EP1014956A4 - Procedes d'utilisation de modulateurs des integrines - Google Patents

Procedes d'utilisation de modulateurs des integrines

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Publication number
EP1014956A4
EP1014956A4 EP97902935A EP97902935A EP1014956A4 EP 1014956 A4 EP1014956 A4 EP 1014956A4 EP 97902935 A EP97902935 A EP 97902935A EP 97902935 A EP97902935 A EP 97902935A EP 1014956 A4 EP1014956 A4 EP 1014956A4
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
agent
ajoene
cell
integrin
disintegrin
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EP97902935A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1014956A1 (fr
Inventor
John B Davidson
Alexander V Tatarintsev
Ali S Turgiev
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Individual
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Individual
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Priority claimed from US08/585,188 external-priority patent/US5863955A/en
Priority claimed from US08/585,190 external-priority patent/US5948821A/en
Priority claimed from US08/584,038 external-priority patent/US5981602A/en
Priority claimed from US08/584,052 external-priority patent/US5856363A/en
Priority claimed from US08/585,187 external-priority patent/US5863954A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1014956A1 publication Critical patent/EP1014956A1/fr
Publication of EP1014956A4 publication Critical patent/EP1014956A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • A61K38/16—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • A61K38/17—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • A61K38/39—Connective tissue peptides, e.g. collagen, elastin, laminin, fibronectin, vitronectin, cold insoluble globulin [CIG]
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
    • A61K31/095—Sulfur, selenium, or tellurium compounds, e.g. thiols
    • A61K31/105—Persulfides
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
    • A61K31/13—Amines
    • A61K31/145—Amines having sulfur, e.g. thiurams (>N—C(S)—S—C(S)—N< and >N—C(S)—S—S—C(S)—N<), Sulfinylamines (—N=SO), Sulfonylamines (—N=SO2)
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • A61K38/16—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • A61K38/17—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • A61K38/1703—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates

Definitions

  • Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane glycoproteins which act, inter alia, as cell receptors for surface molecules of other cells and for extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, herein termed collectively "integrin ligands.” Both soluble and immobilized integrin ligands are known to be ordinarily bound by integrins. Integrins are found on most types of cells. Ligand binding by integrins may result in a series of additional cellular events. When these additional events occur, they involve one or more cellular functions. These cellular events and functions, some of which are discussed below for illustrative purposes, are integrin-mediated.
  • integrin-mediated cellular function is signaling.
  • certain integrins are known to transfer information from the inside to the outside of the cell (inside-out signaling), and/or from the outside to the inside of the cell (outside-in signaling) , although other types of signaling may also occur.
  • An example of inside-out signaling is the process whereby an integrin acquires affinity for ligands in response to cell activation-associated intracellular events (integrin upregulation) .
  • integrin upregulation cell activation-associated intracellular events
  • Binding of integrin ligands to certain integrins may initiate signal transduction events, in a manner similar to that described for other cell surface receptors.
  • the signals thus elicited are termed outside-in signals and regulate various cell responses, such as gene expression, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation.
  • Signaling may result in integrin clustering, i.e., the association of integrins with each other (and other molecules) by lateral interactions.
  • integrin clustering i.e., the association of integrins with each other (and other molecules) by lateral interactions.
  • the formation of such clusters may influence various integrin functions in multiple ways, including, for example, by secondary signaling.
  • the integrin-mediated function of adhesion is important for a variety of physiological and pathological responses.
  • the extent of adhesion is controlled by integrin signaling. For example, as a result of initial integrin-dependent adhesion to a substratum, certain cells change their shape and start spreading on its surface, using integrins for establishing new contacts with the underlying proteins (e.g., ECM components).
  • adhesion cascade In motile cells, the whole array of integrin-mediated events involving adhesion - - initial contact, cell shape change, cell spreading, and cell locomotion — is sometimes termed "the adhesion cascade" (Sharar, S.R., et al., The Adhesion Cascade and Anti-Adhesion Therapy: An Overview, 16 Springer Semin. Immunopathol. 359, 1995).
  • adhesion cascades include tumor cell metastasis, cell migration processes associated with wound healing, and lymphocyte homing, although similar cascade mechanisms are operative in the absence of locomotion (e.g., platelet adhesion and aggregation) .
  • chemotactic factors or che oattractants (i.e., specific substances that initiate cell migration along their concentration gradients).
  • Chemoattractants e.g., chemokines, bacterial peptides, and products of complement activation
  • neutrophils activate neutrophils and upregulate their integrin receptors
  • neurotrophil integrins include, e.g., LFA-1 [CDlla/CD18] , CR3 [also known as Mac-1, CDllb/CD18], and gpl50,95
  • the activated neutrophils adhere to endotheliocytes, change shape, and spread on the endothelial surface. Thereafter, the motile apparatus of the neutrophils is stimulated by the chemoattractants, and they start migrating, first across the endothelial layer and further, through the perivascular ECM, towards the source of the chemotactic stimulus, e.g., pathogenic bacteria invading a certain bodily tissue.
  • the motile apparatus of the neutrophils is stimulated by the chemoattractants, and they start migrating, first across the endothelial layer and further, through the perivascular ECM, towards the source of the chemotactic stimulus, e.g., pathogenic bacteria invading a certain bodily tissue.
  • integrins serve to attach the neutrophil to the substrata it encounters, enabling its recruitment to the locus of infection.
  • Another integrin-mediated function is cell- to-cell fusion.
  • fusion is a developmentally regulated stage in the differentiation of certain ultinucleate cells (e.g., osteoclasts, myocytes, and syncytiotrophoblasts) and a prerequisite to fertilization (in the case of sperm- egg fusion) . Fusion is effected by specialized cellular systems involving integrins (see, e.g., refs.
  • integrins The ability to undergo recirculation from intracellular compartments to the cell surface and vice versa is a common property of divers cellular receptors, including integrins (see, e.g., Handagama, P., et al., Kistrin, an Integrin Antagonist, Blocks Endocytosis of Fibrinogen into Guinea-Pig Megakaryocyte and Platelet ⁇ -Granules, 91 J. Clin. Invest. 193, 1993).
  • This capability of integrins serves to mediate other cellular functions by transporting into the cell extracellular material (e.g., soluble proteins, particulate matter, and other cells) . Integrin-mediated internalization is used by certain microorganisms to invade their targets.
  • CR3 mediates entry of iC3b-opsonized HIV-1 and HIV-2 into CD4-negative lymphocytic and monocytic cells (Boyer, V., et al., Complement Mediates Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection of a Human T cell Line in a CD4- and Antibody-Independent Fashion, 173 J. Exp. Med. 1151, 1991).
  • integrins are illustrative only, as other characterizations of integrin functions can also be made.
  • the integrin-mediated functions as delineated herein are overlapping and interrelated.
  • the initial chemotactic signal activating the cells results in integrin upregulation (inside out signaling) and adhesion to the endothelial surface.
  • This adhesion event elicits an outside-in signal, enabling the neutrophil to change its shape, which is a prerequisite to spreading and migration.
  • an outside- in signal transduced via the involved integrins initiates their internalization. together with the attached bacteria (phagocytosis) .
  • the present invention involves the regulation of a broad range of cellular activities by modulating certain integrin functions.
  • One prototype integrin modulator of the present invention is Ajoene.
  • Ajoene is 4,5,9-trithiadodeca-l,6,ll-triene-9-oxide, having a structural formula as follows:
  • Ajoene and a precursor thereof, can be isolated from extracts of garlic (Allium sativum) . As the garlic is crushed, alliin in the garlic comes into contact with allinase in the cell wall to form allicin. Then, in the presence of a polar molecule, such as a lower alcohol or even water, allicin forms Ajoene.
  • garlic Allium sativum
  • Ajoene has been previously shown to inhibit platelet aggregation by inactivating allosterically the platelet integrin, GP Ilb/IIIa (Apitz-Castro, R. , et al., 141 Biophys. Res. Commun. 145, 1986). This inhibition of integrins by Ajoene is reversible.
  • the invention provides methods of treating a variety of diseases and conditions by administering an effective amount of an integrin modulating agent, as further defined and specified below, to an animal suffering from one of the diseases or conditions.
  • integrin modulating agents are Ajoene and disintegrins, and variants and analogs of disintegrins.
  • the invention provides: (1) a method of treating inflammation; (2) methods of treating and preventing viral infections; (3) a method of treating shock; (4) a method of treating arthritis; (5) a method of contraception; (6) a method of suppressing immune responses; (7) a method of treating an autoimmune disease; (8) a method of inhibiting undesirable integrin-mediated cell-cell fusion; (9) a method of inhibiting the formation of lesions; (10) a method of treating psoriasis; (11) a method of treating atherosclerosis; (12) a method of treating diseases or conditions involving a plurality of integrin-dependent etiopathogenetic mechanisms; and (13) a method of inhibiting the transfer of genetic material.
  • Figure 1 is a graph of HIV-induced syncytium formation (curve 1) or HIV replication (curve 2) as a percentage of untreated control versus concentration of ajoene (micromoles per liter) .
  • the vertical graph axis pertains to the maximum amount of syncytia formed in the absence of Ajoene (100 percent) , while the points on line 1 represent percentages of such an amount of syncytia formed in the presence of varying concentrations of Ajoene (micromoles per liter) .
  • the IC 50 of syncytium formation was found at a concentration of 0.045 micromole of Ajoene per liter. Essentially no syncytia were found at a concentration of 50 micromoles of Ajoene per liter.
  • HIV-l Lav . BRU1 replication in cultured CEM13 cells Here, the vertical axis represents the percentage of HIV antigens detected by solid phase imrnunoassay in the absence of Ajoene.
  • the IC 50 was achieved under these conditions at about a 5 micromolar concentration of
  • Ajoene may inhibit the progression of an HIV infection in a patient.
  • stereoisomer mixtures of Ajoene may be used, although pure (E) and (Z) stereoisomer forms may also be used.
  • HIV-induced syncytia in which HIV target cells such as lymphocytes and monocytes fuse together to form giant, multinucleate cells in HIV-infected patients.
  • This inhibiting effect would require a sufficient dose to provide a concentration of Ajoene of at least 50 nanomoles of Ajoene per liter of blood plasma in the patient, and, if a single dose is used, preferably at least 5 micromoles of Ajoene per liter of a patient's blood plasma, although lesser quantities may also suffice. Transfer of genetic material between cells will, thereby, also be inhibited by Ajoene.
  • Ajoene inhibits the entry of the infective HIV material into its target cells, including CD4-negative cells, both virus-to-cell and cell-to-cell, and the production of HIV and other viruses by the infected cells.
  • Ajoene is preferably administered in a sufficient dose to provide a concentration approaching or exceeding 5 micromoles of patient's blood plasma, although lesser concentrations may also be effective.
  • Ajoene is preferably administered in sufficient dose to provide a concentration approaching or exceeding 200 micromoles of patient's blood plasma, although lesser concentrations may be effective.
  • Ajoene can be used to treat infections caused by Herpesviridae (e.g., herpes simplex, varicella zoster, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegaly virus), Hepadnaviridae (e.g., hepatitis B) , Picornaviridae (e.g., hepatitis A virus and poliomyelitis virus), Orthomyxoviridae (e.g., influenza virus), Poxviridae (e.g., variola virus and vaccinia virus), Flaviviridae (e.g., yellow fever virus and hepatitis C virus), Rubiviridae (e.g., rubella virus), Paramyxoviridae (e.g., measles, parainfluenza, mumps and canine distemper viruses) , Rhabdoviridae (e.g., rabies virus
  • Herpesviridae e.g., herpes
  • Ajoene also serves as an agent that inhibits the adhesion and aggregation of blood cells, such as platelets and neutrophils. Ajoene, therefore, exhibits benefit as an agent for the treatment of pathologies derived from adhesion and aggregation of these and other cells, including various types of inflammation.
  • Inflammation a pathological process inherent in a variety of distinct diseases and illnesses, is defensive in nature, but potentially dangerous if uncontrolled.
  • an inflammation is most frequently characterized by several localized manifestations (indices), including he odynamic disorders (e.g., hyperemia and edema) , pain, temperature increment, and functional lesion.
  • indices he odynamic disorders
  • pain e.g., temperature increment
  • functional lesion e.g., Pain, temperature increment
  • functional lesion e.g., Pain, temperature increment, and functional lesion.
  • inflammation is characterized by leukocyte extravasation (a process involving adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium of the vessel wall and migration into tissue where they may phagocytose bacteria, viruses, and cell debris) and platelet aggregation (a mechanism whereby the spread of the infection is prevented) .
  • leukocyte extravasation a process involving adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelium of the vessel wall and migration into tissue where they may phagocytose bacteria, viruses, and cell debris
  • platelet aggregation a mechanism whereby the spread of the infection is prevented.
  • inflammation is characterized by activation of at least three plasma defense systems (complement, kinin, and coagulation/fibrinolysis cascades) and by synthesis of cytokines and eicosanoids.
  • plasma defense systems complement, kinin, and coagulation/fibrinolysis cascades
  • ARDS adult respiratory distress syndrome
  • Ajoene may thus counteract at least part of the effects of shock, whether arising, for example, from sepsis, anaphylaxis, or from blood loss.
  • the inhibiting effect of Ajoene in this use would typically be the result of a dose to provide a concentration of Ajoene approaching or exceeding 5 micromoles per liter of the patient' s blood plasma, and, in the case of a single dose, preferably approaching or exceeding 100 micromoles per liter of the patient' s blood plasma, although lesser concentrations may be effective.
  • Ajoene can also be administered in effective dosages to suppress many other acute inflammatory processes, such as those associated with peritonitis, meningitis, and ischemia-reperfusion.
  • Ischemia- reperfusion injury occurs in heart, brain, kidney, liver, lung, or intestinal tract when blood supply to these organs is abruptly stopped (ischemia) and then resumed (reperfusion) after a short period.
  • neutrophils Because they are larger and less deformable than erythrocytes, neutrophils (because they are larger and less deformable than erythrocytes) are retained in the capillaries. As the ischemia progresses, cytokines (and other chemoattractants) that are released into the capillary lumina increase the adhesiveness of the retained neutrophils to the endothelium and to each other. Aggregates of neutrophils thus formed obstruct postcapillary venules ("no-reflow,” or “no-washout”) and attenuate the restoration of the blood flow in the affected region, precluding its reoxygenation and extending the area of ischemia.
  • no-reflow postcapillary venules
  • Activated neutrophils trapped in the capillaries release hydrolytic enzymes and reactive oxygen species (i.e., the armamentarium ordinarily used to defend the host against microorganisms) , producing a destructive inflammation. Restoration of the blood flow, however, further augments the severity of the inflammation thus developed.
  • Neutrophils arriving to the previously ischemic region are activated (by chemoattractants and/or products released by the trapped neutrophils) and recruited into the tissue, where the defensive machinery of the cells is once again used against the host (secondary injury) .
  • ischemia- reperfusion produces a more extensive injury than ischemia per se, which accounts for the tissue damage observed in various diseases and states, such as myocardial infarction, intestinal necrosis, and stroke.
  • Ischemia-reperfusion injury can also be generalized, e.g., in the case of resuscitation after hemorrhagic shock (Mazzone, A., et al., Leukocyte CD11/CD18 Integrins: Biological and Clinical
  • Ajoene is also a potent inhibitor of adhesive interactions for other cells, such as lymphoid cells. Adhesion of lymphocytes to each other and nonlymphoid cells is prerequisite to the development of any immune response, including adverse, undesirable, and self-destructive responses. Ajoene may, therefore, serve as an agent for the prevention, treatment, and control of various immunopathologies.
  • One group of such immunopathologies comprises diseases stemming from divers allergic reactions (e.g., delayed type hypersensitivity, Arthus reaction, and anaphylaxis) . Allergy is an anomalous immune response to antigen challenge, characterized by recruitment of specific leukocyte subsets (e.g.
  • cytotoxic lymphocytes and/or eosinophils to the tissue, resulting in inflammation.
  • Development of allergic inflammation is the main component in the pathogenesis of many diseases and illnesses, including, e.g., asthma, eczema, purpura pigmentosa chronica, various vasculitides, and hay fever, in addition to those mentioned above.
  • Ajoene serves to control these diseases and illnesses.
  • Allograft rejection is another example of an undesirable immune response, in which the transplanted organ is recognized by the immune system as a foreign body ("non-self") and attacked in sequence by cytotoxic lymphocytes and phagocytes recruited from the circulation (in a manner similar to that described for reperfusion, supra) . This inflammatory response results in progressive disruption of the tissue and graft necrosis.
  • Ajoene may be used to prevent cell recruitment into transplanted tissue and thereby prolong graft survival.
  • transplanted organ also contains lymphocytes, which, in turn, recognize their new environment as "non-self."
  • the immune response initiated by these donor lymphocytes in the body of the recipient produces a condition known as graft- versus-host disease (GVHD) , which can lead to injury, both acute and chronic.
  • GVHD graft- versus-host disease
  • autoimmune diseases include, without limitation, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sj ⁇ gren' s syndrome, multiple sclerosis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, crescentic glo erulonephritis, Graves disease, Hashimoto' s thyroiditis, and vasculitides. Other conditions and diseases may also fall into this category (see, e.g., the discussion of psoriasis, p. 16, infra).
  • autoimmune diseases In spite of pronounced differences in the clinical picture of the various autoimmune diseases, the underlying mechanisms involve, in every case, recruitment of leukocytes to organs/tissues affected, resulting in destructive inflammation. Ajoene can be used to reduce or prevent this inflammation and thereby suppress the abnormal immune response. Accordingly, ajoene may be used to treat autoimmune diseases.
  • Ajoene is a modulating agent for integrins.
  • modulate means to affect the ability of a particular integrin to perform any of its functions.
  • a modulating agent may act on an integrin directly, e.g. , by binding to a portion of at least one subunit (a or ⁇ ) of the integrin.
  • the agent may also act in some other fashion that is not considered direct, e.g. , through any of the various cellular substances and structures which ordinarily interact with or enable the target integrin.
  • transmembrane proteins e.g., integrins themselves and integrin-associated proteins
  • membrane phospholipids intracellular molecules with messenger-like function (e.g., integrin-modulating factor), enzymes, and regulatory and signaling proteins.
  • a modulation may result from alteration in integrin conformation, disassociation of the ⁇ and ⁇ integrin subunits (or any of the parts thereof) , disassociation of integrin clusters (and of clusters formed by integrins with other proteins) , or from the loss of integrin-cytoskeleton connections, although modulation may also occur from other types of effects.
  • integrins are interrelated and include, inter alia, signaling, adhesion, fusion, and internalization.
  • Ajoene can be used to treat any disease or condition that involves an integrin-mediated function as a mechanism, including those described above.
  • Ajoene can be used to inhibit virus-cell fusion or undesired cell-cell fusion.
  • Undesired cell- cell fusion can include cell-cell fusion (transitory or permanent) that results in the transfer of viral genetic material and cell-cell fusion that results in the formation of multinucleate cells (e.g., syncytia, giant cells, and osteoclasts).
  • Ajoene can be used as a contraceptive, being administered per vaginam (topically) , per os, or in any other appropriate way, when used for this purpose.
  • Ajoene also prevents conception at the stage of embryo implantation. For example, it can prevent the initial adhesion of the blastocyst to the endometrium and the migration of cytotrophoblasts through the maternal epithelium (i.e., processes similar to certain steps in the leukocyte extravasation cascade) . Furthermore, Ajoene is capable of inhibiting cytotrophoblast invasion, a process differing from extravasation in that it goes from the tissues to the vascular lumen and that the invading cells cross the blood-tissue barrier from outside of the vessel. For example, the production of proteolytic enzymes that are used by cytotrophoblasts to penetrate the basement membrane is governed by integrin outside-in signaling.
  • Ajoene Modulation of the signaling function of integrins by Ajoene can either completely prevent the production of the requisite enzymes or attenuate it to an extent precluding invasion. Thus, Ajoene can be used as an effective emergency contraceptive to prevent unwanted pregnancy or interrupt it at an early stage.
  • Ajoene can exert contraceptive effects. For example, it can prevent the chemotactic response of sperm in the vaginal environment (a specific case of cell homing) and sperm interactions with the epithelium of the female genital tract. Moreover, when administered to males, Ajoene can modulate integrins in sperm precursors and other testicular or epididymal cells, thereby interfering with the maturation processes and resulting in the production of fertilization- incompetent gametes or inhibition of fertilization- competent gametes.
  • Osteoclasts are unique multinucleate bone cells formed by fusion of mononuclear progenitors called preosteoclasts.
  • the regulation of osteoclast formation may be achieved by agents acting at various levels of osteoclast formation, including preosteoclast fusion (Zaidi, et al., Cellular Biology of Bone Resorption, 68 Biol. Rev. 197, 1993).
  • preosteoclast fusion Zaidi, et al., Cellular Biology of Bone Resorption, 68 Biol. Rev. 197, 1993.
  • Ajoene can regulate bone resorption because it can inhibit the fusion of preosteoclasts necessary for the formation of osteoclasts.
  • Granulomas are characteristic of chronic inflammatory lesions, such as those found in tuberculosis and other chronic infections. Granulomas are also present in sarcoidosis, a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Granulomas present in cases of chronic infection and in sarcoidosis contain a large number of multinucleate giant cells formed by the fusion of macrophages. Other diseases associated with the formation of multinucleate cells include, without limitation,
  • Ajoene can be used to inhibit the formation of these giant multinucleate cells with beneficial therapeutic effects.
  • Excessive formation of fibrous interstitial tissue i.e., fibrosis, or sclerosis
  • fibrosis or sclerosis
  • diseases such as scleroderma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
  • chronic inflammatory processes e.g., glomerular fibrosis
  • the development of fibrotic lesions and progression of fibrosis, associated with these conditions, diseases, and illnesses, has been linked to abnormal integrin expression and altered cell adhesion patterns.
  • Ajoene can, therefore, be used for treatment of fibrotic lesions.
  • Ajoene can serve as an agent for the symptomatic treatment of these diseases, being administered topically, intradermally, and subcutaneously at the site of lesions, or in any other appropriate way, when used for this purpose.
  • psoriasis Another disease characterized by the formation of cutaneous lesions is psoriasis.
  • target tissue e.g., in vascular cells, keratinocytes, and dendritic cells
  • integrins in target tissue
  • endothelial and epidermal cells e.g., vascular cells, keratinocytes, and dendritic cells
  • an autoimmune component recruitment of lymphocytes and macrophages to skin and joints.
  • Ajoene therefore, can be used to treat psoriasis in multiple respects.
  • Ajoene is likely to exhibit significant potency in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases with combined etiopathogenesis.
  • etiopathogenesis is used in reference to diseases for which no distinction can be drawn thus far as to the etiology and pathogenesis.
  • diseases are atherosclerosis.
  • Atherosclerosis appears to be associated with a particular type of cytomegalovirus infection characterized by plague formation along the blood vessels (Melnick, J.L. , et al., Cytomegalovirus and Atherosclerosis, 17 BioEssays 899, 1995).
  • a prominent feature of atherosclerosis is the recruitment of monocyte-macrophages into atherosclerotic plaques, which is an integrin- dependent process. Also, proliferation of smooth muscle cells, which contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic lesions, is regulated by integrins. As indicated elsewhere in this document, Ajoene inhibits the transmission of viral infections virus- to-cell and cell-to-cell. Integrin-mediated adhesion and signaling are also inhibited by Ajoene. Thus, Ajoene, for multiple reasons, can be used to treat diseases involving combinations of integrin-dependent etiopathogenetic factors, including atherosclerosis, both in humans and in other species.
  • Certain neurodegenerative disorders of unclear etiology e.g., Alzheimer's disease and lateral amyotrophic sclerosis, involve autoimmune inflammation of nervous tissue as a pathogenetic mechanism. Ajoene should, therefore, demonstrate significant potency in mitigating the symptoms of these diseases and slowing down their progression.
  • studies have shown that other anti ⁇ inflammatory treatments benefit Alzheimer' s patients (McGeer, P.L. , et al., The Inflammatory Response System of Brain: Implications for Therapy of
  • Alzheimer's and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases 21 Brain Res. Brain Res. Rev. 195, 1995; Breitner, J.C., et al., Delayed Onset of Alzheimer's Disease with Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory and Histamine H2 Blocking Drugs, 16 Neurobiol. Aging 523, 1995).
  • an effective amount of Ajoene is administered.
  • Effective dosage forms, modes of administration, and dosage amounts may be determined empirically, and making such determinations is within the skill of the art. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the dosage amount will vary with the disease or condition to be treated, the severity of the disease or other condition, which integrin(s) is (are) to be modulated, the route of administration, the rate of excretion, the duration of the treatment, the identity of any other drugs being administered, the age, size and species of the animal, and like factors well known in the medical and veterinary arts. In general, a suitable daily dose of Ajoene will be that amount of the compound which is the lowest dose effective to produce a therapeutic effect.
  • a suggested range of doses is from about 50 nanomoles to about 200 micromoles per liter. However, the total daily dosage will be determined by an attending physician or veterinarian within the scope of sound medical judgment.
  • the effective daily dose of Ajoene may be administered as two, three, four, five, six or more sub-doses, administered separately at appropriate intervals throughout the day.
  • Ajoene may be administered in any desired and effective manner: as a pharmaceutical preparation for oral ingestion, or for parenteral or other administration in any appropriate manner such as intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, topical, intradermal, inhalation, intrapulmonary, rectal, vaginal, sublingual, intramuscular, intravenous, intraarterial, intrathecal, or intralymphatic.
  • the topical application of Ajoene to mucous membranes can be used to prevent HIV infection of mucosal cells, an important route of HIV transmission.
  • intralymphatic administration of Ajoene may be advantageous in preventing the spread of HIV within the body.
  • Ajoene may be administered in conjunction with other antiviral drugs, other contraceptives, and other anti-shock or anti ⁇ inflammatory drugs or treatments.
  • the Ajoene may be encapsulated or otherwise protected against gastric or other secretions, if desired.
  • modulating agents for cell integrin receptors exhibit similar benefits as Ajoene.
  • disintegrins and variants and analogs thereof, can be used.
  • Disintegrins are a family of naturally-occurring cysteine-rich peptides originally isolated from viper venom, but also found on cells and elsewhere, many of which contain the sequence Arg Gly Asp (RGD) as an integrin recognition site.
  • Disintegrins are defined by their specific amino acid sequences and three-dimensional structures. "Variants” of disintegrins are disintegrins engineered to have one or more amino acids added, deleted or replaced. "Analogs" are non-peptide mimetics of disintegrins or their variants. Disintegrins and variants thereof, their preparation and properties, are described in numerous publications, as are means of identifying analogs of disintegrins.
  • the disintegrins, and variants and analogs thereof can be used to treat viral infections, shock, and inflammation, to inhibit fertilization of eggs by sperm, to suppress immune responses, to treat arthritis and autoimmune diseases, to prevent undesired integrin-mediated cell-cell fusion, and to treat other diseases and conditions against which Ajoene is effective.
  • disintegrins and variants and analogs thereof may be used for these purposes as described herein for Ajoene.
  • effective dosage forms, modes of administration and dosage amounts for administration of disintegrins, and variants and analogs thereof, to patients may be determined empirically as described herein for Ajoene, and making such determinations is within the skill of the art.
  • a suggested range of doses is 10 to 5000 nanomoles per liter blood plasma, depending on the condition to be treated, on which disintegrin (or disintegrin analog or variant) is to be used, which integrin(s) is (are) intended to be modulated, and on other pertinent factors, as herein discussed.
  • appropriate doses may be derived for any particular condition and mode of administration, based on the relative potency exhibited by Ajoene and disintegrins (or variants or analogs of disintegrin in question) under comparable experimental conditions.
  • Suitable integrin modulating agents for use in practice of the invention may be identified by their ability to interfere with integrin-mediated functions.
  • fundamental integrin- mediated functions include cell signaling, cell adhesion, cell fusion, and internalization.
  • Simple in vitro screening assays can be used to ascertain if compounds inhibit such integrin-mediated functions. Suitable assays are described in the examples and others are well-known in the art.
  • in vitro induced platelet aggregation which is routinely performed in any clinical laboratory, provides a particularly well-known example of a system that allows to detect and measure integrin signaling (inside-out) and integrin-mediated adhesion (see, e.g., Huang, T.-F., et al., Mechanism of Action of the Antiplatelet Peptide, Arie in, from Bitis arietans Venom, 1074 Biochim. Biophys. Acta 144, 1991).
  • Analogous screening systems for neutrophil integrins have been described (see, e.g., Hoffstein, S.T., et al., Degranulation, Membrane Addition, and Shape
  • Platelet aggregation was measured turbidimetrically on a standard platelet aggregometer equipped with a recorder.
  • Samples of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) were standardized with respect to the cell density (3 x 10 8 per ml) ; maximal light transmission (LT) was calibrated with platelet-poor plasma (PPP).
  • Aliquots of PRP (0.25 ml in glass cuvettes) were stirred in the cell of the device (1000 rpm, 37°C) with Ajoene (0-100 micromoles per liter final concentration) for 1 min., followed by addition of the aggregation stimuli.
  • Neutrophil aggregation was assayed as described above for the platelet system, with some modifications. Freshly isolated neutrophils were finally suspended in a buffer (120 mM NaCl, 4 mM KCl, 10 mM dextrose, 2 mM CaCl-.-2H 2 0, 2 mM MgCl 2 * 6H 2 0, and 20 mM Tris; pH 7.4) to the final density of 10 7 cells per ml. Aliquots of neutrophil suspension (0.25 ml in siliconized glass cuvettes; 10 7 cells per ml) were stirred in the cell of the aggregometer with 5 micrograms per ml cytochalasin B (1000 rpm, 37°C) for 1 min.
  • a buffer 120 mM NaCl, 4 mM KCl, 10 mM dextrose, 2 mM CaCl-.-2H 2 0, 2 mM MgCl 2 * 6H 2 0, and 20 mM Tris; pH 7.4
  • T-lymphocytic H9 and Jurkat cells were maintained as suspension cultures in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 10% (v/v) heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 50 micrograms/ l gentamycin and 2 mM L- glutamine.
  • H9 cells or Jurkat cells were seeded in 96-well flat-bottomed plates (3 x 10 5 cells per well) and cultured in the presence of log 10 dilutions of Ajoene (experiment) or its vehicle (control) for 16 to 24 h.
  • the clusters normally formed by H9 cells and Jurkat cells in culture were disrupted by Ajoene with an IC 50 of about 50 nanomoles per liter for each cell system.
  • integrins for the formation of cell-to-cell contacts in each of these systems. It is known that in platelets the relevant integrin is GP Ilb/IIIa (/33) . Neutrophil aggregation is underlain by interactions of ⁇ 2 integrins (e.g., LFA-1 and/or Mac- 1) with their surface counterstructures, while cohesion of T-cells is supported by both ⁇ 2 integrins and fibronectin-binding ⁇ l integrins (e.g., VLA-4 and VLA-5) . Hence, Aioene is capable of modulating integrin receptors of at least three distinct subfamilies ( ⁇ l , ⁇ 2 , and ,53).
  • ⁇ 2 integrins e.g., LFA-1 and/or Mac- 1
  • fibronectin-binding ⁇ l integrins e.g., VLA-4 and VLA-5
  • Synthetic stereoisomers of Ajoene exhibited equal antiaggregatory activity (IC 50 of about 50 micromolar concentration of Ajoene for platelets, IC 100 of about 10 micromolar concentration of Ajoene for neutrophils) .
  • Microtiter plates were coated with ligands of the integrin VLA-4, i.e., recombinant human VCAM-1 (500 nanograms per well) or the fragment of connective segment of human fibronectin (CS-1) , covalently attached to ovalbumin (5 micrograms per well) by overnight incubation (4°C) with solutions of the proteins in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) .
  • the plates were blocked with 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) in Hanks' buffered salt solution (HBSS-BSA) .
  • BSA bovine serum albumin
  • HBSS-BSA Hanks' buffered salt solution
  • the cells (Jurkat or human melanoma MV3) were labeled with the fluorescent dye 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA) and introduced into the wells of the plates (10 5 cells per well) together with varying amounts of Ajoene. After incubation at 37'C for 1 h, the unbound cells were removed by aspiration and the wells washed four times with HBSS-BSA. Thereafter, the bound cells were lysed with 0.5% Triton X-100, and the fluorescence was measured using a Cytofluor 2300 plate reader. The number of adherent cells was calculated from a standard dilution curve of Triton X- 100 lysates of the CMFDA-labeled cells.
  • CMFDA 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate
  • VLA-4-dependent adhesion of Jurkat and MV3 cells to VCAM-1 with IC 50 values of 250 and 125 micromoles per liter, respectively.
  • IC 50 values 250 and 125 micromoles per liter, respectively.
  • no inhibition of adhesion to CS-1 could be detected in this concentration range. Therefore, the CS-1 recognition site of VLA-4 was more resistant to modulation with Ajoene than the VCAM-1 recognition site.
  • PBLs peripheral blood leukocytes
  • RPMI medium Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO
  • H52 anti-LFA-1 antibody
  • the plate was then incubated for 30 min at 37°C before adding to each well 50 microliters of a solution of 12-O-tetradecanoyl 4- / S-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) to the final concentration of 125 ng/ml) .
  • TPA 12-O-tetradecanoyl 4- / S-phorbol 13-acetate
  • the plate was incubated for 45 min at 37°C, followed by additional 10-min incubation at room temperature on a shaking platform.
  • the cells were allowed to settle, and adhesion was quantitated by counting the number of free cells in random high-power fields in the duplicate wells. Following incubation with TPA, 75 to 90% of cells are typically found in large aggregates as a result of LFA-1 upregulation.
  • TPA induced a 90% aggregation in PBLs that were preincubated with vehicle controls.
  • the aggregatory response was completely inhibited by H52 , the monoclonal antibody used as a positive control, indicating that the aggregatory response was mediated by LFA-1.
  • Pretreatment with Ajoene at " 100 micromoles per liter concentration completely inhibited the TPA- induced homotypic adhesion of PBLs.
  • VCAM-1 (SVT2/ICAM-1 and SVT2/VCAM-2, respectively) were plated into 96-well plates and cultured overnight. (SVT2/ICAM-1 and SVT2/VCAM-2 were demonstrated previously to express ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, respectively, on their surface.)
  • Jurkat cells were washed and cultured overnight in the presence of 100 microCurie/ml of Na 2 51 Cr ⁇ A . The labeled Jurkat cells were washed three times and resuspended at a density of 4 x l ⁇ 6 cells/ml in complete RPMI medium. Serial dilutions of Ajoene were prepared in complete RPMI medium.
  • SVT2 cells do not contain the ligands for LFA-1 and VLA-4, adhesion to Jurkat cells becomes possible only after transfection of SVT2 cells with ICAM-1 or VCAM-1.
  • coculturing of Jurkat cells with SVT2/ICAM-1 and SVT2/VCAM-1 cells makes it possible to assess, respectively, the function of LFA- 1 and VLA-4 under identical conditions.
  • 10 and 20% of the added Jurkat cells adhered to SVT2/ICAM-1 and SVT2/VCAM-1 cells, respectively.
  • Activation of Jurkat cells by TPA and the resulting upregulation of LFA-1 and VLA-4 (inside- out signaling) invariably produced adhesion levels in excess of 90% in both experimental settings.
  • Rat adjuvant arthritis is characterized by integrin-mediated migration of 51 Cr-labeled monocytes and 111 In-labeled neutrophils into the inflamed synovium, which attains maximum between days 14 and 21 after the immunization.
  • This model of human rheumatoid arthritis was used to assess in vivo effects of Ajoene on integrins that are known to be modulated by Ajoene in vitro .
  • Adjuvant arthritis was induced in 6-8 week old inbred male Lewis rats by immunization on the lower back with 0.5 mg Mycobacterium butyricum (Difco Laboratories, Inc., Detroit, MI) in 0.05 ml mineral oil in two sites subcutaneously at the base of the tail. All the animals developed polyarticular arthritis between days 11 and 13 after immunization. For clinical scoring, 0-4 points were assigned per limb and tail, based on the severity of erythema, swelling, and limitation of movement (the maximal possible score was 20) .
  • Rat blood monocytes and neutrophils for migration studies were obtained by the hydroxyethyl starch (HES) exchange transfusion technique.
  • the total blood volume of a donor rat was exchanged using 50 ml 6% HES solution in saline (DuPont Chemical Co., Dorval, Canada). After recovery of 40-45 ml blood/HES perfusate, the red cells were allowed to sediment (1 g) and the leukocyte-rich plasma was harvested.
  • HES hydroxyethyl starch
  • the leukocytes were recovered by centrifugation, resuspended in calcium-magnesium-free Tyrode' s solution supplemented with 10% platelet-poor plasma (TS-PPP) , and centrifuged in a discontinuous 63%/74% gradient of isotonic Percoll (Pharmacia Fine Chemicals, Dorval, Canada) .
  • the osmolality of the MN suspension was increased by adding 9% NaCl, and the suspension was centrifuged in a 40%/55%/58% Percoll gradient; monocytes were harvested at 40%/55% and 55%/58% interfaces, washed, and resuspended in TS-PPP.
  • monocytes (10 7 cells/ml) were labeled with 75 microCurie/ml of Na 2 51 Cr0 4 (Amersham,
  • Ajoene was administered to anaesthetized arthritic rats intravenously (50 mg/kg per rat; infusion rate, 5 mg/min) , as a suspension in Intralipid, a parenteral nutritive containing fractionated soybean oil (200 g/1) , fractionated egg phospholipids (12 g/1) , and glycerol (22 g/1) .
  • Intralipid a parenteral nutritive containing fractionated soybean oil (200 g/1) , fractionated egg phospholipids (12 g/1) , and glycerol (22 g/1) .
  • Ajoene was first dissolved in ethanol to the concentration of 2 moles per liter.
  • each rat was injected intravenously with 51 Cr-labeled monocytes (4-6 x 10 6 monocytes, carrying 1.0-1.5 x 10 5 cpm 51 Cr) and U1 ln-labeled neutrophils (10 7 neutrophils, carrying 2-5 x 10 5 cpm ⁇ n In) .
  • 51 Cr-labeled monocytes 4-6 x 10 6 monocytes, carrying 1.0-1.5 x 10 5 cpm 51 Cr
  • U1 ln-labeled neutrophils (10 7 neutrophils, carrying 2-5 x 10 5 cpm ⁇ n In) .
  • l ml of blood was collected from each rat (for differential leukocyte counts and plasma 51 Cr) and the animals were sacrificed.
  • the hindlimbs were sectioned just above and below the tibiotalar joint, providing tarsal and talar joint samples for gamma counting (model 1280 gamma spectrometer; LKB Instruments, Inc.; Gaithersburg, MD) .
  • the activity of the tail was taken as a measure of the process in vertebral joints.
  • Vertebral joints 5,262 ⁇ 1,400 2,737 ⁇ 521 P 0.079 Table 2. Inhibition by Ajoene of neutrophil recruitment to inflamed joints
  • Vertebral joints 5,775 ⁇ 782 3,658 ⁇ 546 P 0.089
  • blocking monoclonal antibodies (MABs) against VLA-4, LFA-1, or CR3 do not inhibit monocyte or neutrophil accumulation in the talar joints, when given alone.
  • MABs monoclonal antibodies
  • integrins e.g., anti-LFA-1 plus anti-VLA-4 or anti- LFA-1 plus anti-Mac-1; see, Issekutz, A.C, et al . , Monocyte Migration to Arthritis in the Rat Utilizes both CD11/CD18 and Very Late Activation Antigen 4 Integrin Mechanisms, 181 J. Exp. Med. 1197, 1995, and Issekutz, T.B., et al .
  • Rat Blood Neutrophils Express Very Late Antigen 4 and It Mediates Migration to Arthritic Joint and Dermal Inflammation, 183 J. Exp. Med. 2175, 1996) produces an inhibition that is comparable in extent with that induced by Ajoene.
  • Ajoene exerts in vivo the same integrin-modulating effects as in vitro , i . e . , it acts on several distinct integrins.
  • this example demonstrates a pronounced in vivo effect on ,92 integrins (e.g., LFA-1) and ,51 integrins (e.g., VLA- 4) , although modulation of other integrins cannot be ruled out.
  • Ajoene can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other autoimmune (e.g., lupus, diabetes, Sjogren' s syndrome, and vasculitides) and inflammatory diseases (e.g., ischemia-reperfusion injury and graft rejection) characterized by integrin- mediated recruitment of leukocytes.
  • autoimmune e.g., lupus, diabetes, Sjogren' s syndrome, and vasculitides
  • inflammatory diseases e.g., ischemia-reperfusion injury and graft rejection
  • other types of cell migration which are critical to the development of undesirable conditions, diseases, and illnesses (e.g., embryo implantation) will likewise be inhibited by Ajoene in vivo .
  • Chemotactic factors e.g. , C5a desArj5
  • cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor ⁇ (TNF) or interferon gamma (IFN)
  • TNF tumor necrosis factor ⁇
  • IFN interferon gamma
  • chemotactic factors act primarily on leukocytes (by upregulating integrins)
  • TNF and IFN activate endothelial cells (which results, inter alia , in rapid expression of integrin ligands, such as ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) .
  • Agents used for the induction of the inflammation included rat IFN, recombinant mouse TNF (Genentech, South San Francisco, CA) , and Zymozan- activated serum (ZAS) .
  • ZAS a source of C5a desArg , was generated by activating complement in normal rat serum with 5 mg/ml of Zymozan A (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, MO) at 37"C for 60 min, after which the zymozan was removed.
  • Rat monocytes and neutrophils were isolated and labeled as described in Example 6, supra .
  • Male Lewis rats were administered intravenously with 50 mg/kg Ajoene (treatment group) or its vehicle
  • Ajoene modulates in vivo ,52 and ,51 integrins, e . g. , LFA-1 and VLA-4, although effects on other integrins are also likely to occur.
  • the in vivo integrin modulation by Ajoene results in significant inhibition of leukocyte recruitment to inflammatory loci and attenuation of inflammation.
  • the anti ⁇ inflammatory activity of Ajoene shows essentially no dependence on the primary mechanism operative in the recruitment of leukocytes to the inflammatory loci (e.g. , chemotactic stimulation of leukocytes vs. cytokine activation of the endothelium) .
  • this example indicates that Ajoene can treat a broad range of inflammatory diseases, regardless of the particular mechanism of inflammation. More specifically, this example underscores the ability of Ajoene to treat various skin diseases and illnesses, such as psoriasis, scleroderma, eczema, and allergy.
  • Examples 6 and 7 provide significant evidence that in vivo modulation of integrins by Ajoene takes place in various locations of the body. Whatever organ or tissue is affected, Ajoene will modulate its target integrins in essentially the same way as it modulates them in vitro . Thus, Ajoene can treat diseases involving multiple locations or occurring systemically throughout the whole body (e.g., shock and generalized ischemia-reperfusion injury) .
  • HIV donors and targets were maintained as suspension cultures in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 10% (v/v) heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 50 micrograms/ml gentamycin and 2 mM L- glutamine. HIV donors used were (1) a cloned population of H9 cells harboring the genome of HIV-I RJ
  • H ⁇ RF cells H ⁇ RF cells
  • SupTl cells harboring the genome of HIV-l ⁇ ., ⁇
  • SUPTI LAV - BRU cells SupTl cells harboring the genome of HIV-l ⁇ ., ⁇
  • syncytia were counted, and the values of IC 50 for Ajoene were calculated by plotting relative amounts of syncytia (percent of the syncytia formed in the absence of the compound) against Ajoene concentration.
  • Ajoene inhibited the fusion of uninfected cells with HIV-infected cells and the formation of syncytia, resulting from this fusion, with IC 50 values in the range from 5 to 50 nanomoles per liter Ajoene concentration at 16 h incubation.
  • the fusion machinery of cells operative in the formation of syncytia in HIV infection involves as components ,51 and ,52 integrins (e.g., VLA-3 and LFA- 1) .
  • integrins e.g., VLA-3 and LFA- 1
  • this example provides conclusive evidence that Ajoene will inhibit the formation of syncytia associated with HIV infection in patients.
  • fusion events associated with other viral infections, noninfectious diseases (e.g., granulomatous inflammations and osteoporosis) , or undesirable conditions (e.g., pregnancy) can also be prevented, attenuated, or inhibited by appropriate in vivo administration of Ajoene.
  • LAV-BRU 1 strain of HIV-l and RF strain of HIV-l were propagated in CEM and H9 cells, respectively.
  • a 20-ml log-phase culture containing 7 x 10 5 cells per ml was incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Cultures with less than 10% Trypan blue stained cells were used as a source of virus.
  • producer cells were pelleted by centrifugation (400 g, 5 min) and the supernatant containing HIV-l particles was filtered through a 0.45 micrometer Millipore filter, aliquoted, and stored at -80°C.
  • the titer of HIV-l ranged from 1 x 10 5 to 2 x 10 5 CCID 50 (50% cell culture infective dose) .
  • CEM13 and H9 cells were inoculated with appropriate amounts of HIV (LAV-BRU 1 and RF, respectively), to give an m.o.i. (multiplicity of infection) of 0.1 in either experimental setting.
  • Ajoene (or its vehicle) was added to 10 7 infected cells resuspended in the growth medium and the cells were plated in 96-well flat-bottomed plates. After 72 h the bulk of HIV antigens was measured by solid phase imrnunoassay as described in Zhdanov, V.M. , et al .
  • Ajoene affects the outside-in signaling function of integrins, thereby preventing the replication of HIV.
  • the replication of HIV and of other viruses involves, as an essential step, the use of host cell protein- synthesizing machinery, which is regulated by integrin-elicited signals. Modulation of the outside- in signaling via integrins is, therefore, a way to control viral genes and the synthesis of viral proteins by the infected cells.
  • administration of Ajoene to patients with viral infections can block the production of viral material and prevent the spread of viruses in the infected individual.
  • cellular functions not related to viral infection, can also be controlled by Ajoene, as this example demonstrates. These cellular functions include, without limitation, cell division, cell differentiation, and cell metabolic activity, such as production of mediators and enzymes.
  • shock for example, the synthesis of TNF depends on the outside-in signaling function of LFA-1 and can be prevented by appropriate modulation of this integrin (see, Watanabe, S., et al . , Prevention of Endotoxin Shock by an Antibody against Leukocyte Integrin ,52 through Inhibiting Production and Action of TNF, 7 Int . Immunol . 1037, 1995; Mukaida, N. , et al . , Novel Insight into Molecular Mechanism of Endotoxin Shock: Biochemical Analysis of LPS Receptor
  • HIV infection was evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis which recognized amplified DNA sequences of HIV gag gene.
  • MT-4 cells were used as target cells and strain IIIB of HIV-l was used as inoculate.
  • Serial dilutions of Ajoene or an equivalent volume of its vehicle were added to MT-4 cells, followed by addition of a sufficient amount of free virus (> 10 3 particles per cell) .
  • the protective effect of Ajoene was monitored by examining for the absence or presence of proviral HIV DNA in target cells 16 hours after the inoculation.
  • Ajoene completely prevented HIV infection at the minimal dose of 4 mg/ml (17 micromoles per liter) and had an IC 50 of 5 micromoles per liter, without any toxic effects on the cells.
  • HSV herpes simplex virus
  • This example provides evidence of Ajoene efficacy against the transmission of viral infections by free viruses.
  • This mode may play a role in the transmission of the viruses both from infected individuals to uninfected individuals and from infected to intact cells.
  • Ajoene can prevent both the entry of various viruses into the human body and the spread of viral infections within the infected individual' s body.
  • Ajoene can be used as an effective agent blocking sexual transmission of HIV and HSV.
  • the entry of other microorganisms known to use the same portal to invade the human body will likewise be prevented.
  • a preferred mode of administration of Ajoene in this use is, therefore, topical.
  • Ajoene can prevent infections induced by Herpesviridae (e.g., Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegaly virus, and other transforming herpesviruses) .
  • Herpesviridae e.g., Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegaly virus, and other transforming herpesviruses
  • Ajoene therefore, can protect from tumors induced by these viruses, as well as from diseases associated with herpetic infection (e.g., atherosclerosis), both in humans and animals.
  • syncytiotrophoblasts Human fetal placental epithelial cells, known as syncytiotrophoblasts, were organized in a monolayer and exposed to HIV-infected lymphocytic cells and, as a negative control, to uninfected cells of the same type. This experimental system, closely simulating the actual conditions under which syncytiotrophoblasts would be exposed to HIV-infected cells in vivo , was used to assess integrin-modulating effects of Ajoene.
  • MOLT-4 clone 8 cells were labeled with calcein-AM, pretreated with different concentrations of Ajoene (0-200 micromoles per liter) and incubated with cultured term syncytiotrophoblast cells at 37°C for one hour in the presence of Ajoene. Adhesion was measured directly as fluorescence units after background correction. Controls included measuring adhesion in the presence of the appropriate carrier solvent. Without any toxic effects on cells, Ajoene inhibited adhesion of control MOLT-4 cells (not infected with HIV) to syncytiotrophoblasts with an IC 50 of 60 micromoles per liter. At the highest concentration tested (200 micromoles per liter) , the inhibition was 100%, still without toxic effects.
  • HIV-l Lal -infected MOLT-4 cells were added to adherent cultures of uninfected syncytiotrophoblasts in the presence and absence of Ajoene.
  • Various additional control conditions were also established. First, some wells received filtered (0.45 micrometer) supernatant of cell-free HIV from infected cell cultures. Yet other negative controls included syncytiotrophoblasts cultured alone and syncytiotrophoblasts cultured with uninfected MOLT-4 cells.
  • the cocultures were washed to removed unbound lymphocytes, fixed, permeabilized, stained for viral core antigens (p24 and p55) , and viewed under a fluorescence microscope.
  • Ajoene When present in the incubation medium at a concentration of 200 micromoles per liter, Ajoene totally prevented lymphocyte-mediated infection of the syncytiotrophoblasts by HIV without toxic effects to the cells in virtually all colonies.
  • the signal was quite weak, indicating that any infection present was negligible.
  • This example demonstrates that Ajoene is equiactive against HIV infection transmitted by free and cell-borne viruses to CD4-negative cells, indicating that the beneficial effects of integrin modulators are not limited to a particular stage of the disease or host cell target. Furthermore, the data disclosed in this example provide further proof of the activity of Ajoene in preventing HIV infection, particularly under the conditions of sexual transmission and mother-to-fetus transmission.
  • Example 12 Ajoene as a Potent Anti-Shock Agent
  • Neutrophil aggregation within the lung microvasculature is known to be a key event in the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) , the main cause of death in patients suffering shock.
  • ARDS adult respiratory distress syndrome
  • neutrophil-aggregating agents such as TPA, complement anaphylotoxins or N- formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine, calcium ionophore A23187, arachidonic acid, and platelet- activating factor
  • Ajoene The antiaggregatory activity of Ajoene disclosed in Examples 1 and 4, supra , is sufficiently high to indicate that Ajoene will be effective both for the prevention and treatment of various shock states (and related pathologies, such as ischemia- reperfusion injury and allograft rejection) by suppressing such aggregation.
  • Ajoene in the hamster oocyte penetration assay was tested. This assay is routinely used to test the ability of capacitated human sperm to penetrate oocytes.
  • mature hamsters on day 1 of the estrous cycle
  • PMSG pregnant mare serum gonadotropin
  • HCG human chorionic gonadotropin
  • BWW/HSA Biggers-Whitter-Whittingha
  • HSA human serum albumin
  • Zona pellucida was removed by trypsinization for 45 seconds, after which the thus- obtained zona-free oocytes were washed three times in BWW/HSA and finally resuspended in the same medium, with appropriate additions (as described below) .
  • Human sperm was from a donor with known fertility (No. 113) .
  • the sample (freshly taken) was allowed to liquefy, was diluted 3:1 with BWW/HSA, was centrifuged at 325 x g for 5 minutes, and was washed once with the same medium. A small portion of the original sample was analyzed (computer-assisted sperm analysis) using the Cell-Soft package. The pellet of washed sperm cells was subjected to the swim-up procedure (1 ml of the medium was added for this purpose). The swim-up was collected (about 0.5 ml), the cells were counted (Makler chamber) , and their motility determined (%) . The volume of the sample was adjusted with the medium to give 10 7 cells per ml, and the samples were incubated overnight (18 hours) at 37°C for capacitation. Thereafter, motility and cell density were determined once again, and the sample was divided into three equal portions, each to be subjected to appropriate treatment.
  • Ajoene (as a solution in ethanol) was added to separate suspensions of zona-free oocytes and capacitated sperm cells to give a final concentration of 200 micromoles per 1 (the final concentration of alcohol did not exceed 0.5%). Equivalent volumes of ethanol and BWW/HSA were added to the two control portions of each cell type (vehicle control and untreated cells, respectively) .
  • sperm cells and oocytes subjected to the same treatment were brought into contact in 6-well culture plates, and the plates were transferred to an air incubator for an additional 3 hours (37°C) .
  • Insemination was stopped by transferring oocytes from each well onto watchglasses, where the eggs were allowed to settle and were freed from excess sperm.
  • slide-coverslip preparations were prepared from the contents of each watchglass and viewed under a phase-contrast microscope (x 40) .
  • Penetration was calculated by relating the number of penetrated oocytes to the total number of oocytes (values expressed as percentages) . Both intact and vehicle-pretreated gametes showed a high level of penetration (96.2% and 100%, respectively) . Conversely, pretreatment with Ajoene inhibited penetration completely (0%) .
  • a suspension of 10 3 melanoma B16 cells was pretreated for 30 min with Ajoene, and the suspension (including Ajoene) was injected intravenously into male C57BL/6 mice.
  • the mice were sacrificed 3 weeks post-injection, and their lungs subjected to microscopic examination.
  • Ajoene prevented lung colonization at 200 micromoles per liter.
  • Melanoma cell implantation Male C57BL/6 mice were inoculated subcutaneously with 10 6 B16 cells (pretreated for 15 min with Ajoene) in their pretreatment medium, and the volume of the tumors formed was measured 14 and 21 days after the injection. Implantation was inhibited with an IC 50 of 2.5 micromoles per liter.
  • MT-2 cells harbor the complete genome of human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) , and they transmit the virus to susceptible uninfected cells in cocultures. The transmission manifests itself as fusion of MT-2 cells with the uninfected cells, followed by syncytium formation.
  • MT-2 and K562/VCAM-1 cells were washed and resuspended in complete RPMI medium at a density of 2 x 10 6 /ml.
  • MT2 cells were seeded into flat-bottom 96-well microtiter plates (100 microliters per well) .
  • Serial dilutions of Ajoene or of the disintegrin kistrin (final concentration) were introduced into the wells, and the plate was incubated for 30 min prior to addition of 100 microliters of K562/VCAM-1 cells. The plates were then incubated for 4 h before scoring syncytium formation.
  • Ajoene can be used to prevent or treat a wide variety of viral infections in humans and animals.
  • the result obtained herein indicates that Ajoene and like substances can prevent or attenuate adhesion and fusion events associated with a wide variety of conditions, diseases, and illnesses, whether induced by viruses, associated with inflammatory processes, or physiological.
  • Nonobese diabetic mice are characterized by spontaneous development of insulitis
  • autoimmune inflammation in these animals involves several integrin receptors, including VLA-4, CR3, and LFA-1 (CDlla/CD18) . Lymphocyte infiltration into the pancreata is mediated primarily by VLA-4, whereas the predominant mechanism of lymphocyte recruitment into the salivary glands involves LFA-1.
  • NOD mice (age, 3 to 4 weeks old; average body weight, 10 g) were divided into three groups. Experimental animals received intraperitoneal injections of disintegrins (0.3 mg/kg per animal every other day) for 9 weeks. Control mice were administered with the vehicle.
  • mice were sacrificed and subjected to autopsy.
  • pancreata and salivary glands were removed and frozen (-70°C) .
  • Thin sections (5 micrometer thick) of these organs were fixed in acetone, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and evaluated microscopically for lymphocyte infiltration (Tables 6 and 7) .
  • Table 6 Effects of disintegrins on the spontaneous development of autoimmune diabetes
  • Kistrin 3 (60%) 2 (40%) 0 0
  • Infiltration score (-) no infiltrating lymphocytes; (+) 1-3 infiltrated islets; (++) 4 islets with moderate infiltration and/or 1-2 islets with large infiltrates; (+++) 3 or more large infiltrates.
  • Kistrin 2 (40.0%) 2 (40.0%) 0 1 (20.0%)
  • Infiltration score (-) no infiltrating lymphocytes; (+) 1-3 small foci involving only one duct; (++) small foci and/or 1 large focus involving several ducts; (+++) 2 or more foci involving several ducts.
  • Eristostatin and kistrin increased the proportion of animals with mild infiltration of pancreatic islets and completely prevented the development of large infiltrates (lack of high scores; see, Table 6) . Kistrin tended to be more active in this respect, judging from the higher percentage of animals with complete absence of infiltration. Similar effect was observed in the case of sialoadenitis (Table 7) .
  • disintegrins offer an approach to treatment of viral diseases, particularly in cases where the transmission of the virus occurs predominantly cell-to-cell and/or involves cell fusion. Other conditions, diseases, and illnesses, associated with excessive or otherwise undesirable cell fusion can, therefore, be treated by disintegrins with beneficial effects.
  • disintegrins can be used as pharmaceuticals in various contexts, including, without limitation, the fields of infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, shock and resuscitation from shock, transplantation (prevention of allograft rejection and GVHD) , and reproductive biology.
  • Ajoene can be used in a range of clinical situations; it can be used to treat diseases, the pathogenesis of which is strongly integrin-dependent (e.g.
  • Ajoene can be used in the treatment of diseases with unknown etiology if these diseases involve an integrin-mediated aspect, such as inflammation. In this latter use Ajoene will mitigate the symptoms of the disease and alleviate the condition of the patients.
  • in vivo modulation of ,51, ,52, ,53, and 4 integrins by disintegrins produces the same therapeutic benefits as those described above for Ajoene.
  • the same diseases, conditions and illnesses that Ajoene can treat are also treatable by disintegrins.
  • any non-antibody substance herein defined as a modulator of several integrin receptors e.g. , of a ,52 integrin, such as LFA-1, and of a ,51 or ⁇ 4 integrin, such as VLA-4) will exhibit the same range of activities in vitro and in vivo as Ajoene and certain disintegrins (e.g., kistrin or eristostatin) .

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  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Gastroenterology & Hepatology (AREA)
  • Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Proteomics, Peptides & Aminoacids (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
  • Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
  • Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne des procédés permettant de traiter toute une variété de maladies et d'états pathologiques par administration d'une quantité efficace d'un agent modulant les intégrines, tel que défini avec plus de précision et spécifié dans la description, à un animal souffrant d'une de ces maladies ou d'un de ces états pathologiques. Les agents modulant les intégrines préférés masculins sont l'ajoène et les disintégrines, ainsi que des variants et des analogues des disintégrines. L'invention concerne en particulier: (1) un procédé de traitement des inflammations; (2) des procédés de traitement et de prévention d'infections virales; (3) un procédé de traitement des chocs; (4) un procédé de traitement de l'arthrite; (5) un procédé de contraception; (6) un procédé de suppression des réactions immunitaires; (7) un procédé de traitement d'une maladie autoimmune; (8) un procédé d'inhibition d'une fusion cellule-cellule indésirable induite par les intégrines; (9) un procédé d'inhibition de la formation de lésions; (10) un procédé de traitement du psoriasis; (11) un procédé de traitement de l'athérosclérose; (12) un procédé de traitement de maladies et d'états pathologiques impliquant une pluralité de mécanismes étiopathogènes dépendants des intégrines; et (13) un procédé d'inhibition du transfert de matériel génétique.
EP97902935A 1996-01-11 1997-01-13 Procedes d'utilisation de modulateurs des integrines Withdrawn EP1014956A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (13)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US584038 1984-02-27
US08/585,188 US5863955A (en) 1992-06-30 1996-01-11 Methods of using ajoene to inhibit an immune response
US08/585,190 US5948821A (en) 1992-06-30 1996-01-11 Methods of using ajoene
US08/584,038 US5981602A (en) 1992-06-30 1996-01-11 Methods of using Ajoene for inhibiting integrin-mediated cell-cell fusion
US585187 1996-01-11
US08/584,052 US5856363A (en) 1992-06-30 1996-01-11 Methods of using ajoene
US08/585,187 US5863954A (en) 1992-06-30 1996-01-11 Contraceptive method using ajoene
US585188 1996-01-11
US585190 1996-01-11
US584052 1996-01-11
US69889396A 1996-08-16 1996-08-16
PCT/US1997/000583 WO1997025031A1 (fr) 1996-01-11 1997-01-13 Procedes d'utilisation de modulateurs des integrines
US698893 2000-10-27

Publications (2)

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EP1014956A1 EP1014956A1 (fr) 2000-07-05
EP1014956A4 true EP1014956A4 (fr) 2001-11-07

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2252629A1 (fr) * 1997-02-26 1998-09-03 Toray Industries, Inc. Remedes contre l'hepatite
EP3412686A1 (fr) 2003-10-17 2018-12-12 AlJamal-Naylor, Rehab Reparation de tissus via la modulation de la fonction biologique de l'integrine beta-1
GB0703652D0 (en) * 2007-02-26 2007-04-04 Univ Bradford Method for the allosteric modulation of beta1 integrin
KR101176618B1 (ko) * 2010-04-01 2012-08-23 서울대학교산학협력단 아조엔을 유효성분으로 포함하는 엘엑스알-알파 과다 발현으로 인한 질병의 예방 및 치료용 조성물

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WO1992007575A1 (fr) * 1990-10-26 1992-05-14 Interprise Limited Composition antimicrobienne

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DATABASE CHEMABS [online] CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS SERVICE, COLUMBUS, OHIO, US; TATARINTSEV, A. V. ET AL: "Ajoene blockade of integrin-dependent processes in the HIV- infected cell system", XP002167923, retrieved from STN Database accession no. 118:247020 *
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AU1699397A (en) 1997-08-01
WO1997025031A1 (fr) 1997-07-17

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