Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K7/00—Peptides having 5 to 20 amino acids in a fully defined sequence; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K7/04—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links
  • C07K7/06—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links having 5 to 11 amino acids
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
  • A61P1/04—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system for ulcers, gastritis or reflux esophagitis, e.g. antacids, inhibitors of acid secretion, mucosal protectants
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
  • A61P1/06—Anti-spasmodics, e.g. drugs for colics, esophagic dyskinesia
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P29/00—Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
  • A61P37/02—Immunomodulators
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
  • A61P37/08—Antiallergic agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P43/00—Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • C07K14/46—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
  • C07K14/47—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
  • C07K14/4701—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals not used
  • C07K14/4702—Regulators; Modulating activity
  • C07K14/4705—Regulators; Modulating activity stimulating, promoting or activating activity
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • C07K14/46—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
  • C07K14/47—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
  • C07K14/4701—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals not used
  • C07K14/4716—Muscle proteins, e.g. myosin, actin
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K7/00—Peptides having 5 to 20 amino acids in a fully defined sequence; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K7/04—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links
  • C07K7/08—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links having 12 to 20 amino acids
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides

Definitions

• the present invention relates to peptide antagonists of zonulin, as well as methods for the use of the same. Said peptide antagonists bind to the zonula occludens receptor, yet do not physiologically modulate the opening of mammalian tight junctions.
• ZO are one of the hallmarks of absorptive and secretory epithelia (Madara, J “ . Clin .
• ZO-l and ZO-2 exist as a heterodimer (Gumbiner et al, Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . ,
• Rab 13 a small GTP binding protein has also recently been localized to the junction region (Zahraoui et al, J. Cell Biol . , 124:101-115 (1994)).
• Other small GTP-binding proteins are known to regulate the cortical cytoskeleton, i.e., rho regulates actin-membrane attachment in focal contacts (Ridley et al, Cell , 70:389-399 (1992)), and rac regulates growth factor-induced membrane ruffling (Ridley et al, Cell , 70:401-410 (1992)).
• MARCKS myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate
• PLC protein kinase C
• MARCKS Activated PKC phosphorylates MARCKS, which is released from the membrane (Rosen et al, J . Exp . Med . , 172:1211-1215 (1990); and Thelen et al, Nature , 351:320-322 (1991)).
• the actin linked to MARCKS is likely to be spatially separated from the membrane and be more plastic.
• MARCKS is dephosphorylated, it returns to the membrane where it once again crosslinks actin (Hartwig et al, supra ; and Thelen et al, supra) .
• a variety of intracellular mediators have been shown to alter tj function and/or structure. Tight junctions of amphibian gallbladder (Duffey et al, Nature , 204:451-452 (1981)), and both goldfish (Bakker et al, Am . J . Physiol . , 246:G213-G217 (1984)) and flounder (Krasney et al, Fed . Proc , 42 : 1100 (1983)) intestine, display enhanced resistance to passive ion flow as intracellular cAMP is elevated.
• the Blood-Brain Barrier is an extremely thin membranous barrier that is highly resistant to solute free diffusion, and separates blood and the brain. In molecular dimensions, the movement of drugs or solute through this membrane is essentially nil, unless the compound has access to one of several specialized enzyme-like transport mechanisms that are embebbed within the BBB membrane.
• the BBB is composed of multiple cells rather than a single layer of epithelial cells. Of the four different types of cells that compose the BBB (endothelial cells, perycites, astrocytes, and neurons) the endothelial cell component of the capillaries represents the limiting factor for the permeability of the BBB.
• endothelial tj are responsible for the limited permeability of the BBB.
• Vibrio cholerae vaccine candidates constructed by deleting the ctxK gene encoding cholera toxin (CT) are able to elicit high antibody responses, but more than one-half of the vaccinees still develop mild diarrhea (Levine et al, Infect . Immun . , 56(1, :161-167 (1988)).
• CT cholera toxin
• V. cholerae produce other enterotoxigenic factors, which are still present in strains deleted of the ctxA sequence (Levine et al, supra) .
• ZOT zonula occludens toxin
• ZOT increases the intestinal permeability by modulating the structure of intercellular tj (Fasano et al, supra) . It has been found that as a consequence of modification of the paracellular pathway, the intestinal mucosa becomes more permeable. It also was found that ZOT does not affect Na + -glucose coupled active transport, is not cytotoxic, and fails to completely abolish the transepithelial resistance (Fasano et al, supra) .
• ZOT is capable of reversibly opening tj in the intestinal mucosa, and thus ZOT, when co-administered with a therapeutic agent, is able to effect intestinal delivery of the therapeutic agent, when employed in an oral dosage composition for intestinal drug delivery (WO 96/37196; U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/443,864, filed May 24, 1995; and U.S. Patent 5,665,389; and Fasano et al, J. Clin . Invest . , 99:1158-1164 (1997); each of which is incorporated by reference herein in their entirety) .
• ZOT is capable of reversibly opening tj in the nasal mucosa, and thus ZOT, when co-administered with a therapeutic agent, is able to enhance nasal absorption of a therapeutic agent (U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/781,057, filed January 9, 1997; which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) .
• a ZOT receptor has been identified and purified from an intestinal cell line, i.e., CaCo2 cells. Further, in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/024,198, filed February 17, 1998; which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, ZOT receptors from human intestinal, heart and brain tissue have been identified and purified. The ZOT receptors represent the first step of the paracellular pathway involved in the regulation of intestinal and nasal permeability.
• mammalian proteins that are immunologically and functionally related to ZOT, and that function as the physiological modulator of mammalian tight junctions, have been identified and purified. These mammalian proteins, referred to as "zonulin", are useful for enhancing absorption of therapeutic agents across tj of intestinal and nasal mucosa, as well as across tj of the blood brain barrier.
• peptide antagonists of zonulin have been identified for the first time. Said peptide antagonists bind to ZOT receptor, yet do not function to physiologically modulate the opening of mammalian tight junctions.
• the peptide antagonists competitively inhibit the binding of ZOT and zonulin to the ZOT receptor, thereby inhibiting the ability of ZOT and zonulin to physiologically modulate the opening of mammalian tight junctions.
• An object of the present invention is to identify peptide antagonists of zonulin.
• a peptide antagonist of zonulin comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:l, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO:
• SEQ ID NO: 7 SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, and SEQ ID NO: 35, wherein said peptide antagonist binds to a ZOT receptor, yet does not physiologically modulate the opening of mammalian tight junctions.
• Figure 1 shows the effect of zonulin purified from rabbit intestine ( ⁇ ) , as compared to various negative controls (Fraction 2 (O) ; Fraction 3 (•); Fraction 4 (A) ; and Fraction 5 (D) from a Q-Sepharose column) , on the tissue resistance (Rt) of CaCo2 cell monolayers.
• Figure 2 shows the effect of zonulin purified from rabbit intestine ( ⁇ ) , as compared to the negative control (D) , on the tissue resistance (Rt) of rabbit ileum mounted in Ussing chambers.
• Figure 3 shows the effect of zonulin purified from rabbit intestine ( ⁇ ) , as compared to the negative controls (zonulin + anti-ZOT antibody (D) ; zonulin + anti-tau antibody ( ⁇ ) ; and tau (A)) , on the tissue resistance (Rt) of rabbit ileum mounted in
• Figures 4A and 4B show the effect of zonulin purified from either human brain (A) , human intestine (•) , or human heart (o) , as compared to the negative control (D) , on the tissue resistance (Rt) of
• Figures 5A and 5B show the effect of zonulin purified from either human heart (A) or human brain (D) , as compared to the negative control ( ⁇ ) , on the tissue resistance (Rt) of rabbit jejunum
• Figure 6 shows a comparison of the N-terminal sequence of zonulin purified from rabbit and various human tissues.
• Figure 7 shows a comparison of the N-terminal sequences of zonulin purified from various human tissues and IgM heavy chain with the N-terminal sequence of the biologically active fragment (amino acids 288-399) of ZOT.
• Figure 8 shows the effect of ZOT, zonulin ⁇ , zonulin h , either alone (closed bars) , or in combination with the peptide antagonist FZI/0 (open bars) or in combination with FZI/1 (shaded bars) , as compared to the negative control, on the tissue resistance (Rt) of rabbit ileum mounted in Ussing chambers.
• N tissue resistance
• a peptide antagonist of zonulin comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:l, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ
• the size of the peptide antagonist is not critical to the present invention. Generally, the size of the peptide antagonist will range from 8 to 110, amino acids, preferably from 8 to 40 amino acids, more preferably will be 8 amino acids.
• the peptide antagonists can be chemically synthesized and purified using well-known techniques, such as described in High Performance Liquid Chromatography of Peptides and Proteins : Separation Analysis and Conformation , Eds. Mant et al, C.R.C.
• a peptide synthesizer such as Symphony (Protein Technologies, Inc) ; or by using recombinant DNA techniques, i.e., where the nucleotide sequence encoding the peptide is inserted in an appropriate expression vector, e.g., an E . coli or yeast expression vector, expressed in the respective host cell, and purified therefrom using well-known techniques.
• an appropriate expression vector e.g., an E . coli or yeast expression vector
• the peptide antagonists can be used as anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammation that gives rise to increased intestinal permeability.
• the peptide antagonists of the present invention are useful, e.g., in the treatment of intestinal conditions that cause protein losing enteropathy. Protein losing enteropathy may arise due to:
• Infection e.g., C . difficile infection, enterocolitis, shigellosis, viral gastroenteritis, parasite infestation, bacterial overgrowth, Whipple's disease;
• lymphatic obstruction e.g., congenital intestinal lymphangiectasia, sarcoidosis lymphoma, mesenteric tuberculosis, and after surgical correction of congenital heart disease with
• Mucosal diseases without ulceration e.g., Menetrier's disease, celiac disease, eosinophilic gastroenteritis; and Immune diseases, e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus or food allergies, primarily to milk (see also Table 40-2 of Pediatric Gastrointestinal Disease Pathophysiology Diagnosis Management , Eds. Wyllie et al, Saunders Co. (1993), pages 536-543; which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) .
• the present invention relates to a method for treatment of gastrointestinal inflammation comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment, a pharmaceutically effective amount of a peptide antagonist of zonulin, wherein said peptide antagonist comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:l, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18,
• SEQ ID NO: 19 SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, and SEQ ID NO: 24, wherein said peptide antagonist binds to the ZOT receptor in the intestine of said subject, yet does not physiologically modulate the opening of tight junctions in said intestine.
• the peptide antagonists can be administered as oral dosage compositions for small intestinal delivery.
• Such oral dosage compositions for small intestinal delivery are well-known in the art, and generally comprise gastroresistent tablets or capsules (Remington 's Pharmaceutical Sciences , 16th Ed., Eds. Osol, Mack Publishing Co., Chapter 89 (1980); Digenis et al, J . Pharm . Sci . , 83:915-921 (1994) ; Vantini et al, Clinica Terapeutica , 145:445-451 (1993); Yoshito i et al, Chem . Pharm . Bull .
• Capsules are solid dosage forms in which the peptide antagonist (s) is enclosed in either a hard or soft, soluble container or shell of gelatin.
• the gelatin used in the manufacture of capsules is obtained from collagenous material by hydrolysis. There are two types of gelatin. Type A, derived from pork skins by acid processing, and Type B, obtained from bones and animal skins by alkaline processing. The use of hard gelatin capsules permit a choice in prescribing a single peptide antagonist or a combination thereof at the exact dosage level considered best for the individual subject.
• the hard gelatin capsule consists of two sections, one slipping over the other, thus completely surrounding the peptide antagonist. These capsules are filled by introducing the peptide antagonist, or gastroresistent beads containing the peptide antagonist, into the longer end of the capsule, and then slipping on the cap.
• Hard gelatin capsules are made largely from gelatin, FD&C colorants, and sometimes an opacifying agent, such as titanium dioxide.
• the USP permits the gelatin for this purpose to contain 0.15% (w/v) sulfur dioxide to prevent decomposition during manufacture.
• oral dosage compositions for small intestinal delivery also include liquid compositions which contain aqueous buffering agents that prevent the peptide antagonist from being significantly inactivated by gastric fluids in the stomach, thereby allowing the peptide antagonist to reach the small intestines in an active form.
• aqueous buffering agents which can be employed in the present invention include bicarbonate buffer (pH 5.5 to 8.7, preferably about pH 7.4).
• the oral dosage composition is a liquid composition
• the composition be prepared just prior to administration so as to minimize stability problems.
• the liquid composition can be prepared by dissolving lyophilized peptide antagonist in the aqueous buffering agent.
• the peptide antagonists can be used as to inhibit breakdown of the blood brain barrier.
• the peptide antagonists of the present invention are useful, e.g., in the treatment of conditions associated with breakdown of the blood brain barrier.
• osmotic injuries e.g., cerebral ischemia, stroke or cerebral edema; hypertension; carbon dioxide; convulsive seizure; chemical toxins; uremia (renal insufficiency) ; meningitis, encephalitis, encephalomielitis, e.g., infective (viral (SRV, HIV, etc.), or bacterial (TB, H. influenzae , meningococcus, etc.) or allergic; tumors; traumatic brain injuries; radiation brain injury; immaturity and kernicterus; demyelinating diseases, e.g., multiple sclerosis or Guillian-Barre syndrome.
• osmotic injuries e.g., cerebral ischemia, stroke or cerebral edema
• hypertension carbon dioxide
• convulsive seizure chemical toxins
• uremia renal insufficiency
• meningitis e.g., encephalitis, encephalomielitis, e.g.,
• the present invention relates to a method for treatment of conditions associated with breakdown of the blood brain barrier comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment, a pharmaceutically effective amount of a peptide antagonist of zonulin, wherein said peptide antagonist comprises amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 35, wherein said peptide antagonist binds to ZOT receptor in the brain of said subject, yet does not physiologically modulate the opening of tight junctions in said brain.
• compositions for delivery to the brain.
• compositions are well-known in the art, and compositions generally comprise a physiological diluent, e.g., distilled water, or 0.9% (w/v) NaCl.
• the pharmaceutically effective amount of peptide antagonist employed is not critical to the present invention and will vary depending upon the disease or condition being treated, as well as the age, weight and sex of the subject being treated. Generally, the amount of peptide antagonist employed in the present invention to inhibit gastrointestinal inflammation or inhibit breakdown of the blood brain barrier, e.g., to inhibit zonulin biological activity, is in the range of about 7.5 x 10 ⁇ 6 M to 7.5 x 10 "3 M, preferably about 7.5 x 10 ⁇ 6 M to 7.5 x 10 "4 M.
• the amount of peptide antagonist in a single oral dosage composition of the present invention will generally be about 1.0 ⁇ g to 1000 ⁇ g, preferably about 1.0 ⁇ g to 100 ⁇ g.
• the peptide antagonists can be also be used as an immunogen to obtain antibodies, either polycolonal or monoclonal, having binding specificity for zonulin, using techniques well-known in the art (Abrams, Methods Enzymol . , 121:107-119 (1986)).
• These antibodies can in turn can be used to assay for zonulin in body tissue or fluids, or in affinity-purification of zonulin, or alternatively, to bind to zonulin, and thereby inhibit zonulin activity, e.g., to inhibit gastrointestinal inflammation or to inhibit breakdown of the blood brain barrier.
• the zot gene was fused in frame with the maltose binding protein (hereinafter "MBP") gene to create a MBP-ZOT fusion protein.
• MBP maltose binding protein
• the MBP vector pMAL-c2 (Biolab) was used to express and purify ZOT by fusing the zot gene to the malE gene of E . coli .
• This construct uses the strong, inducible tac promoter, and the malE translation initiation signals to give high level expression of the cloned zot gene.
• the vector pMAL-c2 has an exact deletion of the malE signal sequence, which leads to cytoplasmic expression of the fusion protein. Affinity chromatography purification for MBP was used to facilitate isolation of the fusion protein (Biolab) .
• vector pMAL-c2 was linearized with .EcoRI (that cuts at the 3' end of the malE gene) , filled in with Klenow fragment, and digested with Xjal (that has a single site in pMAL-c2 polylinker) .
• the orf encoding ZOT was subcloned from plasmid pBB241 (Baudry et al, Infect . Immun . , . 60:428-434 (1992)).
• Plasmid pBB241 was digested with BssHII, filled in with Klenow fragment, and digested with Xbal .
• the blunt -Xbal fragment was subcloned into pMAL-c2 to give plasmid pLClO-c. Since both the insert, and the vector had blunt and sticky ends, the correct orientation was obtained with the 3 ' end of malE fused with the 5' terminus of the insert.
• pLClO-c was then electroporated into E. coli strain DH5 ⁇ . In pBB241, the BssHII restriction site is within the zot orf. Thus, amino acids 1-8 of ZOT are missing in the MBP-ZOT fusion protein.
• MBP-ZOT fusion protein 10 ml of Luria Bertani broth containing 0.2% (w/v) glucose and 100 ⁇ g/ml ampicillin were inoculated with a single colony containing pLClO-c, and incubated overnight at 37 °C with shaking. The culture was diluted 1:100 in 1.0 ml of the same fresh medium, and grown at 37°C while shaking, to about 1.0 x 10 8 cells/ml. 0.2 mM IPTG was then added to induce the MBP-ZOT expression, and the culture was incubated at 37°C for additional 3 hr.
• the bacteria were then pelleted and resuspended in 20 ml of ice cold "column buffer" comprising 20 mM Tris-HCI, 0.2 M NaCl, 1.0 mM EDTA, 10 mM 2-ME, 1.0 mM NaN 3 .
• the bacterial suspension was lysed by french press treatment and spun for 30 min at 13,000 x g at 4°C. The supernatant was collected, diluted 1:5 with column buffer and loaded into a 1 X 10 column of amylose resin (Biolabs, MBP-fusion purification system) , pre-equilibrated with column buffer.
• the MBP-ZOT fusion protein was eluted by loading 10 ml of 10 mM maltose in column buffer. The typical yield from 1.0 ml of culture was 2-3 mg of protein.
• the MBP fusion partner of the purified MBP-ZOT fusion protein was then cleaved off using 1.0 ⁇ g of Factor Xa protease (Biolabs) per 20 ⁇ g of MBP-ZOT. Factor Xa protease cleaves just before the amino terminus of ZOT.
• the ZOT protein so obtained was run on a 8.0% (w/v) SDS-PAGE gel, and electroeluted from the gel using an electroseparation chamber (Schleicher & Schuell, Keene, NH) .
• the resulting purified ZOT When tested in Ussing chambers, the resulting purified ZOT induced a dose-dependent decrease of Rt, with an ED 50 of 7.5 x 10 "8 M.
• the zot gene was amplified by PCR with Deep Vent polymerase (New England Biolabs) , using pBB241 plasmid (Baudry et al, supra) DNA as a template.
• the forward and reverse primers used were: 5 ' -CGGGATCCCGTATGAGTATCTTT-3 ' (SEQ ID NO: 39) ; and 5 ' -CCCAAGCTTGGGTCAAAATATACT-3 ' (SEQ ID NO: 40) , respectively.
• the 5' tails of these oligonucleotides contain a BamHI and a Hindlll restriction site, respectively.
• the resulting amplicon (1.2 kb) was analyzed by 8.0 % (w/v) agarose gel electrophoresis, and purified from salts and free nucleotides using an Xtreme spin column (Pierce) .
• the above-noted two restriction enzymes were then used to digest the purified amplicon, and the resulting digested-amplicon was then inserted in the vector pQE30 (Quiagen) , which had been previously digested with BamHI and Hindlll , so as to obtain plasmid pSU113.
• pQE30 is an expression vector that provides high level expression of a recombinant protein with a 6 poly-histidine tag (6xHis) .
• the expression product of plasmid pSU113 is therefore a 6xHis-ZOT fusion protein.
• pSU113 was then transformed into E. coli DH5 ⁇ .
• the resulting transformed E. coil were grown overnight at 37°C in 150 ml of Luria Bertani broth containing 2.0% (w/v) glucose, 25 ⁇ g/ml of kanamycin and 200 ⁇ g/ml of ampicillin until the A 600 was about 1.10.
• the cells were harvested by centrifugation at 4000 x g for 20 min, the cells resuspend in 5.0 ml/g wet weight of buffer A comprising 6.0 M GuHCl, 0.1 M sodium phosphate, and 0.01 M Tris-HCI (pH 8.0) , and stirred for 1 hr at room temperature. Then, the mixture was centrifuged at 10,000 x g for 30 min at 4°C, and to the resulting supernatant was added 4.0-5.0 ml/g wet weight of a 50% slurry of SUPERFLOW resin (QIAGEN) , and stirring was carried out for 1 hr at room temperature.
• buffer A comprising 6.0 M GuHCl, 0.1 M sodium phosphate, and 0.01 M Tris-HCI (pH 8.0)
• Tris-HCI pH 8.0
• the resulting resin was loaded into a 1.6 x 8.0 column, which was then washed sequentially with buffer A, buffer B comprising 8.0 M urea, 0.1 M sodium phosphate, and 0.01 M Tris-HCI (pH 8.0) and buffer C comprising 8.0 M urea, 0.1 M sodium phosphate, and 0.01 M Tris-HCI (pH 6.3). Each wash was carried out until the A 600 of the flow-through was less than 0.01.
• the 6xHis-ZOT fusion protein was eluted from the column using 20 ml of buffer C containing 250 mM imidazole. Then, the fractions containing with the 6xHis-ZOT fusion protein were checked by SDS-PAGE using the procedure described by Davis, Ann.
• GST glutathione S-transferase
• oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify the zot orf by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using plasmid pBB241 (Baudry et al, supra) as template DNA.
• PCR polymerase chain reaction
• TCATCACGGC GCGCCAGG SEQ ID NO: 25
• SEQ ID NO: 25 corresponded to nucleotides 15-32 of zot orf
• GGAGGTCTAG AATCTGCCCG AT, SEQ ID NO: 26 corresponded to the 5' end of ctxA orf. Therefore, amino acids 1-5 of ZOT were missing in the resulting fusion protein.
• the amplification product was inserted into the polylinker (Smal site) located at the end of the GST gene in pGEX-2T (Pharmacia, Milwaukee, WI) .
• pGEX-2T is a fusion-protein expression vector that expresses a cloned gene as a fusion protein with GST of Schistosoma japonicum .
• the fusion gene is under the control of the tac promoter. Upon induction with IPTG, derepression occurs and GST fusion protein is expressed.
• the resulting recombinant plasmid was electroporated in E . coli DH5 ⁇ .
• 10 ml of Luria Bertani broth containing 100 ⁇ g/ml ampicillin were inoculated with a single colony containing pLCll, and incubated overnight at 37°C with shaking.
• the culture was diluted 1:100 in 1.0 ml of the same fresh medium and grown at 37°C while shaking, to about 1.0 x 10 8 cells/ml.
• 0.2 mM IPTG was then added to induce the GST-ZOT expression, and the culture was incubated at 37°C for additional 3 hr.
• the bacteria were then pelleted, resuspended in 20 ml of ice cold PBS (pH 7.4), and lysed by the french press method.
• the GST-ZOT fusion protein was not soluble under these conditions as it sedimented with the bacterial pellet fraction. Therefore, the pellet was resuspended in Lae li lysis buffer comprising 0.00625 M Tris-HCI (pH 6.8), 0.2 M 2-ME, 2.0% (w/v) SDS, 0.025% (w/v) bromophenol blue and 10% (v/v) glycerol, and subjected to electrophoresis on a 8.0% (w/v) PAGE-SDS gel, and stained with Coomassie brilliant blue.
• the rabbit antiserum was found to recognize ZOT, as well as MBP-ZOT and GST-ZOT fusion proteins, but not the MBP negative control.
• the anti-ZOT antibodies were affinity-purified using an MBP-ZOT affinity column. More specifically, a MBP-ZOT affinity column was prepared by immobilizing, overnight at room temperature, 1.0 mg of purified MBP-ZOT, obtained as described in Example 1 above, to a pre-activated gel (Aminolink, Pierce) . The column was washed with PBS, and then loaded with 2.0 ml of anti-ZOT rabbit antiserum.
• the column was washed with 14 ml of PBS, and the specific anti-ZOT antibodies were eluted from the column with 4.0 ml of a solution comprising 50 mM glycine (pH 2.5), 150 mM NaCl, and 0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100.
• the pH of the 1.0 ml eluted fractions was immediately neutralized with 1.0 N NaOH.
• ZOT interacts with a specific epithelial surface receptor, with subsequent activation of a complex intracellular cascade of events that regulate tj permeability
• ZOT may mimic the effect of a physiological modulator of mammalian tj . It was postulated in U.S. Patent Application
• zonulin was purified from rabbit intestine.
• the tissue was disrupted by homogenization in PBS.
• the resulting cell preparations were than centrifuged at 40,000 rpm for 30 min, the supernatant collected and lyophilized.
• the resulting lyophilized product was subsequently reconstituted in PBS (10:1 (v/v)), filtered through a 0.45 mm membrane filter, loaded onto a Sephadex G-50 chromatographic column, and eluted with PBS.
• 2.0 ml fractions obtained from the column were subjected to standard Western immunoblotting using the affinity-purified anti-ZOT antibodies obtained as described in Example 2 above.
• the fractions obtained from the Q-Sepharose column were then tested for their tissue resistance effects on both CaCo2 monolayers, and rabbit small intestine in Ussing chambers.
• CaCo2 cells were grown in cell-culture flasks (Falcon) under humidified atmosphere of 95% 0 2 /5% C0 2 at 37 °C in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 10% (v/v) fetal-calf serum, 40 ⁇ g/1 penicillin and 90 ⁇ g/1 streptomycin.
• the cells were subcultured at a surface ratio of 1:5 after trypsin treatment every 5 days, when they had reached 70-80% confluence.
• the passage number of the cells used in the this study varied between 15 and 30.
• the CaCo2 monolayers were grown to confluence (12-14 days after plating at a 1:2.5 surface ratio) on tissue-culture-treated polycarbonate filters firmly attached to a polystyrene ring (6.4 mm diameter, Transwell Costar) .
• the filters were placed in a tightly fitting insert separating the serosal and mucosal compartment of a modified Ussing chamber, and the experiments were carried out as described by Fasano et al, Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . , USA, 8:5242-5246 (1991) , for rabbit intestines in Ussing chambers. The results are shown in Figure 1.
• the zonulin-containing fraction induced a significant reduction of CaCo2 monolayers' resistance, as compared to zonulin-negative fractions.
• the bathing solution was maintained at 37 °C with water-jacketed reservoirs connected to a constant-temperature circulating pump and gassed with 95% 0 2 /5% C0 2 .
• 100 ⁇ l of zonulin purified from rabbit intestine was added to the mucosal side.
• the potential difference (PD) was measured every 10 min, and the short-circuit current (Isc) and tissue resistance (Rt) were calculated as described by Fasano et al, supra . Because of tissue variability, data were calculated as ⁇ Rt (Rt at time x) - (Rt at time 0). The results are shown in Figure 2.
• the zonulin-containing fraction induced a significant reduction in rabbit small intestinal resistance, as compared to a zonulin-negative fraction. This effect was completely reversible once zonulin was withdrawn from the reservoir.
• the zonulin-positive fraction was also subjected to 8.0% (w/v) SDS-PAGE, followed by Western immunoblotting using the anti-ZOT antibodies.
• the protein bands separated by SDS-PAGE were then transferred onto PVDF filter (Millipore) using CAPS buffer comprising 100 ml of (3-[cyclohexylamino]-l propanesulfonic acid) lOx, 100 ml of methanol, 800 ml of distilled water.
• the protein that aligned to a single band that was detected by Western immunoblotting had an apparent molecular weight of about 47 kDa.
• This band was cut out from the PVDF filter, and subjected to N-terminal sequencing as described by Hunkapiller, In : Methods of Protein Microcharacterization , Ed. Shibley, Chapters 11-12, Humana Press, pages 315-334 (1985) , using a Perkin-Elmer Applied Biosystems Apparatus Model 494.
• the N-terminal sequence of zonulin purified from rabbit intestine is shown in SEQ ID NO: 27.
• the rabbit zonulin N-terminal sequence was compared to other protein sequences by BLAST search analysis. The result of this analysis revealed that the N-terminal sequence of rabbit zonulin is 85% identical, and 100% similar, to the N-terminal sequence of tau protein from Homo sapiens .
• rabbit zonulin induced the typical decrease of tissue resistance that was readily reversible once the protein was withdrawn from the Ussing chambers. This activity was completely neutralized by pre-treatment with anti-ZOT antibodies, but not by pre-treatment with anti-tau antibodies. On the other hand, there was no significant effect on tissue resistance in tissues exposed to tau protein.
• Rabbit zonulin was also detected in various other rabbit tissues, i.e., rabbit heart, brain, muscle, stomach, spleen, lung, kidney, as well as various portions of rabbits intestines, i.e., distal jejunum, proximal jejunum, ileum, caecum and colon. That is, when these rabbit tissues were processed in the same manner as the rabbit intestine, discussed above, and subjected to 8.0% (w/v) SDS-PAGE, followed by Western immunoblotting using affinity-purified anti-ZOT antibodies obtained as described in Example 2 above, a single band of approximately 47 kDa in size was detected in all of the tissues tested.
• rabbit heart brain, muscle, stomach, spleen, lung, kidney
• various portions of rabbits intestines i.e., distal jejunum, proximal jejunum, ileum, caecum and colon. That is, when these rabbit tissues were processed in the same manner as the rabbit intestine, discussed above, and subjecte
• Zonulin was also purified from several human tissues, including intestine, heart, and brain. Both fetal and adult tissues were used. The tissues were disrupted by homogenization in PBS. The resulting cell preparations were than centrifuged at 40,000 rpm for 30 min, the supernatant collected and lyophilized. The resulting lyophilized product was subsequently reconstituted in PBS (10:1 (v/v)), filtered through a 0.45 mm membrane filter, loaded onto a Sephadex G-50 chromatographic column, and eluted with PBS. Then, 2.0 ml fractions obtained from the column were subjected to standard Western immunoblotting using the affinity-purified anti-ZOT antibodies obtained as described in Example 2 above.
• Fraction 2 (40% (w/v) NaCl) showed two additional bands of 35 kDa and 15 kDa in size in the Western immunoblot assay.
• Fraction 3 (60% (w/v) NaCl)
• Fraction 4 80% (w/v) showed only the 35 kDa and 15 kDa bands.
• Fraction 1 (from human heart, intestine and brain tissues) and Fraction 4 (from heart tissue) obtained from the Q-Sepharose column were then tested for their tissue resistance effects on both rabbit intestine and Rhesus monkey intestine in Ussing chambers.
• Ussing chamber assays were carried out using different tracts of intestine, including jejunum, ileum, or colon from either 2-3 kg adult male New Zealand white rabbits, or 5-6 kg adult male Rhesus monkeys. After the animals were sacrificed, different segments of intestine, including jejunum, ileum, and colon, were removed, rinsed free of the intestinal content, opened along the mesenteric border, and stripped of muscular and serosal layers.
• Figures 4A and 4B The results are shown in Figures 4A and 4B (monkey intestine) and Figures 5A and 5B (rabbit intestine) .
• zonulin purified from human heart and intestine Fraction 1 induced a significant reduction in monkey intestinal resistance (both jejunum ( Figure 4A) and ileum (Figure 4B) , as compared to the PBS negative control.
• Figures 4A and 4B also show that no significant effect on both monkey jejunum (Figure 4A) and monkey ileum (Figure 4B) was observed when zonulin purified from human brain (Fraction 1) was tested.
• Fraction 4 of zonulin purified from human heart also induced a significant decrease in monkey small intestinal tissue resistance.
• Figures 5A and 5B similar results were obtained when rabbit intestine was used. That is, zonulin purified from human heart (Fraction 1) showed a significant effect on tissue resistance both in the rabbit jejunum (Figure 5A) and rabbit ileum (Figure 5B) , but not in the colon. Figures 5A and 5B also show that no significant effect on both rabbit jejunum (Figure 5A) and rabbit ileum (Figure 5B) was observed when zonulin purified from human brain (Fraction 1) was tested.
• the bathing solution was maintained at 37°C with water-jacketed reservoirs connected to a constant-temperature circulating pump and gassed with 95% 0 2 /5% C0 2 .
• Potential difference (PD) was measured, and short-circuit current (Isc) and tissue resistance (Rt) were calculated.
• Isc short-circuit current
• Rt tissue resistance
• Fraction 1 of zonulin purified from human heart, Fraction 1 of zonulin purified from human intestine, and Fraction 1 of zonulin purified from human brain were also subjected to 8.0% (w/v) SDS-PAGE, followed by Western immunoblotting using the anti-ZOT antibodies obtained as described in Example 2 above.
• the protein bands separated by SDS-PAGE were then transferred onto PVDF filter using CAPS buffer comprising 100 ml of (3-[cyclohexylamino] -1 propanesulfonic acid) lOx, 100 ml of methanol, 800 ml of distilled water.
• the protein that aligned to a single band that was detected by Western immunoblotting had an apparent molecular weight of about 47 kDa.
• This band was cut out from the PDVF filter, and subjected to N-terminal sequencing as described by Hunkapiller, In : Methods of Protein Microcharacterization , Ed. Shibley, Chapters 11-12, Humana Press, pages 315-334 (1985) , using a Perkin-Elmer Applied Biosystems Apparatus Model 494.
• the N-terminal sequence of zonulin purified from adult human heart is shown in SEQ ID NO: 28
• the N-terminal sequence of zonulin purified from adult human brain is shown in SEQ ID NO: 29
• the N-terminal sequence of zonulin purified from adult fetal brain is shown in SEQ ID NO: 36.
• the first nine amino acids from the N-terminal sequence of zonulin purified from adult human intestine (SEQ ID NO: 31) were also sequenced, and found to be identical to the first nine amino acids of zonulin purified from human heart shown in SEQ ID NO: 28 (see Figure 6).
• the first twenty amino acids from the N-terminal sequence of zonulin purified from human fetal intestine were also sequenced: Met Leu Gin Lys Ala Glu Ser Gly Gly Val Leu Val Gin Pro Gly Xaa Ser Asn Arg Leu (SEQ ID NO: 30) , and found to be almost identical to the amino acid sequence of zonulin purified from human heart shown in SEQ ID NO: 28 (see Figure 6) .
• the N-terminal sequence of zonulin purified from adult human brain (SEQ ID NO: 29) and fetal human brain (SEQ ID NO: 36) was completely different than the N-terminal of zonulin purified from each of heart (SEQ ID NO: 28), fetal intestine (SEQ ID NO: 30) and adult intestine (SEQ ID NO:31) (see Figures 6-7). This difference is believed to explain the tissue-specificity of zonulin in determining the permeability of tissues, such as the intestine, demonstrated above.
• N-terminal sequences of human zonulin purified from heart, intestine, and brain all differ from the N-terminal sequence of zonulin purified from rabbit intestine ( Figure 6) .
• tissues from both rabbit and human were subjected to 8.0% (w/v) SDS-PAGE, followed by Western immunoblotting using either anti-ZOT or anti-tau antibodies.
• the 47 kDa zonulin bands purified from both rabbit and human tissues (including brain, intestine, and heart) which were found to be recognized by the anti-ZOT antibodies, were also found to cross-react with anti-tau antibodies.
• the different fractions of zonulin purified from human brain obtained by salt chromatography were also subjected to Western immunoblotting using either anti-ZOT antibodies or anti-tau antibodies. While anti-ZOT antibodies recognized the intact 47 kDa protein and both of the 35 kDa and 15 kDa breakdown fragments, the anti-tau antibodies only recognized the intact 47 kDa protein and the 35 kDa fragment, while the anti-tau antibodies did not recognize the 15 kDa fragment.
• the N-terminal sequence of the 35 kDa band was obtained and found to be: Xaa Xaa Asp Gly Thr Gly Lys Val Gly Asp Leu (SEQ ID NO:32). This sequence is different from the N-terminal sequence of the intact human brain zonulin (SEQ ID NO: 29) .
• zonulin domain recognized by the anti-tau antibodies is toward the C-terminus of the protein, is common to the different isoforms of zonulin from either human or rabbit tissues (while the N-terminal portion may vary) , and is probably involved in the permeabilizing effect of the protein (based on the observation that tau binds to ?-tubulin with subsequent rearrangement of the cell cytoskeleton, and the effect of Fraction 4 on monkey small intestinal tissue resistance) .
• the N-terminal sequence of human zonulin purified from both the heart and intestine was compared to other protein sequences by BLAST search analysis. The result of this analysis revealed that the N-terminal sequence of human zonulin is 95% identical, to the N-terminal sequence of the heavy variable chain of IgM from Homo sapiens (SEQ ID NO: 37).
• 1.0 mm of the PVDF filter containing zonulin purified from human heart was placed in a plastic tube previously washed with 0.1% (w/v) trifluoracetic acid (TFA), and rinsed with methanol.
• 75 ⁇ l of a buffer solution comprising 100 mM Tris (pH 8.2), 10% (v/v) CH 3 CN, and 1.0% (v/v) dehydrogenated Triton X-100 was added, and incubated with the membrane at 37°C for 60 min.
• 150 ng of trypsin was then added, and an additional 24 hr incubation period at 37°C was carried out.
• the resulting solution was sonicated for 10 min, and the supernatant decanted.
• the internal sequence of human zonulin purified from adult human heart was found to be: Leu Ser Glu Val Thr Ala Val Pro Ser Leu Asn Gly Gly (SEQ ID NO: 33) .
• the human zonulin internal sequence was compared to other protein sequences by BLAST search analysis. The result of this analysis revealed that the internal sequence of human zonulin has 0% identity to any internal sequence of the heavy variable chain of IgM from Homo sapiens .
• Example 3 demonstrate that (1) zonulin represents the physiological modulator of the paracellular pathway; (2) the N-terminal sequence of rabbit zonulin is highly homologous to the N-terminal sequence of the tau protein; (3) zonulin and tau are two distinct moieties that are immunologically related, yet functionally different; (4) the N-terminal sequence of human zonulin obtained from heart and intestine is highly homologous to the N-terminal sequence of the heavy chain of the variable region of IgM; (5) human zonulin and IgM are two distinct moieties that are structurally related, yet functionally different; and (6) zonulin represents a family of tau-related proteins with common, active C-terminal sequences, and variable N-terminal sequences.
• FZI/0 did not induce any significant change in Rt (0.5% as compared to the negative control) (see closed bar) .
• pre-treatment for 20 min with FZI/0 decreased the effect of ZOT, zonulin., and zonulin h on Rt by 75%, 97%, and 100%, respectively (see open bar) .
• this inhibitory effect was completely ablated when a second synthetic peptide (FZI/1) was chemically synthesized by changing the Gly in position 8, the Val in position 12, and the Gin in position 13 (as referred to zonulini) with the correspondent amino acid residues of zonulin b (Val,
• ADDRESSEE SUGHRUE, MION, ZINN, MACPEAK & SEAS, PLLC
• MOLECULE TYPE peptide
• HYPOTHETICAL NO
• SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION SEQ ID NO:l:
• MOLECULE TYPE synthetic DNA
• HYPOTHETICAL NO
• ANTI-SENSE NO
• MOLECULE TYPE synthetic DNA
• HYPOTHETICAL NO
• ANTI-SENSE NO
• SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION SEQ ID NO: 26:
• MOLECULE TYPE synthetic DNA
• HYPOTHETICAL NO
• ANTI-SENSE NO
• SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION SEQ ID NO: 39:
• MOLECULE TYPE synthetic DNA
• HYPOTHETICAL NO
• ANTI-SENSE NO
• SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION SEQ ID NO: 40:

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• Proteomics, Peptides & Aminoacids (AREA)
• Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
• Gastroenterology & Hepatology (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Immunology (AREA)
• Pulmonology (AREA)
• Oncology (AREA)
• Communicable Diseases (AREA)
• Rheumatology (AREA)
• Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
• Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)
• Peptides Or Proteins (AREA)
• Medicines Containing Antibodies Or Antigens For Use As Internal Diagnostic Agents (AREA)
• Medicines Containing Material From Animals Or Micro-Organisms (AREA)

Priority Applications (11)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=22432094

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (18)

Cited By (13)

Families Citing this family (53)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 1998
  • 1998-08-03 US US09/127,815 patent/US6458925B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1999
  • 1999-07-28 AT AT06006483T patent/ATE480252T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-07-28 CN CNB2005100077127A patent/CN100348266C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-07-28 CA CA2338005A patent/CA2338005C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-07-28 AT AT99940809T patent/ATE329606T1/de active
  • 1999-07-28 RU RU2001106615/14A patent/RU2214267C2/ru active
  • 1999-07-28 IL IL14108299A patent/IL141082A0/xx unknown
  • 1999-07-28 DE DE69942753T patent/DE69942753D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-07-28 CN CN998100315A patent/CN1217697C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-07-28 AU AU54590/99A patent/AU745507B2/en not_active Expired
  • 1999-07-28 WO PCT/US1999/016683 patent/WO2000007609A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-07-28 KR KR1020017001503A patent/KR100610389B1/ko not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-07-28 HU HU0103321A patent/HU228079B1/hu unknown
  • 1999-07-28 DK DK99940809T patent/DK1102596T3/da active
  • 1999-07-28 JP JP2000563294A patent/JP4822585B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-07-28 NZ NZ509579A patent/NZ509579A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-07-28 DE DE69931929T patent/DE69931929T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-07-28 EP EP99940809A patent/EP1102596B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-07-28 ES ES99940809T patent/ES2267282T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-07-28 EP EP06006483A patent/EP1698345B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2001
  • 2001-01-24 IL IL141082A patent/IL141082A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-01-30 ZA ZA2001/00829A patent/ZA200100829B/en unknown
  • 2001-02-02 NO NO20010567A patent/NO326552B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2002
  • 2002-03-13 US US10/095,450 patent/US6670448B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2003
  • 2003-08-27 US US10/648,642 patent/US6936689B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2005
  • 2005-03-09 US US11/074,727 patent/US7189696B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2006
  • 2006-08-08 US US11/500,429 patent/US7531504B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-08-21 US US11/842,763 patent/US7582603B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-08-21 US US11/842,738 patent/US20090082279A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2010
  • 2010-10-20 US US12/908,709 patent/US20110183923A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2013
  • 2013-01-09 US US13/737,517 patent/US20130190247A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-11-01 US US14/070,208 patent/US20140128328A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events