JP4533420B2 - Drug carrier and drug carrier kit for suppressing fibrosis - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a drug carrier for use in a drug delivery system (DDS) to stellate cells, a medicament containing the same, and a preparation kit for the medicament, in particular, a drug whose active ingredient controls the activity or proliferation of stellate cells, particularly stellar cells. The present invention relates to a medicament and its preparation kit, which is a drug that targets a secreted extracellular matrix constituent molecule or targets one or more molecules that function in the production or secretion of extracellular matrix constituent molecules.

  Liver fibrosis is not limited, but for example, viral liver disease caused by hepatitis B or C virus, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, diabetes malnutrition, parasite, tuberculosis or syphilis Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were activated as a result of wound healing for hepatic congestion due to infectious diseases, heart disease, etc., or tissue damage in the liver associated with impaired bile passage. This is caused by the deposition of multiple types of collagen molecules and extracellular matrix (ECM) such as fibronectin in the stroma. The terminal image of liver fibrosis is cirrhosis, which causes liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. In order to prevent these and / or to suppress their progression, at least a drug carrier that suppresses liver fibrosis Development of drug carrier kits is also desired.

  Also, pancreatitis develops in the pancreas due to pancreatic fibrosis by the same mechanism as liver fibrosis (Madro A et al., Med Sci Monit. 2004 Jul; 10 (7): RA166-70.; Jaster R, Mol Cancer 2004 Oct 06; 3 (1): 26.). However, an effective means for suppressing progression of pancreatic fibrosis or chronic pancreatitis has not yet been found.

  As an effective means of suppressing fibrosis of the liver or pancreas, stellate cells may be one of the important target candidates (Fallowfield JA, Iredale JP, Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2004 Oct; 8 (5): 423 -35; Pinzani M, Rombouts K. Dig Liver Dis. 2004 Apr; 36 (4): 231-42.). In the fibrosis process, stellate cells are activated by cytokines from Kupffer cells and infiltrating cells and transformed into activated cells to produce an extracellular matrix (ECM) prominently. Astrocytes are known as vitamin A storage cells and belong to the myofibroblast family. On the other hand, stellate cells produce matrix degrading enzyme (MMP), its inhibitory factor (TIMP), cytokines such as TGF-β and PDGF, and growth factors such as HGF and play a central role in liver fibrosis. Activated stellate cells have increased contractility and are involved in blood flow regulation, as well as increased expression of various cytokine receptors and become highly sensitive to cytokines.

  Examples of methods for treating fibrosis that have been attempted so far include control of collagen metabolism, promotion of the collagen degradation system, or suppression of stellate cell activation. These include truncated TGFβ type II receptor (Qi Z et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci US A. 1999 Mar 2; 96 (5): 2345-9.) Or soluble TGFβ type II receptor (George J et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci US A. 1999 Oct 26; 96 (22): 12719-24.) Or HGF (Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-503076; Ueki K et al., Nat Med. 1999 Feb; 5 (2): 226-30. (Known as a factor that activates stellate cells and promotes extracellular matrix (ECM) production), and promotes production of matrix-degrading enzyme (MMP) by HGF or MMP gene-containing vectors (Iimuro Y et al. , Gastroenterology 2003; 124: 445-458.), Suppression of MIMP inhibitor TIMP by antisense RNA (Liu WB et al., World J Gastroenterol. 2003 Feb; 9 (2): 316-9), PPARγ ligand ( Marra F et al., Gastroenterology. 2000 Aug; 119 (2): 466-78) or angiotensin-II type I receptor antagonist (Yoshiji H et al., Hepatology. 20 Control of stellate cell activation by 01 Oct; 34 (4 Pt 1): 745-50.) And suppression of PDGF action by PDGF tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Liu XJ et al., World J Gastroenterol. 2002 Aug; 8 (4) : 739-45.) And inhibition of sodium channels by amiloride (Benedetti A et al., Gastroenterology. 2001 Feb; 120 (2): 545-56), compound 861 (Wang L, et al., World J Gastroenterol 2004 October 1; 10 (19): 2831-2835), gliotoxin (Orr JG et al., Hepatology. 2004 Jul; 40 (1): 232-42.), Etc. However, in any case, since the action specificity and / or organ specificity is low, there are problems in terms of effects and side effects.

  Regarding the protein synthesis of collagen, there are many unclear points in the metabolic pathway, and a therapeutic method using a drug that suppresses this has not been established as an efficient and safe treatment method in terms of side effects. That is, in the method of targeting molecules involved in collagen production, the specificity of the target cannot be increased due to the various functions of these molecules, and there is a high possibility of causing side effects. If the final product collagen can be directly suppressed, it will make sense as a common treatment method for the fibrosis process, but for that purpose, various types of collagen typified by types I to IV will be exhausted. It is necessary to control.

  A method for controlling the function of HSP47 is conceivable as one of effective means for simultaneously suppressing the synthesis of many types of collagen molecules without losing the specificity for collagen. HSP47 is a collagen-specific molecular chaperone that is essential for intracellular transport and molecular maturation common to the synthesis of various types of collagen. Therefore, if the function of HSP47 can be specifically controlled in stellate cells, there is a possibility of suppression of liver fibrosis. However, there have been no reports on such treatment methods.

  The inventors have produced a ribozyme that specifically regulates the function of HSP47 in a cellular system, and this has shown that collagen production and secretion can be suppressed at once (Sasaki H, et al. Journal of Immunology, 2002, 168: 5178-83; Hagiwara S, et al. J Gene Med. 2003, 5: 784-94). In order to specifically suppress the synthesis of HSP47, siRNA that is easier to optimize than ribozyme can be applied. As used herein, siRNA (small interfering RNAs) is a general term for double-stranded RNA used for RNAi (RNA interference). RNAi is a phenomenon in which double-strand RNA (dsRNA) consisting of sense RNA and antisense RNA that is homologous to a gene destroys the homologous part of the transcription product (mRNA) of that gene. As shown in experiments using nematodes (Fire A, et al: Nature (1998) 391: 806-811), it has been clarified that a similar induction mechanism exists in mammalian cells (Ui -Tei K, et al: FEBS Lett (2000) 479: 79-82). In addition, Elbashir et al. Have shown that short dsRNA of about 21 to 23 bp in length can induce RNAi without exhibiting cytotoxicity even in mammalian cell lines (Elbashir SM, et al: Nature (2001) 411). : 494-498). However, in order to effectively exert the effects of these molecules, a method specific to the target organ is required.

Japanese National Patent Publication No. 5-503076 Madro A et al., Med Sci Monit. 2004 Jul; 10 (7): RA166-70 Jaster R, Mol Cancer. 2004 Oct 06; 3 (1): 26 Fallowfield JA, Iredale JP, Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2004 Oct; 8 (5): 423-35 Pinzani M, Rombouts K. Dig Liver Dis. 2004 Apr; 36 (4): 231-42 Qi Z et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1999 Mar 2; 96 (5): 2345-9 George J et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Oct 26; 96 (22): 12719-24 Ueki K et al., Nat Med. 1999 Feb; 5 (2): 226-30 Iimuro Y et al., Gastroenterology 2003; 124: 445-458 Liu WB et al., World J Gastroenterol. 2003 Feb; 9 (2): 316-9 Marra F et al., Gastroenterology. 2000 Aug; 119 (2): 466-78 Yoshiji H et al., Hepatology. 2001 Oct; 34 (4 Pt 1): 745-50 Liu XJ et al., World J Gastroenterol. 2002 Aug; 8 (4): 739-45 Benedetti A et al., Gastroenterology. 2001 Feb; 120 (2): 545-56 Wang L et al., World J Gastroenterol 2004 October 1; 10 (19): 2831-2835 Orr JG et al., Hepatology. 2004 Jul; 40 (1): 232-42 Sasaki H et al., Journal of Immunology, 2002, 168: 5178-83 Hagiwara S et al., J Gene Med. 2003, 5: 784-94 Fire A et al: Nature (1998) 391: 806-811 Ui-Tei K et al: FEBS Lett (2000) 479: 79-82 Elbashir SM et al .: Nature (2001) 411: 494-498 Yasuhiko Tabata, New Development and Utilization of Drug Delivery System DDS Technology-Cutting-edge Technology Medical Do for Biomedical Research and Advanced Medicine, ISBN: 4944157932, 2003 Mitsuhashi Hida, Drug Delivery System-New Challenges in Drug Discovery and Treatment, New Bioscience Series, Chemical Dojin, ISBN: 4758083858, 1995

  Application of drug delivery system (DDS) is one of the effective means to target tissues and / or organs (Yasuhiko Tabata, new development of drug delivery system DDS technology and its utilization-biomedical research State-of-the-art technology for advanced medical treatment, ISBN: 4944157932, 2003; Mitsuhashi Hashida, Drug Delivery System-New Challenges in Drug Discovery and Treatment, New Bioscience Series, Chemical Doujin, ISBN: 47580383858, 1995). Drug carriers used in drug delivery systems (DDS) include those using polymer micelles, liposomes, microemulsions and the like. In order to increase the specificity of these carriers for the target organ, techniques for mixing or binding antibodies and / or ligands to organs and / or tissue-specific antigens or receptors to the carriers, and the physicochemical properties of the carriers The technology to be used is known, but the technology that specifically targets stellate cells is not yet known.

  The present invention relates to a drug carrier and a drug carrier kit capable of specifically delivering a diagnostic and / or therapeutic drug to stellate cells. The drug carrier in the present invention may be in any form of polymeric micelles, liposomes, emulsions, microspheres, nanoglobules, and these include vitamin A (VA) or retinoid derivatives such as tretinoin, adapalene, retinol palmitate, etc. Or by binding or inclusion of a vitamin A analog such as Fenretinide (4-HPR), etc., allowing therapeutic drugs to be delivered specifically in hepatic stellate cells. Furthermore, TGFβ activity inhibitors such as truncated TGFβ type II receptor and soluble TGFβ type II receptor, growth factor preparations such as HGF, MMP production promoters such as MMP gene-containing adenovirus vectors, PPARγ-ligand, angiotensin -II type I receptor antagonist, PDGF tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and cell activation inhibitor and / or proliferation inhibitor including sodium channel inhibitor such as amiloride, and apoptosis inducer such as compound 861 and gliotoxin Creating one that includes one or more selected molecules, patients at risk of fibrosis or having symptoms of fibrosis, or various diseases associated with fibrosis such as cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, Or for patients with chronic pancreatitis orally or parenterally, such as static Or by intraperitoneal injection, suppressing the activation of stellate cells, the respective disease state associated with fibrosis and / or fibrosis prevention, it is possible to suppress or ameliorate. Alternatively, or in addition, by using a ribozyme, antisense RNA, or siRNA that specifically inhibits collagen-specific molecular chaperone HSP47 or MMP inhibitor TIMP, in the drug carrier, Secretion of type I to type IV collagen can be simultaneously suppressed, and as a result, fiber formation can be effectively suppressed.

Therefore, the present invention relates to a stellate cell-specific drug carrier comprising a retinoid derivative and / or a vitamin A analog as a constituent component.
The present invention also relates to the above-mentioned drug carrier, wherein at least a part of the retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog is exposed to the outside of the preparation at the latest before reaching the stellate cell.
The present invention further relates to the above-mentioned drug carrier, which contains a retinoid derivative and / or a vitamin A analog and can be specifically transported to stellate cells.
The present invention also relates to the above-mentioned drug carrier, wherein the retinoid derivative contains vitamin A.
The present invention further relates to the above-mentioned drug carrier, characterized in that it contains 0.2 to 20% by weight of a retinoid derivative and / or a vitamin A analog.
The present invention further relates to the drug carrier in the form of any one of polymeric micelles, liposomes, emulsions, microspheres, and nanoglobules.
The present invention further relates to a stellate cell-specific preparation comprising the drug carrier.
The present invention also relates to a medicament for treating a disease associated with stellate cells, comprising the drug carrier described above and a drug that controls stellate cell activity or proliferation.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to the aforementioned medicament, wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, pancreatitis, pancreatic fibrosis, pancreatic cancer, vocal cord scar formation, vocal cord mucosal fibrosis and laryngeal fibrosis. .
Furthermore, in the present invention, the drug that controls the activity or proliferation of stellate cells is a TGFβ activity inhibitor, an HGF activity preparation, an MMP production promoter, a TIMP production inhibitor, a PPARγ ligand, an angiotensin activity inhibitor, a PDGF activity inhibitor. One or more of the following: a sodium channel inhibitor, an apoptosis inducer, and a molecule that targets or functions to produce or secrete an extracellular matrix constituent molecule produced by astrocytes The present invention relates to the above-mentioned pharmaceutical selected from the group consisting of siRNAs, ribozymes, antisense nucleic acids, DNA / RNA chimeric polynucleotides and vectors expressing them that target the above.
The present invention also relates to the aforementioned medicament, wherein the molecule that functions to produce or secrete an extracellular matrix constituent molecule is HSP47.
The present invention further relates to the above-mentioned pharmaceutical comprising a drug and a drug carrier mixed at or near the medical site.

The present invention further includes one or more containers comprising one or more of a drug that controls stellate cell activity or proliferation, a drug carrier component, and a retinoid derivative and / or a vitamin A analog. The present invention relates to a preparation kit for the medicine.
The present invention also relates to a method for treating a disease associated with stellate cells, comprising administering an effective amount of the above medicament to a subject in need thereof.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to the method, wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, pancreatitis, pancreatic fibrosis, pancreatic cancer, vocal cord scar formation, vocal cord mucosal fibrosis and laryngeal fibrosis. .
Furthermore, the present invention relates to the above method, wherein the medicament is administered parenterally.
The present invention also relates to the use of the above-mentioned drug carrier for the manufacture of a medicament for treating diseases associated with stellate cells.
The present invention also relates to a drug delivery method to stellate cells using the drug carrier.

  The present invention further relates to a retinoid derivative and / or a drug carrier for inhibiting fibrosis that specifically transports a drug that controls the activity or proliferation of stellate cells to stellate cells, and a retinoid derivative comprising vitamin A analog as a constituent component Said anti-fibrosis drug carrier, wherein 0.2% to 20% of a retinoid derivative and / or a vitamin A analog is contained. Drug carrier, polymer micelle, liposome, emulsion, microsphere, nano-globule drug carrier for suppressing fibrosis, drug that controls stellate cell activity or proliferation is TGFβ activity Inhibitor, HGF active preparation, MMP production promoter, TIMP production inhibitor, PPARγ ligand, angiotensin activity inhibitor, PDGF activity inhibitor A drug carrier for inhibiting fibrosis, comprising controlling one or more drugs selected from a harmful agent, a sodium channel inhibitor, and an apoptosis inducer, and controlling the activity or proliferation of stellate cells A siRNA or ribozyme that targets an extracellular matrix constituent molecule produced by an astrocyte or targets one or more molecules that function to produce or secrete the extracellular matrix constituent molecule Or a drug carrier for inhibiting fibrosis, comprising antisense RNA or a vector expressing the same, and fibrosis in which the molecule that functions to produce or secrete an extracellular matrix constituent molecule is HSP47 It also relates to a drug carrier for inhibition.

  The present invention further includes from one or more containers comprising one or more of drugs, drug carrier constituents, and retinoid derivatives and / or vitamin A analogs that control stellate cell activity or proliferation. A drug carrier kit for suppressing fibrosis, wherein the retinoid derivative contains vitamin A, the drug carrier kit for suppressing fibrosis, 0.2% to 20% of a retinoid derivative and / or a vitamin A analog A drug carrier for suppressing fibrosis, which is in the form of any one of the above-mentioned drug carrier kit for suppressing fibrosis, polymer micelle, liposome, emulsion, microsphere, and nanoglobules Kit, drug that controls stellate cell activity or proliferation is TGFβ activity inhibitor, HGF active preparation, MMP production promoter, TI Said fibrosis comprising one or more drugs selected from P production inhibitors, PPARγ ligands, angiotensin activity inhibitors, PDGF activity inhibitors, sodium channel inhibitors, and apoptosis inducers Drug carrier kits for inhibition, drugs that control the activity or proliferation of stellate cells target extracellular matrix constituent molecules secreted by stellate cells or function in the production or secretion of extracellular matrix constituent molecules A drug carrier kit for suppressing fibrosis, comprising an siRNA, a ribozyme, or an antisense RNA targeting one or more of them, or a vector expressing them, and an extracellular matrix constituent molecule Fibrosis whose molecule that functions in the production or secretion of HSP47 is HSP47 Also it relates to a drug carrier kit for control.

  Drug carrier and drug carrier of the present invention capable of specifically delivering a diagnostic and / or therapeutic drug to stellate cells as an effective means for preventing, suppressing or ameliorating fibrosis and / or various diseases associated therewith By using the kit, an epoch-making therapeutic effect as shown in the Examples can be provided. That is, since the drug carrier and drug carrier kit according to the present invention specifically target stellate cells, the pathological condition expressed mainly by stellate cells, such as fibrosis, can be efficiently and effectively minimized. Can be suppressed with limited side effects.

The retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog in the present invention includes vitamin A and also includes a retinoid derivative or vitamin A analog in a state in which it is dissolved or mixed in a medium capable of dissolving or retaining the vitamin A.
The retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog in the present invention may be any as long as it is positively accumulated by stellate cells. Examples of the retinoid derivative include, but are not limited to, tretinoin, adapalene, palmiticin. Acid retinol, or particularly vitamin A (retinoic acid) can be used, and examples of vitamin A analog include, but are not limited to, for example, Fenretinide (4-HPR). The present invention utilizes the property that stellate cells actively take up retinoid derivatives and / or vitamin A analogs, and these retinoid derivatives and / or vitamin A analogs are used as drug carriers or other drugs. A desired substance or object can be transported specifically to a stellate cell by being bound to or included in a carrier component.

Therefore, the drug carrier of the present invention may contain a drug carrier component other than the retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog. Such components are not particularly limited, and any of those known in the fields of medicine and pharmacy can be used, and those that can include or bind to a retinoid derivative and / or a vitamin A analog can be used. preferable. Examples of such components include lipids, phospholipids such as glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids such as sphingomyelin, sterols such as cholesterol, vegetable oils such as soybean oil and poppy oil, lecithins such as mineral oil and egg yolk lecithin, and the like. However, it is not limited to these. Among these, those capable of constituting liposomes, for example, natural phospholipids such as lecithin, semisynthetic phospholipids such as dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC), dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), distearoyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC), and cholesterol are preferable. .
In addition, the drug carrier of the present invention may contain a substance that improves uptake into stellate cells, such as retinol-binding protein (RBP).

  The binding or inclusion of the retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog to the drug carrier of the present invention allows the retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog to be bound to other components of the drug carrier by chemical and / or physical methods. Or by including it. Alternatively, the binding or inclusion of the retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog to the drug carrier of the present invention can be achieved by forming a retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A that has an affinity for formation with the basic drug carrier components when the drug carrier is made. This can also be achieved by mixing the analog into the constituents of the drug carrier. The amount of retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog bound or included in the drug carrier of the present invention is 0.01% to 100%, preferably 0.2% to 20% by weight in the drug carrier component. More preferably, it can be made 1 to 5%.

  The form of the drug carrier of the present invention may be any form as long as it can transport a desired substance or object to a target stellate cell. For example, but not limited to, polymer micelles, liposomes, emulsions, microspheres, Any form of nano globules can be used. In addition, the drug carrier of the present invention can be used as long as the retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog contained therein is at least partially exposed to the outside of the preparation before reaching the stellate cell at the latest. Or may be attached to the outside of the transported material or may be mixed with the transported material.

  The drug carrier of the present invention specifically targets stellate cells, and efficiently transports desired substances and objects, such as drugs that control the activity or proliferation of stellate cells, to stellate cells, Enables the desired effect, eg, suppression or prevention of fibrosis, with maximum effect and minimum side effects. There are no particular restrictions on the substance or substance delivered by the drug carrier, but it is preferably of a size that can physically move through the body of the organism from the administration site to the liver or pancreas where stellate cells are present. Therefore, the drug carrier of the present invention carries not only substances such as atoms, molecules, compounds, proteins, nucleic acids, but also objects such as vectors, virus particles, cells, drug release systems composed of one or more elements, and micromachines. can do. Said substance or object preferably has some effect on stellate cells and includes, for example, those that label stellate cells and those that control the activity or proliferation of stellate cells.

  Thus, in one aspect of the invention, what the drug carrier delivers is a “drug that controls stellate activity or proliferation”, which is responsible for the physicochemical effects of stellate cells involved in promoting fibrosis. Any drug that directly or indirectly suppresses may be used, but is not limited to, for example, truncated TGFβ type II receptor, TGFβ activity inhibitor such as soluble TGFβ type II receptor, growth factor preparation such as HGF, and the like Cell activation, including MMP production promoters such as MMP gene-containing adenovirus vectors, TIMP production inhibitors such as antisense TIMP nucleic acids, PPARγ ligands, angiotensin activity inhibitors, PDGF activity inhibitors, sodium channel inhibitors Inhibitors and / or cytostatics, and compounds such as compound 861, gliotoxin Compounds having Rho kinase inhibitory activity, such as cis-inducing agents, adiponectin (see JP 2002-363094 A), (+)-trans-4- (1-aminoethyl) -1- (4-pyridylcarbamoyl) cyclohexane ( Including WO 00/64478 pamphlet). Further, the “drug that controls the activity or proliferation of stellate cells” in the present invention is any drug that directly or indirectly promotes the physicochemical actions of stellate cells that are directly or indirectly related to fibrosis inhibition. Without limitation, for example, drugs that promote the collagen degradation system, for example, MMP production promoters such as MMP expression vectors, and drugs that have HGF-like activity such as HGF, HGF analogs, or these expression vectors Is included.

As another example of the “drug that controls the activity or proliferation of stellate cells” in the present invention, an extracellular matrix, for example, a drug that controls the metabolism of collagen, for example, an extracellular matrix constituent molecule produced by stellate cells is targeted. SiRNA, ribozyme, antisense nucleic acid (RNA, DNA, PNA, or a complex thereof) that targets or targets one or more of the molecules that function to produce or secrete the extracellular matrix constituent molecule A substance having an effect of suppressing the expression of a target molecule, a substance having a dominant negative effect, or a vector expressing the same.
The siRNA is a double-stranded RNA having a sequence specific to a target molecule such as mRNA, and suppresses the expression of a substance formed by the target molecule, for example, a protein by promoting the degradation of the target molecule (RNA interference). . Since the principle was published by Fire et al. (Nature, 391: 806-811, 1998), extensive studies have already been conducted on siRNA optimization, and those skilled in the art are familiar with such techniques. In addition, vigorous research has been conducted on substances that cause RNA interference or other gene expression inhibition reactions other than siRNA, and many such substances are now born.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-219893 describes a double-stranded polynucleotide composed of DNA and RNA that inhibits expression of a target gene. This polynucleotide is a DNA / RNA chimera in which part of the same strand is DNA and the other part is RNA even if it is a DNA / RNA hybrid in which one of the double strands is DNA and the other is RNA. May be. Such a polynucleotide preferably comprises 19 to 25, more preferably 19 to 23, and even more preferably 19 to 21 nucleotides. In the case of a DNA / RNA hybrid, the sense strand is DNA and the antisense strand is RNA. In the case of a DNA / RNA chimera, one in which a part of the upstream side of the double-stranded polynucleotide is RNA is preferable. Such a polynucleotide can be prepared by a known chemical synthesis method according to a conventional method and having an arbitrary sequence.

As the target molecule, for example, a molecule that can suppress secretion of extracellular matrix constituent molecules in a single screen is preferable. Examples of such a molecule include, but are not limited to, HSP47. The gene sequence of HSP47 or a homologue thereof is disclosed, for example, as GenBank accession No. AB010273 (human), X60676 (mouse), M69246 (rat, gp46).
Accordingly, preferred substances that the drug carrier of the present invention carries include siRNA targeting HSP47, DNA / RNA hybrids or chimeric polynucleotides, antisense nucleic acids, and the like.
The drug carrier delivery product of the present invention also includes an agent that suppresses fibrosis, such as G-CSF (see WO 2005/082402), thrombomodulin-like protein (see JP-A-2002-371006), keratan sulfate oligosaccharide ( JP-A-11-269076).

  The substance or object delivered by the drug carrier of the present invention may or may not be labeled. Labeling makes it possible to monitor the success or failure of transportation and the increase or decrease of stellate cells, which is particularly useful at the test and research level. The label may be selected from any known to those skilled in the art, such as any radioisotope, a substance that binds to the labeled substance (eg, an antibody), a fluorescent substance, a fluorophore, a chemiluminescent substance, an enzyme, and the like. it can.

  The present invention also relates to a medicament for treating a disease associated with stellate cells, comprising the drug carrier and a drug that controls the activity or proliferation of the stellate cells, and to the stellate cell of the drug carrier. It relates to the use in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a disease. Here, the diseases related to stellate cells refer to diseases in which stellate cells are directly or indirectly involved in the process of the disease, that is, onset, exacerbation, improvement, remission, healing, etc. Liver diseases such as hepatitis, especially chronic hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, pancreatitis, especially chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic fibrosis and pancreatic cancer are included. In addition, since there are stellate cells in the vocal cords according to recent reports (see, for example, Fuja TJ et al., Cell Tissue Res. 2005; 322 (3): 417-24), the above diseases include vocal cord scar formation, vocal cord mucosa It also includes vocal cord and laryngeal diseases such as fibrosis and laryngeal fibrosis.

In the medicament of the present invention, if at least a part of the retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog contained in the drug carrier is exposed to the outside of the preparation by the time it reaches the star cell at the latest, the drug carrier contains the drug inside. Or may be attached to the outside of the drug-containing body, or may be mixed with the drug. Therefore, depending on the route of administration, drug release mode, etc., the medicament may be coated with an appropriate material, such as an enteric coating or a time-disintegrating material, and incorporated into an appropriate drug release system. But you can.
The medicament of the present invention can be used in various routes including both oral and parenteral, such as, without limitation, oral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, topical, rectal, intraarterial, intraportal, intraventricular, It may be administered by routes such as transmucosal, transdermal, intranasal, intraperitoneal, intrapulmonary, and intrauterine, and may be formulated into a dosage form suitable for each route of administration. Any known dosage form and formulation method can be adopted as appropriate (see, for example, Standard Pharmacology, Yoshiaki Watanabe, Nankodo, 2003, etc.).
For example, dosage forms suitable for oral administration include, but are not limited to, powders, granules, tablets, capsules, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, gels, syrups, etc. Suitable dosage forms include injections such as solution injections, suspension injections, emulsion injections, injections prepared at the time of use. Formulations for parenteral administration can be in the form of aqueous or non-aqueous isotonic sterile solutions or suspensions.

The drug carrier or medicament of the present invention may be supplied in any form, but from the viewpoint of storage stability, it is preferably in a form ready for use, for example, at or near the medical site, and / or It is provided in a form that can be prepared by a pharmacist, nurse, or other paramedical. In this case, the drug carrier or medicament of the present invention is provided as one or more containers containing at least one of the essential components thereof and is used before use, for example within 24 hours, preferably 3 Prepared within an hour and more preferably immediately before use. In the preparation, reagents, solvents, dispensing devices and the like that are usually available at the place of preparation can be appropriately used.
Accordingly, the present invention also provides a drug carrier or pharmaceutical comprising a drug carrier component and one or more containers containing one or more of a retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog, and / or drug. It includes preparation kits, and also includes the necessary components of a drug carrier or medicament provided in the form of such a kit. In addition to the above, the kit of the present invention may contain instructions and the like describing the drug carrier of the present invention and a method for preparing and administering a medicament. Further, the kit of the present invention may contain all of the components for completing the drug carrier or medicament of the present invention, but may not necessarily contain all of the components. Therefore, the kit of the present invention may not contain reagents and solvents that are usually available at medical sites, laboratory facilities, etc., such as sterile water, physiological saline, and glucose solution.

The present invention further relates to a method for treating a disease associated with stellate cells comprising administering an effective amount of said medicament to a subject in need thereof. Here, the effective amount is an amount that reduces the onset of the target disease, reduces symptoms, or prevents progression, and preferably is an amount that prevents the onset of the target disease or cures the target disease. . In addition, an amount that does not cause adverse effects exceeding the benefits of administration is preferred. Such an amount can be appropriately determined by an in vitro test using cultured cells or the like, or a test in a model animal such as a mouse, rat, dog or pig, and such a test method is well known to those skilled in the art. .
The dose of the drug administered in the method of the present invention varies depending on the drug used and the type of retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog. For example, when siRNA against HSP47 is used as the drug, 0.01 to 45 mg / kg / day, preferably 0.1 to 30 mg / kg / day, more preferably 1 to 20 mg / kg / day, and most preferably 4 to 6 mg / kg / day. When vitamin A is used as the retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog, vitamin A is typically administered at a dose of 10 to 20 mg / kg / day. The doses of the retinoid derivative and / or vitamin A analog contained in the drug carrier and the drug used in the method of the present invention are known to those skilled in the art or can be appropriately determined by the above-described tests and the like.

The specific dose of medicament administered in the methods of the present invention can vary depending on various conditions relating to the subject in need of treatment, such as severity of symptoms, general health of the subject, age, weight, subject sex, diet, administration It may be determined in consideration of the timing and frequency, the drugs used in combination, the response to treatment, compliance with treatment, etc., so it may differ from the above typical doses. This method is still within the scope of the present invention.
Administration routes include various routes including both oral and parenteral, such as oral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, topical, rectal, intraarterial, intraportal, intraventricular, transmucosal, transdermal, Routes such as intranasal, intraperitoneal, intrapulmonary and intrauterine are included.
The frequency of administration varies depending on the properties of the pharmaceutical used and the conditions of the subject as described above. For example, many times a day (ie, 2, 3, 4 or 5 times a day) once a day, every few days (Ie every 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 days, etc.) every week, every few weeks (ie every 2, 3, 4 weeks, etc.).

In the method of the present invention, the term “subject” means any living individual, preferably an animal, more preferably a mammal, more preferably a human individual. In the present invention, a subject may be healthy or afflicted with some disease, but when treatment of the disease is intended, it is typically afflicted with or affected by the disease. Means a subject at risk.
The term “treatment” is also intended to encompass all types of medically acceptable prophylactic and / or therapeutic interventions intended to cure, temporarily ameliorate or prevent disease. For example, when the disease is liver fibrosis, the term “treatment” includes various purposes of medicine, including slowing or stopping the progression of fibrosis, regression or disappearance of lesions, prevention of fibrosis onset or prevention of recurrence, etc. Including potentially acceptable interventions.

The present invention also relates to a drug delivery method to stellate cells using the drug carrier. This method includes, but is not limited to, for example, a step of carrying a delivery product on the drug carrier, and a step of administering or adding the drug carrier carrying the delivery product to an organism or medium containing stellate cells, such as a culture medium. including. These steps can be appropriately achieved according to any known method or the method described in the present specification. The delivery method can also be combined with other delivery methods, such as other delivery methods that target an organ in which stellate cells are present.
[Example]

  The following examples are only for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific numerical values and procedures shown in the examples.

Example 1 Production of siRNA against gp46
Among siRNA recognition optimal sequences targeting the base sequence of HSP47, which is a common molecular chaperone of collagen (types I to IV), sequences A and B were prepared according to the iGENE siRNA oligo program design. Further, the sequence C is converted into rat gp46 (human HSP47 homolog, GenBank Accession No. M69246) using siRNA Target Finder (http://www.ambion.com/techlib/misc/siRNA_finder.html) manufactured by Ambion on the Internet. A 19-base sequence serving as a target for) was selected and searched. In the design, we noted 1) starting 75-100 bases downstream from the start codon, 2) positioning the first AA dimer, and 3) GC content is 30% to 70%. In this example, siRNA having the following sequences was prepared.
A: GUUCCCACCAUAAGAUGUGACACAAC (25 base forward strand siRNA starting from position 757 on the sequence, SEQ ID NO: 1)
B: CCCAAAGUUUAUAUUCCAAUCUAGGC (25-base forward strand siRNA starting from position 1626 on the sequence, SEQ ID NO: 2)
C: GAAACCUGUAGAGGGCCGCA (19-base forward strand siRNA starting from the 64th position on the sequence, SEQ ID NO: 3)

Example 2 Suppression of gp46 expression by the prepared siRNA
Normal rat kidney cells (NRK cells), which have rat gp46 and produce collagen, were transfected with 0.1 nM to 50 nM of each siRNA and cultured for 12 to 48 hours (FIG. 1). ). The expression level of gp46 was confirmed by Western blotting (FIGS. 2 to 4, the upper band is gp46 and the lower band is control actin). All siRNAs remarkably suppressed the expression of the gp46 protein compared to the vehicle (FIG. 2). In the following experiments, siRNA having sequence A, which was the most effective of these, was used. Inhibition by siRNA was concentration-dependent (FIG. 3), and protein expression of gp46 was suppressed by about 90% after 48 hours with 50 nM siRNA (FIG. 4).

ラット線維芽細胞におけるコラーゲン合成率はcontrol群と比較して約４０％低下した（図６）。 Example 3 Suppression of collagen synthesis by the prepared siRNA Culture of rat fibroblasts (NRK cells) to examine the amount of collagen synthesis under the conditions described above (siRNA concentration was 50 nM and time was 48 hours). ³ H-proline was added to the supernatant, and the amount of ³ H in the secreted protein after transfection was examined (FIG. 5). The amount of collagen synthesis was determined by culturing gp46siRNA-introduced fibroblasts in the presence of ³ H-proline based on the report of Peterkofsky et al. (Peterkofsky et al., Biochemistry. 1971 Mar 16; 10 (6): 988-94). It was calculated from the ratio of the amount of protein secreted into the protein decomposed by collagenase.

The collagen synthesis rate in rat fibroblasts was reduced by about 40% compared to the control group (FIG. 6).

Example 4 Hepatic Stellate Cell (HSC) Specific Introduction of Nucleic Acid An emulsion (VA-Lip-GFP) in which 10% VA and a liposome are mixed to encapsulate VA and a GFP-expressing plasmid is prepared, After administration into the rat portal vein, the liver tissue was recovered and fixed. The emulsion was prepared so that the plasma volume of a 200 g rat was about 10 ml, and the VA and GFP concentrations in portal blood were 10 μM. Specifically, first, 25 mg of all-trans-retinol (VA) was dissolved in 87 μl of DMSO to prepare a 100 mM stock solution. 10 μl of lipofectamine and 179 μl of PBS were added to 1 μl of this VA stock solution, and further 10 μg of GFP-expressing plasmid was added to make a total of 200 μl, which was vortexed for 3 minutes to obtain VA-Lip-GFP. SD rats were opened and VA-Lip-GFP was slowly injected into the peripheral portal vein. Liver tissue was collected 48 hours after injection. Since the intermediate filament desmin is expressed specifically in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) compared to other hepatocytes, the fixed liver tissue is stained with Alexa Fluor568-labeled anti-desmin antibody and fluorescent with GFP. When multiple images were observed, it was confirmed that GFP was expressed in hepatic stellate cells (HSC) (FIG. 7). No expression in rat hepatic stellate cells was observed in the untreated control or GFP-expressing plasmid vector alone administration group, but in the group administered with VA-Lip-GFP, expression of GFP was observed specifically in the stellate cells.

Example 5 Quantification of Nucleic Acid Introduction Rate An emulsion containing VA-encapsulated liposomes and FITC-labeled gp46siRNA (VA-Lip) in the same manner as in Example 4 except that FITC-labeled gp46siRNA was used instead of GFP-expressing plasmid. -Gp46siRNA (FITC)) was prepared and administered intraportally to SD rats (10 μg / 200 μl as the amount of siRNA). 48 hours after administration, liver tissue was collected, and αSMA (smooth muscle actin) specifically expressed in HSC compared with other hepatocytes was stained with Alexa Fluor568-labeled anti-αSMA antibody and the cell nucleus was stained with DAPI. The fluorescent image was observed with a confocal laser scanning microscope (LSM). As shown on the left side of FIG. 8, in the VA-Lip-gp46siRNA (FITC) administration group, many cells emitting both green fluorescence by FITC and red fluorescence by Alexa Fluor568 were observed, and when quantified by NIH image (x1000 fluorescence microscope) Arbitrary 10 visual fields were selected and the number of cells was tested), and the introduction efficiency was 77.6% (average of 10 visual fields). On the other hand, in the Lip-gp46siRNA (FITC) administration group not containing VA, the introduction efficiency was as low as 14.0%, and 3.0% was introduced into cells other than stellate cells (FIG. 8 right side). From the above results, it can be seen that inclusion of VA dramatically increases the efficiency of introduction into stellate cells.

Example 6 Suppression of gp46 expression by VA-Lip-gp46siRNA In another section of the tissue collected in Example 5, gp46 was stained with Alexa Fluor568-labeled anti-HSP47 antibody, and the cell nucleus was stained with DAPI, respectively, with a confocal laser scanning microscope. A fluorescent elephant was observed. As shown in FIG. 9, in the VA-Lip-gp46 siRNA-administered group, the control group to which VA-Lip-random siRNA containing random siRNA containing gp46 expression that is recognized as red fluorescence (right side of the figure) is not specific to gp46 was administered. It was recognized that it was significantly reduced compared to (left side of the figure). The expression suppression rate relative to the average of 6 fields in the control group was as high as 75% when gp46-negative cell counts were selected by arbitrarily selecting 10 x1000 fluorescence micrographs using NIH image as in Example 7. .

Example 7 Treatment of LC rat (portal administration 1)
According to the report of Jezequel et al. (Jezequel AM et al., J Hepatol. 1987 Oct; 5 (2): 174-81), LC model rat was prepared using dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) (FIG. 10). Specifically, 1% dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) was administered to a 5-week-old SD rat (male) in an amount of 1 ml / kg (intraperitoneal administration) three times a week. As previously reported, an increase in fibers was observed from the 2nd week, and marked fibrosis, destruction of the hepatic lobule structure, and regenerative nodule formation were observed in the 4th week (FIG. 11). Therefore, gp46siRNA was made into liposomes by the same method as in Example 4, and an emulsion (VA-Lip-gp46siRNA) mixed with 10% VA was administered thereto. Administration of VA-Lip-gp46siRNA was started from the third week where sufficient fibrosis was observed, and evaluation was performed at the fourth and fifth weeks. Since it was confirmed that the effect was observed up to 48 hours in vitro according to Example 2, administration was performed twice a week (FIG. 11). The dosage was 40 μg in total of siRNA based on the previous report (McCaffery et al., Nature. 2002 Jul 4; 418 (6893): 38-9) in which siRNA was directly injected. In the azan staining of the liver after siRNA administration, there was no obvious difference between the raw food administration group, the siRNA (random) administration group, and the siRNA (gp46) administration group at 4 weeks, but gp46 siRNA administration at 5 weeks. A decrease in fiber mass was seen in the group (FIG. 12). In order to quantify the amount of fibers, the stained portion was extracted using NIH image and the area was measured (FIG. 13). As a result, a significant decrease in the collagen area was observed in the gp46siRNA administration group (FIG. 14). ). Further, in order to evaluate the degree of fibrosis on another scale, the quantitative determination of hydroxyproline as an index of fibrosis was performed by a conventional method. Specifically, after 20 mg of freeze-dried liver tissue was hydrolyzed with HCl for 24 hours, the reaction solution was centrifuged, and the supernatant was treated with a reagent such as Ehrlich's solution and centrifuged. The supernatant was recovered and the amount of hydroxyproline in the liver tissue was measured by measuring the absorbance at 560 nm (Hepatology 1998 Nov; vol.28: 1247-1252). As shown in FIG. 15, in the gp46siRNA administration group, the amount of hydroxyproline was extremely small.

Example 8 Treatment of LC rat (portal administration 2)
Furthermore, in order to examine the change in the survival rate by administration of the medicament of the present invention, based on the method of Qi Z et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci US A. 1999 Mar 2; 96 (5): 2345-9.) LC model rat was produced using 20% increased dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). In this model, a total of 4 intraportal administrations were performed in the first and second weeks. The contents of administration were PBS, Lip-gp46 siRNA, VA-Lip-random siRNA and VA-Lip-gp46 siRNA (n = 7 in each group). Three weeks later, all of the controls (PBS-administered group, VA-Lip-random siRNA-administered group and Lip-gp46siRNA-administered group) died, whereas 6 out of 7 animals survived in the VA-Lip-gp46siRNA-administered group. (FIG. 16). Further, in the azan staining of the liver on the 21st day, a clear decrease in the fiber amount was observed in the gp46siRNA administration group (FIG. 17).

この結果、本発明の医薬を投与された群（処置群９−４）以外は、ＤＭＮの投与開始から４５日後までに６匹すべてが死亡したが、本発明の医薬を投与された群は、３６日目に死亡した１例を除き、全個体がＤＭＮの投与開始から７０日を超えて生存を続けた（図１８）。なお、死亡個体について肝の線維量を実施例７と同様にCollagen面積に基づいて定量したところ、ＶＡ−Ｌｉｐ−ｇｐ４６ｓｉＲＮＡの投与により肝線維量の増加が顕著に抑制されていた（図１９）。 Example 9 Treatment of LC rat (portal administration 3)
In another experiment, an LC model rat (1% DMN 1 mg / kg was prepared 3 weeks a week based on the method of Qi Z et al. And the method of Ueki T et al. (Nat Med. 1999 Feb; 5 (2): 226-30). Intraperitoneal administration), intraportal administration with the contents shown in the table below was performed from the third week (n = 6 in each group). In addition, PBS was added to each administration so that the total volume became 200 μl, and the administration frequency was once a week.

As a result, except for the group to which the medicament of the present invention was administered (treatment group 9-4), all 6 animals died 45 days after the start of administration of DMN, but the group to which the medicament of the present invention was administered was Except for the one who died on day 36, all individuals continued to survive beyond 70 days from the start of DMN administration (FIG. 18). In addition, when the amount of liver fibers was determined for dead individuals based on the collagen area in the same manner as in Example 7, the increase in the amount of liver fibers was markedly suppressed by administration of VA-Lip-gp46siRNA (FIG. 19).

この結果、本発明の医薬を投与された群（処置群１０−４および１０−１０）以外は、ＤＭＮの投与開始から４５日後までに６匹すべてが死亡したが、本発明の医薬を投与された群は、処置群１０−４において４５日目に２匹が死亡したのを除き、全個体がＤＭＮの投与開始から７０日を超えて生存を続けた（図２０および２１）。なお、死亡個体について肝の線維量を実施例７と同様に定量したところ、ＶＡ−Ｌｉｐ−ｇｐ４６ｓｉＲＮＡの投与により肝線維量の増加が顕著に抑制されていた（図２２）。
以上の結果は、本発明の医薬が星細胞が関与する線維化の予防および治療に極めて有効であることを示すものである。 Example 10 Treatment of LC rat (intravenous administration)
The LC model rat prepared in the same manner as in Example 9 (1% DMN 1 μg / BW (g) was intraperitoneally administered 3 times a week) was intravenously administered with the contents shown in the table below from the 3rd week (in each group) n = 6). Each dose was administered with PBS added so that the total volume was 200 μl. In addition, the administration period was administered until the death of the group 10-4 until the 7th week, except that the 10-10 group was administered until the 6th week.

As a result, except for the groups to which the medicament of the present invention was administered (treatment groups 10-4 and 10-10), all six animals died 45 days after the start of administration of DMN, but the medicament of the present invention was administered. All groups continued to survive beyond 70 days from the start of DMN administration, except that 2 died on day 45 in treatment group 10-4 (FIGS. 20 and 21). In addition, when the amount of liver fibers was quantified in the same manner as in Example 7 for dead individuals, the increase in the amount of liver fibers was significantly suppressed by administration of VA-Lip-gp46siRNA (FIG. 22).
The above results indicate that the medicament of the present invention is extremely effective for the prevention and treatment of fibrosis involving stellate cells.

Example 11 Improvement of Effect by RBP (Retinol Binding Protein) Using LI90, a cell line derived from human hepatic stellate cells, the effect of RBP on VA-Lip-gp46siRNA introduction efficiency was examined. First, VA-Lip-gp46siRNA (FITC) 100 nM prepared in Example 5 was added to various concentrations (ie, 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 or 10%) of FBS (fetal bovine serum). In addition to LI90 in culture and incubation for 48 hours, fluorescence images were observed with LSM, and the amount of siRNA incorporated into individual cells was quantified by FACS. The FBS contains about 0.7 mg / dl of RBP. As shown in FIG. 23, FBS (RBP) increased the amount of siRNA introduced in a concentration-dependent manner. Next, 10 μg (21.476 nmol) of anti-RBP antibody together with 100 nM VA-Lip-gp46 siRNA (FITC) and 4% FBS was added to LI90 in culture, and siRNA introduction efficiency was similarly evaluated. As shown in FIG. 24, it can be seen that the introduction amount increased by RBP is markedly decreased by the addition of the anti-RBP antibody. The above results indicate that RBP is effective in further improving the introduction of the medicament of the present invention.

It is the figure which showed the protocol regarding determination of the effect of gp46-siRNA in vitro using NRK cells, and determination of the optimal sequence, time, and concentration. It is the photograph which showed the result of the western blotting of gp46 and Actin (24 hours culture | cultivation, examination of optimal arrangement | sequence). It is the photograph which showed the result of the western blotting of gp46 and Actin (24 hours culture | cultivation, examination of optimal concentration). It is the photograph figure which showed the result of the western blotting of gp46 and Actin (concentration 50nM, examination of optimal culture | cultivation time). It is the figure which showed the protocol for evaluating suppression of the expression of collagen by gp46-siRNA in a NRK cell. It is the graph which showed suppression of collagen synthesis by siRNA. It is the photograph figure which showed introduction | transduction of HSC specific siRNA. It is the photograph which evaluated the introduction rate of HSC specific siRNA. It is the photograph which evaluated the expression suppression of gp46 by siRNA.

It is the photograph figure which showed Azan dyeing | staining of DMN administration rat liver. It is the figure which showed the treatment protocol of LC rat. It is the photograph figure which showed Azan dyeing | staining of the LC rat liver which administered VA-Lip-gp46siRNA. It is the figure which showed the extraction method of the to-be-stained part by NIH image. Six images were taken at random from the Azan stained image. It is the graph which showed the area ratio (Collagen area ratio,%) which the fibrosis part accounts in a liver tissue image. 2 is a graph showing the amount of hydroxyproline in liver tissue. It is the graph which showed the survival curve of the cirrhosis rat which administered VA-Lip-gp46siRNA intraportally. It is the photograph which showed the Azan staining of the liver tissue of the cirrhosis rat which intravaginally administered VA-Lip-gp46siRNA. It is the graph which showed the survival curve of the cirrhosis rat which administered VA-Lip-gp46siRNA intraportally. It is the photograph which showed the Azan staining of the liver tissue of the cirrhosis rat which intravaginally administered VA-Lip-gp46siRNA.

It is the graph which showed the survival curve of the cirrhosis rat which administered VA-Lip-gp46siRNA intravenously. It is the graph which showed the survival curve of the cirrhosis rat which administered VA-Lip-gp46siRNA intravenously. It is the photograph figure which showed Azan dyeing | staining of the liver tissue of the cirrhosis rat which intravenously administered VA-Lip-gp46siRNA. It is the figure which showed the improvement of the introduction | transduction efficiency of VA-Lip-gp46siRNA by RBP. It is the figure which showed suppression of VA-Lip-gp46siRNA introduction | transduction by an anti- RBP antibody.

Claims (8)

A drug carrier for delivering a substance specifically for a stellate cell , comprising a retinoid derivative and / or a vitamin A analog as a targeting agent for delivering the substance specifically for a stellate cell, and other drug carrier components .   The drug carrier according to claim 1, wherein the retinoid derivative contains vitamin A.   The drug carrier according to claim 1 or 2, comprising 0.2 to 20% by weight of a retinoid derivative and / or a vitamin A analog. The drug carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the drug carrier is in the form of any of polymeric micelles, liposomes, emulsions, microspheres, and nanoglobules. Substance is a drug for controlling the activity or growth of stellate cells, a drug carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Drugs that control stellate cell activity or proliferation are TGFβ activity inhibitors, HGF activity preparations, MMP production promoters, TIMP production inhibitors, PPARγ ligands, angiotensin activity inhibitors, PDGF activity inhibitors, sodium channel inhibitors, apoptosis An inducing agent, and an siRNA that targets one or more of the molecules that target or function to produce or secrete the extracellular matrix constituent molecule produced by the stellate cell, 6. The drug carrier according to claim 5 , selected from the group consisting of ribozymes, antisense nucleic acids, DNA / RNA chimeric polynucleotides and vectors expressing them. The drug carrier according to claim 6 , wherein the molecule that functions to produce or secrete an extracellular matrix constituent molecule is HSP47. Manufacture of a medicament for treating diseases related to stellate cells selected from the group consisting of hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, pancreatitis, pancreatic fibrosis, pancreatic cancer, vocal cord scar formation, vocal cord mucosal fibrosis and laryngeal fibrosis A drug carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 7 for use .

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