GLU-TRP COMPRISING TRIPEPTIDES

Abstract: The invention relates to medicine, specifically, to methods of obtaining biologically active substances with immuno-regulating properties, and can be used in medicine and veterinary science and in experimental biochemistry. The fundamental problem addressed by the invention is that of producing a noval synthetic biologically active peptide with immuno-regulating properties and of the formula: X-Glu-Trp-Y, in which X is H or Gly, Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, NVal, Pro, Tyr, Phe, Trp, D-Ala, D-Leu, D-Ile, D-Val, D-NVal, D-Pro, D-Tyr, D-Phe, D-Trp, y-aminobutyric acid, ζ -aminocapronic acid; Y is Gla, Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, NVal, Pro, Tyr, Phe, Trp, D-Ala, D-Leu, D-Ile, D-Val, D-NVal, D-Pro, D-Tyr, D-Phe, D-Trp, y-aminobutyric acid ζ - aminocapronic acid, -OH, mono- or di-substituted amide (C 1 -C 3 ). Peptide synthesis takes place in a solution by successive growth of a chain from the C termination of the molecules, using a strategy of maximum blocking of functional groups, starting from amino acid alkyl ether, using the method of activating the ethers and the method of mixed anhydrides using tributyloxicarbonyl amino acid.

Description: The invention relates to peptides and methods for obtaining biologically active substances and compositions with immuno-regulatory properties which can be used in medicine, veterinary science and experimental biochemistry. Thymus extracts are widely used in applied medicine as immuno-regulators, specifically the so-called thymosin fraction 5 (see CH-A-659586, "Thymolin", by Goldstein A.L., Guna A., Latz M.M., Hardy H.A., White A.). These extracts are obtained from a polypeptide digest. However, the yield from those natural sources is low due to the complexity of the manufacturing process. Furthermore, the yields are not only low in terms of quantity but also the extracts are not consistent with regard to their physiochemical and biological properties. Side effects were observed in patients whom polypeptides from natural sources were administered. There are nowadays synthetic peptide chains available which have immuno-regulatory properties (PCT-WO/089/06134, EP-A-230052, US-A-5 008 246 and US-A-5 013 723). WO 95/03067 and EP-A-0 346 501 disclose pharmaceutical peptide preparations that contain L-Lys-L-Glu or L-Glu-L-Trp as active ingredients for inducing a heightened state of anti-microbial cellular or humoral activity and treatment of a immunodeficient status. These synthetic peptide compositions contain a limited number of essential ingredients, have high activity and low toxicity and are usually void of side effects which make them suitable for medical use. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide synthetic peptides which have equally good or improved biological properties in comparison to the above-mentioned peptide extracts from natural sources. This object is solved by providing peptides having the following general formula: X-Glu-Trp-Y, wherein X represents H, Gly, Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, NVal, Pro, Tyr, Phe, Trp, D-Ala, D-Leu, D-Ile, D-Val, DNVal, D-Pro, D-Tyr, D-Phe, D-Trp, Y-aminobuteric acid or ζ-aminocapronic acid; and Y represents Gly, Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, NVal, Pro, Tyr, Phe, Trp, D-Ala, D-Leu, D-Ile, D-Val, D-NVal, D-Pro, D-Tyr, D-Phe, D-Trp, γ-aminobuteric acid, ζ-aminocapronic acid, -OH or a (C 1 -C 3 ) mono or disubstituted amide. A further object of the invention is to provide a technological process for the synthesis of a peptide, which is easy to perform and provides the peptide in high yield and in good quality. The essence of the new method is the synthesis of the new peptide which takes place in a solution by the successive growth of the chain from the C-terminal end of the molecule, using a strategy of maximally blocking the functional groups, starting from amino acid alkyl ether, using the method of activating the ethers and the method of mixing anhydrides using tert -butyloxycarbonyl amino acid. The following table 1 shows the R f -values of the peptide chains obtained by using: for R f1 (chloroform-methanol-32% acetic acid = 60:45:20) and for R f2 (butanol-pyridine-acetic acid = 5:5:4:1) PEPTIDE R f1 R f2 Abu-Glu-Trp-OH 0.40 0.56 Aca-Glu-Trp-OH 0.41 0.57 Ala-Glu-Trp-NH 2 0.40 0.51 Arg-Glu-Trp-OH 0.26 0.48 D-Ala-Glu-Trp-OH 0.37 0.55 D-Ile-Glu-Trp-D-Phe 0.71 0.77 D-Ile-Glu-Trp-OH 0.39 0.54 D-Leu-Glu-Trp-NH 2 0.35 0.56 D-Leu-Glu-Trp-OH 0.37 0.57 D-NVal-Glu-Trp-OH 0.38 0.56 D-Phe-Glu-Trp-Ala 0.69 0.76 D-Pro-Glu-Trp-OH 0.58 0.72 D-Trp-Glu-Trp-OH 0.47 0.56 D-Tyr-Glu-Trp-OH 0.45 0.57 D-Val-Glu-Trp-NH 2 0.43 0.53 Gly-Glu-Trp-Gly 0.44 0.49 Gly-Glu-Trp-OH 0.42 0.56 H-Glu-Trp-Abu 0.49 0.54 H-Glu-Trp-Aca 0.51 0.56 H-Glu-Trp-Arg 0.28 0.40 H-Glu-Trp-D-Ala 0.61 0.70 H-Glu-Trp-D-Ile 0.63 0.71 H-Glu-Trp-D-Leu 0.64 0.72 H-Glu-Trp-D-NVal 0.65 0.69 H-Glu-Trp-D-Pro 0.66 0.69 H-Glu-Trp-D-Trp 0.63 0.66 H-Glu-Trp-D-Tyr 0.61 0.66 H-Glu-Trp-D-Val 0.65 0.71 H-Glu-Trp-Ile 0.64 0.68 H-Glu-Trp-Gly 0.54 0.58 H-Glu-Trp-NH 2 0.42 0.55 H-Glu-Trp-N 2 H 3 0.32 0.41 H-Glu-Trp-NVal 0.67 0.71 H-Glu-Trp-Trp 0.64 0.67 H-Glu-Trp-Tyr 0.62 0.66 H-Glu-Trp-Val 0.66 0.71 His-Glu-Trp-OH 0.31 0.58 Ile-Glu-Trp-Phe 0.71 0.78 Ile-Glu-Trp-OH 0.38 0.54 Ile-Glu-Trp-Phe 0.72 0.78 Ile-Glu-Trp-Pro 0.68 0.81 Leu-Glu-Trp-OH 0.39 0.56 Lys-Glu-Trp-OH 0.30 0.51 Lys-Glu-Trp-Tyr 0.32 0.50 NVal-Glu-Trp-OH 0.37 0.55 Phe-Glu-Trp-NH 2 0.53 0.68 Pro-Glu-Trp-Leu 0.67 0.75 Pro-Glu-Trp-OH 0.59 0.72 Trp-Glu-Trp-OH 0.48 0.59 Tyr-Glu-Trp-OH 0.46 0.58 Val-Glu-Trp-Ala 0.61 0.71 Val-Glu-Trp-NH 2 0.38 0.52 Val-Glu-Trp-OH 0.36 0.51 Val-Glu-Trp-Tyr 0.59 0.61 The peptides with the above formulas have the texture of a powder. They have a white colour and are soluble in water, partially soluble in alcohol and non-soluble in chloroform. The invention now is illustrated by the following example. The example refers to a method for synthesizing a peptide having the formula H-Ile-Glu-Trp-OH, which method comprises the steps of: 1. Obtaining Boc-Ile-OPFP: a mixture was prepared comprising 46.0 g (0.2 mole) Boc-Ile-OH and 40.5 g (0.22 mole) pentafluorophenole in 100 ml ethylacetate, chilled to -5° C and 45.3 g (0.22 ml) N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide was added. The mixture was then stirred at room temperature for three hours. The dicyclohexylcarbamide was filtered out, the solubles were evaporated under vacuum and the remains were crystallized in a mixture of ethyl acetate/hexane. The residue is then obtained by filtration. The yield was 71.3 g (90%). 2. Obtaining Boc-Ile-Glu-Trp-OH: 19.8 g (0.05 mole) Boc-Ile-OPFP was dissolved in 100 ml dimethylformamide and, while stirring, 20 g (0.06 mole) Glu-Trp and 5.0 g (0.06 mole) NaHCO 3 dissolved in water were added. The solution was stirred at room temperature for 20 hours. The solvents where evaporated in vacuum. To the remains there wre added 200 ml ethyl acetate and 200 ml 2% sulphuric acid (2 x 100 ml), enriched with NaCl solution to pH = 7. Then the remains were dried with dehydrated sodium sulphate. The solvents were then removed under vacuum. The remains where crystallized in ethyl acetate hexane, filtered and dried under vacuum. The yield was 20.5 g (75%). 3. Obtaining H-Ile-Glu-Trp-OH: 20.5 g Boc-Ile-Glu-Trp-OH was dissolved in 150 ml formic acid, stirred for 3.5 hours at 45° C and the solvent evaporated under vacuum. 200 ml water was added to the residue and the process of evaporation under vacuum was repeated. 300 ml isopropyl and 200 ml ether were added to the residue and left to cure for 10 hours. The residue was filtered and dried under vacuum to give a yield of 15.3 g (75%). The peptide was purified by reversed-phase chromatography in acetonitrile 0.1% in a solution of trifluoroacetic acid to give a yield of 13 g (85%). The peptide showed the following characteristic physiochemical properties: Sequence H-Ile-Glu-Trp-OH Total formula C 24 -H 30 -N 4 -O 4 Molecular weight 446.5 Da Visual texture white powder with a shade of yellow or grey powder. Solubility soluble in water, non-soluble in chloroform. UV - spectrum in the range of 250 - 300 nm peaks at 280±2 nm 287±2 nm. The biological activity of the new peptide was studied on guinea pigs using recognised testing methods of E-yield of lymphocytes of the guinea pigs subsequent to processing with trypsin. QUANTITY E-POK,(%) Compound Untreated animals Treated with trypsin After treatment with trypsin and compound with concentration mg/ml 10 -6 10 -7 10 -8 10 -9 10 -10 10 -11 10 -12 Tymolin 66.5 36.1 57.0 40.1 37.0 35.3 37.4 36.5 34.7 Tymozine Fraction 5 66.5 36.1 60.3 35.4 33.4 39.5 39.1 33.7 35.8 Ile-Glu-Trp 66.5 36.1 61.4 63.9 64.8 60.2 37.5 40.0 34.3 This shows that in vitro the activity of peptide of the invention is 10 3 times higher than the activity of other known compounds. To establish the safety of use of the peptide, toxicity tests where performed. Toxicity tests where performed according to guidelines set out by the Pharmacological committee PF "Guidelines for the pre clinical study general toxic activity of new pharmalogical compounds" M., 1985. The results of the experiments show that intravenous injections of a 1/1000 dose of the peptide did not exhibit any toxic activity and LD 50 was not reached. The peptide which possesses biologically active properties can be used in medicine and veterinary science.

Claims: A peptide having the formula X-Glu-Trp-Y, wherein X represents H, Gly, Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, NVal, Pro, Tyr, Phe, Trp, D-Ala, D-Leu. D-Ile, D-Val, D-NVal, D-Pro, D-Tyr, D-Phe, D-Trp, γ-aminobuteric acid or ζ-aminocapronic acid; and Y represents Gly, Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, NVal, Pro, Tyr, Phe, Trp, D-Ala, D-Leu, D-Ile, D-Val, D-NVal, D-Pro, D-Tyr, D-Phe, D-Trp, γ-aminobuteric acid, ζ-aminocapronic acid, -OH or a mono- or di-(C 1 -C 3 )-substituted amide. A method for preparing a peptide having the formula: X-Glu-Trp-Y, wherein X represents H, Gly, Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, NVal, Pro, Tyr, Phe, Trp, D-Ala, D-Leu, D-Ile, D-Val, D-NVal, D-Pro, D-Tyr, D-Phe, D-Trp, γ-aminobuteric acid or ζ-aminocapronic acid, and Y represents Gly, Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, NVal, Pro, Tyr, Phe, Trp, D-Ala, D-Leu, D-Ile, D-Val, D-NVal, D-Pro, D-Tyr, D-Phe, D-Trp, γ-aminobuteric acid, ζ-aminocapronic acid, -OH or a mono- or di-(C 1 -C 3 )-substituted amide, wherein the peptide is synthesized in solution by the successive growth of a chain from the C-terminus of the molecule, characterized by blocking the functional groups, starting from amino acid alkyl ethers, the method of activating the ethers, the method of mixed anhydrides using tert -butyloxycarbonyl amino acids, processing with formic acid and further purification by crystallization, to obtain a product having the formula X-Glu-Trp-Y, which is then further purified by reverse-phase chromatography. Use of a compound according to claim 1 as an active substance for preparing a drug for use in medicine. Use of a compound according to claim 1 for preparing a pharmaceutical composition having immunoregulating properties for treating immunological disorders. A method of preparing a pharmaceutical composition with immunoregulating properties, characterized in that a peptide having the formula X-Glu-Trp-Y, wherein X represents H, Gly, Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, NVal, Pro, Tyr, Phe, Trp, D-Ala, D-Leu. D-Ile, D-Val, D-NVal, D-Pro, D-Tyr, D-Phe, D-Trp, γ-aminobuteric acid or ζ-aminocapronic acid, and Y represents Gly, Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, NVal, Pro, Tyr, Phe, Trp, D-Ala, D-Leu, D-Ile, D-Val, D-NVal, D-Pro, D-Tyr, D-Phe, D-Trp, γ-aminobuteric acid, ζ-aminocapronic acid, -OH or a mono- or di-(C 1 -C 3 )-substituted amide, is synthesized in solution by a successive growth of a chain from the C-terminus of the molecule and further purified by crystallization and reverse-phase chromatography. Use of a peptide having the formula X-Glu-Trp-Y, wherein X represents H, Gly, Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, NVal, Pro, Tyr, Phe, Trp, D-Ala, D-Leu. D-Ile, D-Val, D-NVal, D-Pro, D-Tyr, D-Phe, D-Trp, γ-aminobuteric acid or ζ-aminocapronic acid; and Y represents Gly, Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, NVal, Pro, Tyr, Phe, Trp, D-Ala, D-Leu, D-Ile, D-Val, D-NVal, D-Pro, D-Tyr, D-Phe, D-Trp, γ-aminobuteric acid, ζ-aminocapronic acid, -OH or a (C 1 - C 3 ) mono- or disubstituted amide, for preparing a drug for use in medicine. Use of a peptide according to claim 6, wherein the peptide has the formula X-Ile-Glu-Trp-OH.

Inventors: DEIGIN VLADISLAV ISAKOVICH, KOROTKOV ANDREI MARXOVICH, DEIGIN, VLADISLAV ISAKOVICH, KOROTKOV, ANDREI MARXOVICH
Applicants: IMMUNOTECH DEV INC, IMMUNOTECH DEVELOPMENTS INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C07K5
IPC codes: C07K5, A61K38