-Leu-Arg-Lys-Val-Phe-Asp Lys-Tyr-Met-Thr-Ile-Ser-Gly-Phe-Gln-Ile-Glu-Glu-Thr-Ile-Asp Arg-Glu-Thr-Ser-Gly-Asn-Leu-Glu-Gln-Leu-Leu-Leu-Ala-Val-Val Lys-Ser-Ile-Arg-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ala-Tyr-Leu-Ala-Glu-Thr-Leu-Tyr Tyr-Ala-Met-Lys-Gly-Ala-Gly-Thr-Asp-Asp-His-Thr-Leu-Ile-Arg Val-Met-Val-Ser-Arg-Ser-Glu-Ile-Asp-Leu-Phe-Asn-Ile-Arg-Lys Glu-Phe-Arg-Lys-Asn-Phe-Ala-Thr-Ser-Leu-Tyr-Ser-Met-Ile-Lys Gly-Asp-Thr-Ser-Gly-Asp-Tyr-Lys-Lys-Ala-Leu-Leu-Leu-Leu-Cys Gly-Glu-Asp-Asp. In addition to Escherichia coli , recombinant CPB-I can also be produced by using yeast (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 219875/1990). The thus-obtained CPB-I and recombinant CPB-I have activity for healing a wound. For example, an investigation of the therapeutic action of CPB-I or recombinant CPB-I on a wound repair using cultured cells of a wounded tissue of the human skin showed that it promotes the migration of keratinocytes, and has, as an adhesion factor, an activity comparable or equal to that of fibronectin on the keratinocytes and vascular endothelial cells. In the case that CPB-I or recombinant CPB-I is used for a wound in the rat skin, the regeneration of epidermis and granulation tissue is also promoted. It is suggested from these results that CPB-I and recombinant CPB-I promote re-epithelization in wound repair, and in its turn facilitate angiogenesis and regeneration of granulation tissue, thereby exhibiting the overall promotion of healing. It is also considered that their action mechanisms are different from that of the conventional agent. Since the conventional remedies are also used in the corneal wound in addition to the skin wounds, and the cornea is similar to the skin even in the kind of embryologically organized cells (epithelial, parenchymal and endothelial cells), CPB-I can be expected to act on the corneal wound. Therefore, the effect of CPB-I on migration and adhesion was investigated using cultured endothelial cells of the rabbit cornea. In the migration, an effect comparable to those of EGF and fibronectin was recognized, and combination use with EGF enhanced the effect. It was hence suggested that its action mechanism is different from that of EGF. Although its effect on the adhesion is no match for that of fibronectin, it was recognized to have the activity of an adhesion factor. From these results, CPB-I can be expected to maintain the function of corneal endothelial cells by adding it to a preservative liquid for a cornea block of a donor upon keratoplasty, protect endothelial cells of the cornea or cure its wound by adding it to an intraocular irrigating solution or an infusion solution to an anterior chamber upon cataractous surgery, and in its turn promote the wound healing of the cornea. It is expected that the treatment with CPB-I and recombinant CPB-I alone might be effective for the treatment of a wound, and, furthermore, treatment combined with other therapeutic agents might be more effective. CPB-I and recombinant CPB-I may preferably be contained in a proportion ranging from 0.01 to 100 mg, in particular, from 1 to 100 mg per 100 g of the therapeutic agent for the treatment of a wound according to the present invention. No particular limitation is imposed on the form of the therapeutic agent for a wound according to the present invention so long as it is in common use in pharmaceutical preparations. The agent may be in the form of a buffer solution, gel, cream, ointment, ophthalmic solution, ophthalmic ointment or the like. CPB-I may be added to, for example, EP-II (product of Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) being in use at present as a preservative solution for a cornea block of a donor. In addition, CPB-I may be added to, for example, Opegard MA (product of Senju Seiyaku K.K.), BSS (product of Alcon Labs., Inc.), BSS Plus (product of Alcon Labs., Inc.) or an aqueous solution of hyaluronic acid, which are in use at present as an intraocular perfusion solution or a solution for infusing in an anterior chamber. EXAMPLES The present invention will hereinafter be described in more detail by the following experimental examples and examples. Incidentally, in the experimental examples and examples, we have studied using CPB-I or recombinant CPB-I, obtained in accordance with Example 1 in Japanese Patent No. 62-174023/1987 or Example 4 in Japanese Patent No. 1020095/1989, respectively. Experimental Example 1 Action on extension: (1) Human normal epidermal keratinocytes (HNEK), (2) human normal vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC), (3) fetal human lung-derived fibroblasts (Flow 2000) and (4) rabbit corneal endothelial cells [cultured from the cornea of New Zealand white rabbit in accordance with the method of Raymond G. M. et al. (Raymond G. M. et al., Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 27: 474-479 (1986))] were incubated to be confluent, respectively, in a keratinocyte cell growth medium (KGM) (product of Clonetics Company) containing a bovine pituitary extract (BPE), an endothelial cell growth medium (EGM) (product of Clonetics Company), an Eagle's minimum essential medium (E'MEM) containing 10% of fetal calf serum (FCS) and Medium 199 containing 10% of FCS and 10 ng/ml of mouse EGF. Cells on the opposite side from the center line were scraped out by a rubber policeman. After each well was washed with its corresponding medium, the medium was replaced by a medium containing CPB-I obtained according to Example 4 of Japanese Patent No. 1020095/1989. On that day and after two days, each well was recorded through a microscope. On the recorded image, distances migrated from wound edge in HNEK and the rabbit corneal endothelial cells, and cell numbers existing within certain distances from wound edge in HUVEC and Flow 2000 were measured or determined. The results as to the rabbit corneal endothelial cells and the results as to the other cells are shown in Table 1 and FIG. 1, respectively. Effect on Migration of rabbit corneal endothelial cells Distance from wound edge (µm) (mean ± S.E., n = 4) Control 69 ± 11 EGF (5 ng/ml) 170 ± 8 EGF (50 ng/ml) 218 ± 36 EGF (500 ng/ml) 229 ± 16 CPB-I (10 µg/ml) 138 ± 34 CPB-I (50 µg/ml) 183 ± 27 CPB-I (100 µg/ml) 201 ± 30 FN (10 µg/ml) 111 ± 38 FN (50 µg/ml) 142 ± 60 FN (100 µg/ml) 222 ± 25 EGF (5 ng/ml) 170 ± 8 EGF + CPB-I (10 µg/ml) 166 ± 14 EGF + CPB-I (50 µg/ml) 242 ± 30 EGF + CPB-I (100 µg/ml) 253 ± 16 From the above results, it was recognized that CPB-I promotes the migration of the corneal endotherial cells and, when used in combination with EGF. CPB-I further promotes the migration. It is also found from FIG. 1 that CPB-I promotes the migration of HNEK. Experimental Example 2 Effect on adhesion: HNEK, HUVEC, Flow 2000 and rabbit corneal endothelial cells, which were suspended in KGM, MCDB 151, E'MEM and Medium 199, respectively, were separately plated (1000 cells/well) on the well coated with CPB-I obtained according to Example 4 In Japanese Patent No.1020095/1989, fibronectin or bovine serum albumin (BSA). Upon predetermined elapses of time, cells not adhering to each well were washed off with a Hanks' buffer solution, and the adherent cells were fixed with a 20% neutral buffered formalin fixative and then stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H.E.), thereby counting the number of adherent cells through a microscope. The results as to the rabbit corneal endothelial cells and the results as to the other cells are shown in Table 2 and FIG. 2, respectively. Effect on adhesion of rabbit corneal endothelial cells Time (hr) Number of Adherent Cells BSA FN CPB-I 0.5 32 ± 5 261 ± 15 108 ± 8 1 47 ± 2 297 ± 10 109 ± 10 2 133 ± 8 312 ± 8 195 ± 13 Table 2 and FIG. 2 indicate that CPB-1 certainly acts on cellular adhesion. Experimental Example 3 Effect on wound of rat: Wister male rats aged 8 weeks were anesthesized with ether, and their dorsal hairs were shaved with an electric razor. Thereafter, a full-thickness round wound having a diameter of 9 mm was prepared using a trepane (Natsume Seisakusho). From the operation day, a phosphate buffer solution (PBS) containing CPB-I (PBS in a control group) was applied one time in the morning and one time in the evening each in an amount of 50 µl to the wounded site for 4 days. Upon the 4th day after wounding, the wounds were exercised and fixed in a 10% neutral buffered formalin. The tissue was embedded in paraffin, sectioned across the central part of the wound and stained with a hematoxylin and eosin (H.E.). The section was photographed through a microscope and the length of epidermal regeneration was measured, magnifying at x 23. Area of a granulation tissue was estimated copying the photograph enlarged 23 times, cutting off a site of granulation tissue and then weighing it. The number of capillary in the granulation tissue was counted through the microscope. The results are shown in Table 3. Treatment Number of specimens (n) Epidermal regeneration (mm) Granulation Tissue Area (mm 2 ) Number of Capillary vessels (n/mm 2 ) Control group 10 1.660±0.114 4.36±0.52 110.3±9.0 CPB-I (10µg/rat) 10 1.747±0.140 5.18±0.37 97.3±7.9 CPB-I (100µg/rat) 9 2.198±0.160 (p < 0.01) 5.26±0.31 103.1±12.3 Table 3 indicates that CPB-I promotes the regeneration of epidermis, granulation and angiogenesis. Experimental Example 4 Effect on PKC activity: 70-80% Confluent of HNEK was replaced to a KGM medium containing CPB-I, and incubated for 30 minutes. After incubation, cells were harvested, homogenized, fractionated to cytosol fraction and membrane fraction, and then measured their PKC activity using a PKC assay system (manufactured by Amersham Company). Each value in Fig. 3 indicates the mean value of three experiments. FIG. 3 indicates that CPB-I decreases the PKC activity. Experimental Example 5 Effect on PKC activation: 70-80% Confluent of HNEK was replaced to a KGM medium separately containing CPB-I (10 µg/ml) obtained according to Example 4 In Japanese Patent No. 1020095/1989. After 30 minutes incubation, 10 ng/ml TPA was added thereto, and further incubated for the indicated periods of time. The cells were harvested, homogenized, fractionated to cytosol fraction and membrane fraction, and then measured the PKC activity using a PKC assay system (manufactured by Amersham Company) (FIG. 4). FIG. 4 indicates that CPB-I suppresses the activation of PKC by TPA. Example 1: A creamy preparation having the following composition was produced according to a standard method. (Composition) CPB-I 1-100 mg White petrolatum 4.0 g Light liquid paraffin 6.0 g Cetyl alcohol 3.0 g Stearyl alcohol 3.0 g Isopropyl myristate 4.0 g Emulsifier 3.5 g Purified water To 100.0 g A similar creamy preparation was also produced using recombinant CPB-I in place of CPB-1. Example 2: A gel preparation having the following composition was produced according to a standard method. (Composition) CPB-I 1-100 mg Carboxyvinyl polymer 0.5 g Methyl cellulose 0.2 g Glycerol 5.0 g Sodium hydroxide Proper amount Purified water To 100.0 g A similar gel preparation was also produced using recombinant CPB-I in place of CPB-1. Example 3: An ophthalmic ointment having the following composition was produced according to a standard method. (Composition) CPB-I 1-100 mg Purified lanolin 10.0 g White petrolatum To 100.0 g A similar ophthalmic ointment was also produced by using recombinant CPB-I in place of CPB-1. Example 4: An ophthalmic solution having the following composition was produced according to a standard method. (Composition) CPB-I 1-100 mg 10% Benzalkonium chloride solution 0.05 ml Isotonic phosphate buffer solution To 100.0 g A similar ophthalmic solution was also produced by using recombinant CPB-I in place of CPB-1. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY CPB-I and recombinant CPB-I, which are active ingredients in the therapeutic agents for the treatment of a wound according to the present invention, have the excellent activities in promoting regeneration of granulation tissue, migration of corneal endothelial and epithelial cells, etc., and lowering PKC activity. Because these agents have an action mechanism different from that of the conventional agent, they can be used together with the conventional agent to enhance the therapeutic effect. Therefore, the therapeutic agents according to the present invention are remarkably useful for treating all sorts of the skin and corneal wounds.

Claims: Claim for the following Contracting States : AT, BE, CH/LI, DE, DK, FR, GB, IT, LU, NL, SE Use of CPB-I or recombinant CPB-I for the preparation of a medicament for treating a wound. Claims for the following Contracting State : ES A process for preparing an agent for treating a wound characterized in that CPB-I or recombinant CPB-I is mixed with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and/or diluents and optionally with further agents. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that CPB-I or the recombinant CPB-I is used in a proportion ranging from 0.01 to 100 mg of the agent. Use of CPB-I or recombinant CPB-I for the preparation of a medicament for treating a wound. Claims for the following Contracting State : GR A process for preparing an agent for treating a wound characterized in that CPB-I or recombinant CPB-I is mixed with excipients and/or diluents and optionally with further agents. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that CPB-I or the recombinant CPB-I is used in a proportion ranging from 0.01 to 100 mg of the agent. Use of CPB-I or recombinant CPB-I for the preparation of a medicament for treating a wound.

Inventors: NAGOYA TAKAO, NAKAO HIROSHI, SAINO YUSHI, NAGOYA, TAKAO, NAKAO, HIROSHI, SAINO, YUSHI
Applicants: KOWA CO, KOWA CO. LTD.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A61K38
IPC codes: A61K38