- Nucleic acids db, the receptor for leptin
-
The present invention relates to identification of a receptor for a satiety factor, which is involved in body weight homeostasis. Mutations in this receptor are associated with obese phenotypes. In particular, the present invention relates to identification and characterization of the receptor for leptin, including a naturally occurring soluble form of the receptor that is expected to modulate leptin activity, in particular to agonize leptin activity. The invention further relates to the nucleic acids encoding the receptor, and to methods for using the receptor, e.g., to identify leptin analogs, therapeutically, such as in gene therapy or in soluble form as an agonist or antagonist of leptin activity, or diagnostically.
- -
-
-
- Oligonucleotides of the OB-R isoforms and methods of diagnosing body weight
-
The present invention relates to identification of a receptor for a satiety factor, which is involved in body weight homeostasis. Mutations in this receptor are associated with obese phenotypes. In particular, the present invention relates to identification and characterization of the receptor for leptin, including a naturally occurring soluble form of the receptor that is expected to modulate leptin activity, in particular to agonize leptin activity. The invention further relates to the nucleic acids encoding the receptor, and to methods for using the receptor, e.g., to identify leptin analogs, therapeutically, such as in gene therapy or in soluble form as an agonist or antagonist of leptin activity, or diagnostically.
- -
-
-
- Peptides that stimulate cell survival and axon regeneration
-
Peptides which consist of or comprise the tetrameric peptide structural unit: Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa (SEQ.ID.NO.: 1) in which Xaa at position 1 represents Glu or Asp, Xaa at position 2 represents any amino acid, Xaa at position 3 represents any amino acid and Xaa at position 4 represents Glu or Asp, each of the meanings of Xaa being independent, and peptides which consist of or comprise the sequence PYSSTA, particularly when in multimeric form, mimic the beneficial trophic and neuritogenic effects of FGF but lack the undesirable mitogenic effects. They are useful for the treatment of conditions for which FGF has been proposed, including treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, ischaemia, wound healing and stimulation of angiogenesis in cardiac muscle.
- -
-
-
- TNF receptor action modulation
-
A method of modulating signal transduction and/or cleavage in Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors (TNF-Rs) is provided. Peptides or other molecules may interact either with the receptor itself, or with effector proteins interacting with the receptor, thus modulating the normal functioning of the TNF-Rs. Such peptides or other molecules may be employed for prophylactic and therapeutic applications in TNF associated diseases.
- -
-
-
- Cyclic compounds
-
The present invention relates to novel Aerothricins represented by the Formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, X, Y, Z, and m are as defined in Claim 1; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an Aerothricin of the Formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of such Aerothricins for the preparation of medicaments, as well as to processes and intermediates for the preparation of the Aerothricins of the Formula (I).
- -
-
-
- Intranasal cyclic peptide formulations
-
The present invention relates to a nasally administrable composition of a physiologically active cyclic peptide and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that is prepared by homogeneously dispersing a physiologically active cyclic peptide such as antifungal cyclic peptides (aerothricins, echinocandin analogs, pneumocandin analogs, and aureobacidines), antibacterial cyclic peptides (e.g. vancomycin, daptomycin), cyclosporin A, lanreotide, vapreotide, vasopressin antagonist (U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,003) and eptifibatide in unique carrier, i.e. a physiologically acceptable powdery or crystalline carrier containing a water insoluble polyvalent metal carrier, or organic carrier having a mean particle size of 20 to 500 μm, in the presence or absence of an absorption enhancer and by homogeneously adsorbing onto the carrier, and its use for therapeutic treatment of disease such as systemic fungal infections by intranasal administration. The composition can be nasally administered in powder form.
- -
-
-
- Immunogenic LHRH peptide constructs and synthetic universal immune stimulators for vaccines
-
This invention relates to immunogenic luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) peptides that lead to suppression of LHRH activity in males or females. When male rats are immunized with these peptides, serum testosterone drops and androgen-dependent organs atrophy significantly. These peptides are useful for inducing infertility and for treating prostatic hyperplasia, androgen-dependent carcinoma, prostatic carcinoma and testicular carcinoma in males. In females, the peptides are useful for treating endometriosis, benign uterine tumors, recurrent functional ovarian cysts and (severe) premenstrual syndrome as well as prevention or treatment of estrogen-dependent breast cancer. The subject peptides contain a helper T cell epitope and have LHRH at the C terminus. The helper T cell epitope aids in stimulating the immune response against LHRH. The peptides, optionally contain an invasin domain which acts as a general immune stimulator. In another aspect this invention relates to immunogenic synthetic peptides having an invasin domain, a helper T cell epitope and a peptide hapten and methods of using these peptides to treat disease or provide protective immunity. The peptide haptens of the invention include LHRH, amylin, gastrin, gastrin releasing peptide, IgE CH4 peptide, Chlamydia MOMP peptides, HIV V3 peptides and Plasmodium berghei.
- -
-
-
- Amylin antagonist peptides and uses therefor
-
Compounds which inhibit amylin activity are provided. These compounds may be used in the treatment of conditions where it is of benefit to reduce amylin activity, including the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance, obesity and insulin resistance.
- -
-
-
- HIV related peptides
-
Fragments of HIV p17 protein ranging in length from about 12 to abut 40 amino acids are used to form diagnostics and vaccines for detection or treatment of AIDS. Specific peptide fragments extend from the N-terminal to the C-terminal. Peptides having the amino acid sequences shown by the following formula (I), (II), (III), (IV) and (V):, Tyr-Ser-Val-His-Gln-Arg-Ile-Asp-Val-Lys--Asp-Thr-Lys-Glu-Ala-Leu-Gly-Lys-Ile-Glu--Glu-Glu-Gln-Asn-Lys-Ser-Lys-Lys-Lys-Ala (I), Gly-Ala-Arg-Ala-Ser-Val-Leu-Ser-Gly-Gly--Glu-Leu-Asp-Arg-Trp-Glu-Lys-Ile-Arg-Leu--Arg-Pro-Gly-Gly-Lys-Lys-Lys-Tyr-Lys-Leu--Lys-His (II), Ile-Val-Trp-Ala-Ser-Arg-Glu-Leu-Glu-Arg--Phe-Ala-Val-Asn-Pro-Gly-Leu-Leu (III), Glu-Thr-Ser-Glu-Gly-Cys-Arg-Gln-Ile-Leu--Gly-Gln-Leu-Gln-Pro-Ser-Leu-Gln-Thr-Gly--Ser-Glu-Glu-Leu-Arg-Ser-Leu-Tyr-Asn-Thr--Val-Ala-Thr-Leu (IV), Ala-Gln-Gln-Ala-Ala-Ala-Asp-Thr-Gly-His--Ser-Ser-Gln-Val-Ser-Gln-Asn-Tyr (V), are immunoreactive to antibodies in sera of patients testing seropositive for p17 of HIV-1.
- -
-
-
