WO2004052228A2 - Pharmacological vitreolysis - Google Patents
Pharmacological vitreolysis Download PDFInfo
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- WO2004052228A2 WO2004052228A2 PCT/US2003/038714 US0338714W WO2004052228A2 WO 2004052228 A2 WO2004052228 A2 WO 2004052228A2 US 0338714 W US0338714 W US 0338714W WO 2004052228 A2 WO2004052228 A2 WO 2004052228A2
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
- A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
- A61K38/16—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
- A61K38/43—Enzymes; Proenzymes; Derivatives thereof
- A61K38/46—Hydrolases (3)
- A61K38/48—Hydrolases (3) acting on peptide bonds (3.4)
- A61K38/482—Serine endopeptidases (3.4.21)
- A61K38/484—Plasmin (3.4.21.7)
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
- A61K45/00—Medicinal preparations containing active ingredients not provided for in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
- A61K45/06—Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
- A61P27/00—Drugs for disorders of the senses
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
- A61P27/00—Drugs for disorders of the senses
- A61P27/02—Ophthalmic agents
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
- A61P27/00—Drugs for disorders of the senses
- A61P27/02—Ophthalmic agents
- A61P27/06—Antiglaucoma agents or miotics
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
- A61P27/00—Drugs for disorders of the senses
- A61P27/02—Ophthalmic agents
- A61P27/10—Ophthalmic agents for accommodation disorders, e.g. myopia
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
- A61P41/00—Drugs used in surgical methods, e.g. surgery adjuvants for preventing adhesion or for vitreum substitution
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- 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
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- C12Y—ENZYMES
- C12Y302/00—Hydrolases acting on glycosyl compounds, i.e. glycosylases (3.2)
- C12Y302/01—Glycosidases, i.e. enzymes hydrolysing O- and S-glycosyl compounds (3.2.1)
- C12Y302/01023—Beta-galactosidase (3.2.1.23), i.e. exo-(1-->4)-beta-D-galactanase
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- C12Y302/00—Hydrolases acting on glycosyl compounds, i.e. glycosylases (3.2)
- C12Y302/01—Glycosidases, i.e. enzymes hydrolysing O- and S-glycosyl compounds (3.2.1)
- C12Y302/01035—Hyaluronoglucosaminidase (3.2.1.35), i.e. hyaluronidase
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- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12Y—ENZYMES
- C12Y304/00—Hydrolases acting on peptide bonds, i.e. peptidases (3.4)
- C12Y304/21—Serine endopeptidases (3.4.21)
- C12Y304/21007—Plasmin (3.4.21.7), i.e. fibrinolysin
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- C12Y304/00—Hydrolases acting on peptide bonds, i.e. peptidases (3.4)
- C12Y304/24—Metalloendopeptidases (3.4.24)
- C12Y304/24007—Interstitial collagenase (3.4.24.7), i.e. matrix metalloprotease 1 or MMP1
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- C12Y402/00—Carbon-oxygen lyases (4.2)
- C12Y402/02—Carbon-oxygen lyases (4.2) acting on polysaccharides (4.2.2)
- C12Y402/02004—Chondroitin ABC lyase (4.2.2.4), i.e. chondroitinase
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- C12Y—ENZYMES
- C12Y402/00—Carbon-oxygen lyases (4.2)
- C12Y402/02—Carbon-oxygen lyases (4.2) acting on polysaccharides (4.2.2)
- C12Y402/02005—Chondroitin AC lyase (4.2.2.5)
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
- C12Y—ENZYMES
- C12Y402/00—Carbon-oxygen lyases (4.2)
- C12Y402/02—Carbon-oxygen lyases (4.2) acting on polysaccharides (4.2.2)
- C12Y402/02019—Chondroitin B lyase (4.2.2.19)
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to methods of treating or preventing a disorder, or a complication of a disorder, of the mammalian eye. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of a truncated plasmin protein comprising a catalytic domain in methods of treating or preventing a disorder, or a complication of a disorder, of the mammalian eye.
- the adult human eye is a slightly asymmetrical sphere with an approximate sagittal diameter of 24 to 25 mm, a transverse diameter of 24 mm, and a volume of about 6.5 cc.
- the human eye can be divided into three different layers namely, an external layer, an intermediate layer and an internal layer.
- the external layer of the eye consists of the sclera, which is often referred to as the "white of the eye," and the cornea, which covers the front of the eye.
- the intermediate layer is divided into an anterior portion and a posterior portion; the anterior portion consists of the circular pigmented iris, the crystalline lens and ciliary body, while the posterior portion consists of the choroid layer.
- the internal layer consists of the retina, which is the sensory part of the eye.
- the retina is essentially a layer of nervous tissue, which runs along the inside rear surface of the choroid layer and can be divided into an optic portion and a non-optic portion.
- the optic portion which participates in the visual mechanism, contains the rods and cones that are the effectual organs of vision.
- the human eye can also be divided into three chambers.
- the anterior chamber between the cornea and the iris, and the posterior chamber between the iris and the crystalline lens, are filled with aqueous humor.
- the vitreous chamber between the crystalline lens and the retina is filled with a more viscous liquid, called the vitreous (also known as the vitreous body or vitreous humor).
- the vitreous humor in a normal eye is a clear gel occupying about 80% of the volume of the eyeball. Light that enters the eye through the cornea, pupil, and lens, is transmitted through the vitreous to the retina.
- the vitreous humor of a normal human eye is a gel that is roughly 99% water and 1% macromolecules.
- Type II collagen is the principal fibrillar collagen of the vitreous, but the vitreous also contains collagen types V, IX, and XL
- the posterior portion of the vitreous body, the posterior hyaloid surface also known as the posterior vitreous cortex
- the anterior hyaloid surface is in direct contact with the inner retinal surface most prominently at the vitreous base, optic disc, and along the major retinal vessels.
- Normal adhesion of the vitreous to the retina is mediated by cellular and molecular interactions between the posterior vitreous cortex and the inner limiting membrane (ILM) of the retina.
- ILM inner limiting membrane
- the ILM is essentially the basement membrane of retinal Mueller cells.
- the ILM contains collagen types I and IN, glycoproteins such as laminin and fibronectin and other glycoconjugates. These components are thought to bridge and bind collagen fibers between the vitreous and the ILM.
- PVD posterior vitreous detachment
- the vitreous makes a clean break from the retina. Occasionally, however, the vitreous adheres tightly to the retina in certain places. These small foci of resisting, abnormally firm attachments of the vitreous can transmit great fractional forces from the vitreous to the retina at the attachment site. This persistent tugging by the vitreous often results in horseshoe-shaped tears in the retina. Unless the retinal tears are repaired, vitreous fluid can seep through this tear into or underneath the retina and cause a retinal detachment, a very serious, sight-threatening condition. In addition, persistent attachment between the vitreous and the ILM can result in bleeding from rupture of blood vessels, which results in the clouding and opacification of the vitreous.
- vitreoretinal diseases including vitreomacular traction syndrome, vitreous hemonhage, macular holes, macular edema, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic maculopathy and retinal detachment.
- vitreous surgery is to separate the vitreous from the retina in a manner that prevents vitreous traction.
- vitrectomy In order to remove the vitreous from the eye, a microsurgical procedure called vitrectomy is usually performed. In this procedure the vitreous is removed from the eye with a miniature handheld cutting device while simultaneously replacing the removed vitreous with saline solution to prevent collapse of the eye. Surgical removal of the vitreous using this method is highly skill-dependent, and complete removal of the cortical vitreous remains a difficult task. Furthermore, mechanical vitrectomy canies the risk of complications such as scaning, tearing and other damage to the retina. Obviously, such damage is highly undesirable as it can compromise the patient's vision after surgery.
- the risk of adverse reactions is high.
- the use of bacterial proteases in mammalian systems generates an immune response, which leads to proliferative vitreoretinopathy resulting in complex retinal re- detachment.
- Collagenase has been reported to liquefy the vitreous, but it has also been shown to disrupt the outer layers of the retina.
- Alpha-chymotrypsin has been reported to produce peripapillary and vitreous hemonhage in the injected eyes.
- dispase has been reported to cause toxicity to the inner layer of the retina 15 minutes after injection.
- proliferative retinopathy or epiretinal cellular membranes can develop in the injected eyes.
- Plasmin is a serine protease derived from plasminogen. Plasminogen is an important component of mammalian blood. Human plasminogen is a single chain glycoprotein consisting of 791 amino acids, which has a molecular weight of about 92,000 daltons (see Forsgren M. et al., FEBS Lett. 213(2): 254-60, 1987).
- Glu-plasminogen Native plasminogen with an amino-terminal glutamic acid
- Glu-plasminogen Native plasminogen with an amino-terminal glutamic acid
- plasminogen activators such as urokinase or streptokinase, cleaves the peptide bond between Arg 56 ⁇ and Val 562 converting the plasminogen molecule into a double chain, enzymatically active form called plasmin.
- Plasmin contains two polypeptides, a heavy A chain connected by two disulphide bonds to a light B chain; the B chain contains the serine protease catalytic domain.
- the serine protease catalytic activity of plasmin has been implicated in its ability to dissolve blood clots in vivo.
- APE autologous plasmin enzyme
- plasmin is highly prone to degradation and thus cannot be stored for prolonged periods prior to its use.
- a further disadvantage is plasmin' s large molecular weight, which ranges between 65,000 and 83,000 daltons. Thus, the diffusion of large molecules like plasmin from its injected position in the vitreous to the vitreoretinal interface would be hindered compared to smaller molecules.
- the present invention provides methods of treating or preventing a disorder, or a complication of a disorder, of the eye of a subject using a composition comprising a truncated plasmin protein comprising a catalytic domain of plasmin (TPCD).
- a TPCD is selected from the group consisting of miniplasmin, recombinant miniplasmin, stabilized miniplasmin, stabilized, recombinant miniplasmin, variants of miniplasmin, microplasmin, recombinant microplasmin, stabilized microplasmin, stabilized, recombinant microplasmin, variants of microplasmin, and any combinations thereof.
- the present invention also provides methods of treating or preventing a disorder, or a complication of a disorder, of the eye of a subject using a composition comprising a modified TPCD.
- a modified TPCD is a TPCD, which comprises a modified catalytic domain of plasmin.
- the present invention provides methods of treating or preventing a disorder, or a complication of a disorder, of the eye of a subject by contacting a vitreous and/or an aqueous humor of the subject with a composition comprising a TPCD.
- the present invention provides methods of treating or preventing eye disorders such as, but not limited to, retinal detachment, retinal tear, vitreous hemonhage, diabetic vitreous hemonhage, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, macular holes, vitreomacular traction, macular pucker, macular exudates, cystoid macular edema, fibrin deposition, retinal vein occlusion, retinal artery occlusion, subretinal hemonhage, amblyopia, endophthalmitis, retinopathy of prematurity, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and any combinations thereof.
- the methods of the invention can be practiced independent of vitrectomy, or as an adjunct to vitrectomy.
- the present invention also provides methods of treatment or prevention of an eye disorder, or a complication of an eye disorder, of a subject comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising at least two TPCDs.
- a composition is administered to a subject by contacting a vitreous and/or an aqueous humor with a composition comprising at least two TPCDs.
- the present invention further encompasses methods of treatment or prevention of an eye disorder, or a complication of an eye disorder, comprising providing a subject with a first composition comprising at least one TPCD, and a second composition comprising at least one TPCD.
- a first composition comprising at least one TPCD and a second composition comprising at least one TPCD are provided to a subject by contacting a vitreous and/or an aqueous humor.
- the TPCDs of the first composition comprising at least one TPCD and the second composition comprising at least one TPCD are the same TPCD.
- the TPCDs of the first composition comprising at least one TPCD and the second composition comprising at least one TPCD are different TPCDs.
- the first composition comprising at least one TPCD and the second composition comprising at least one TPCD are administered to a subject at substantially the same time.
- the first composition comprising at least one TPCD and the second compositions composition comprising at least one TPCD are administered to a subject at separate times.
- the present invention additionally provides methods of treatment or prevention of an eye disorder, or a complication of an eye disorder, of a subject by administering a composition comprising at least one TPCD and at least one second agent to the subject.
- a second agent includes any substance that is useful either alone, or in combination with a TPCD, in treating or preventing an eye disorder or a complication of an eye disorder.
- a second agent includes without limitation, hyaluronidase, dispase, chondroitinase, collagenase, RGD containing peptides, anti- integrin antibody, urea, hydroxyurea, thiourea, P2Y receptor agonists, and any angiogenic inhibitors including, but not limited to, NEGF inhibitors and P1GF inhibitors.
- the present invention also encompasses methods of treatment or prevention of an eye disorder, or a complication of an eye disorder, of a subject by administering to the subject a composition comprising at least one TPCD prior to or after administration of a composition comprising a second agent.
- the methods of the invention can be used to treat or prevent an eye disorder, or a complication of an eye disorder, of a subject by effecting one or more outcomes including, but not limited to, reducing the viscosity of the vitreous, liquefying the vitreous, inducing posterior vitreous detachment, clearing or reducing hemonhagic blood from the vitreous and/or aqueous humor, clearing or reducing intraocular foreign substances from the vitreous and/or aqueous humor, clearing or reducing materials toxic to the retina, increasing diffusion of an agent or a composition administered to the vitreousand/or aqueous humor, reducing extraretinal neovascularization and any combinations thereof.
- the present invention also provides methods of performing a vitrectomy comprising contacting the vitreous of a subject with a composition comprising a TPCD.
- the contacting step can be performed prior to or at the same time as the vitrectomy or independent of vitrectomy.
- the present invention also provides a composition comprising at least two TPCDs.
- the present invention further provides a composition comprising at least one TPCD and at least one second agent.
- FIG. 1 provides the DNA (SEQ ID NO:9) and amino acid sequence (SEQ LD NO: 10) of human plasminogen.
- FIG. 2 provides the DNA (SEQ ID NO:3) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:4)of human microplasminogen.
- FIG. 3 provides the DNA (SEQ ID NO:7) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:8) of human miniplasminogen.
- FIG. 4 shows the effect of treating porcine eyes with microplasmin.
- Panel A is a low magnification image (11X) of the mid-peripheral retina after slow dehydration of a porcine eye treated with 0.125 mg of microplasmin in 0.1 ml BSS PLUS® for 120 minutes. In the centre of this image, is a vitreous strand. It is likely that this vitreous strand is vitreous that has collapsed onto the retinal surface. Most of the retinal surface is free of vitreous as shown in the remaining panels.
- Panel B shows an area of bare retina adjacent to a blood vessel (magnification 800X).
- Panel C and D are magnifications of the retinal area in B at 1200X and 3600X magnification respectively showing a smooth retinal surface largely devoid of vitreous or cellular material. At 3600x only a few fibrillar strands are visible.
- Panel E is an image at a magnification of 1500X essentially showing the same findings as in Panel C at a more central retinal location, while panel F shows the coarse granular structure of the vitreous, which has lost its fibrillar structure.
- the structure of the vitreous in the microplasmin treated eyes is very different in appearance compared to the vitreous in control eyes (data not shown).
- FIG. 5 shows that ciliary processes in the porcine eye are intact after 120 minute treatment with microplasmin (Panels A and B).
- FIG. 6 provides scanning electron micrographs (magnification of 3600x) of the vitreoretinal interface in human post-mortem eyes.
- Intravitreal injection of 62.5 ⁇ g of microplasmin resulted in posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) leaving discontinuous remnants of collagen fibrils covering the ILM (Panel A).
- 125 ⁇ g (Panel B) and 188 ⁇ g (Panel C) of microplasmin produced complete PVD and a bare ILM.
- Panel D shows the compression of collagen fibrils towards the ILM in an eye treated with 62.5 ⁇ g microplasmin and gas.
- Panel E shows complete PVD following treatment with 125 ⁇ g microplasmin and gas.
- FIG. 7 provides transmission electron micrographs of the ILM in human postmortem eyes. Note the absence of collagen fibrils (anows) on the ILM in the microplasmin-treated eye (Panel A, magnification 13,600X). In contrast, collagen fibrils are still present (arrows) on the ILM in the control eye (Panel B; magnification 6800X).
- FIG. 8 presents scanning electron micrographs (magnification 3600X) of the vitreoretinal interface in cat eyes. Intravitreal injection of 25 ⁇ g of microplasmin left remnants of collagen fibrils on the ELM one day after treatment (Panel A). Three days after treatment, 25 ⁇ g of microplasmin resulted in complete PVD (Panel B).
- FIG. 9 presents the results of light microscopy studies of semi-thin sections of cat eyes. These studies showed that the normal cytoarchitecture of the retina observed in control eyes (Panel B) was also observed in microplasmin-treated eyes (Panel A). Transmission electron microscopy revealed a well-preserved inner retina and ELM in microplasmin-treated eyes (Panels C and E) as observed in control eyes (Panels D and F). The magnification used for Panels A and B was 250X; the magnification for Panels C and D was 6000X; while the magnification for Panels E and F was 30,000X.
- FIG.10 presents the results of confocal laser scanning microscopy with probes to glial fibrillic acidic protein (Panels A and B, green) and vimentin (Panels C and D, red). There is no difference in the staining of GFAP and vimentin between microplasmin-treated eyes (Panels A and C) and control eyes (Panels B and D). Double-label immunohistochemistry with probes to synaptophysin (green) and neurofilament (red) also shows no difference between microplasmin-treated eyes (Panel E) and a control eyes (Panel F). Magnification for Panels A,B and C was 400x; magnification for Panel D was 250X; and magnification for Panels E and F was 160x.
- FIG. 11 presents a time conelation function (TCF) of whole porcine vitreous as compared to a solution of 20 nm polystyrene nanospheres.
- TCF time conelation function
- the early (fast) component is due to the presence of hyaluronan (HA) that is freely diffusible and exhibits considerable molecular (Brownian) motion.
- the late (slow) component is due to collagen, which is larger and diffuses less freely (stiffer), resulting in slower Brownian movement.
- FIG. 12 presents normalized time conelation functions for 5 porcine eyes undergoing microplasmin ( ⁇ Pli) pharmacologic vitreolysis at different doses and a solution of 20 nm polystyrene nanospheres. DLS measurements were made in the optical axis, 4 mm below the air/vitreous interface. In the untreated (vehicle) vitreous there are two-components to the curve.
- the early (fast) component is due to the presence of hyaluronan (HA) that is freely diffusible and exhibits considerable molecular (Brownian) motion.
- the late (slow) component is due to collagen, which is larger and diffuses less freely (stiffer), resulting in slower Brownian movement.
- the solution of polystyrene nanospheres has only one component (monodisperse) that is very fast because of the small size of the nanospeheres and their perfectly spherical structure allowing for very rapid movements in the solution.
- FIG. 13 presents representative photographs of porcine eyes after injection of microplasmin and fluorescein. Both images are of the same eye, with the right image captured 20 minutes after the left image, demonstrating fluorescein diffusion in the vitreous.
- FIG. 14 presents representative photographs of porcine eyes after injection of plasmin and fluorescein. Both images are of the same eye, with the bottom image captured 20 minutes after the top image, demonstrating fluorescein diffusion in the vitreous to a lesser degree than that seen with microplasmin-treated eyes (Fig. 13).
- treating means the reduction or amelioration of any medical disorder to any extent, and includes, but does not require, a complete cure of the disorder.
- preventing means to defend or protect against the development of a disorder, i.e., to function as a prophylactic.
- disorder means any disease, dysfunction, syndrome, condition, pain, or any combination thereof. Disorder also includes any complications from any disease, dysfunction, syndrome, condition, pain or any combination thereof.
- subject means any mammal, particularly a human.
- contacting means any mode of administration that results in interaction between a composition and an object being contacted (e.g., vitreous, aqueous humor, etc.).
- the interaction of the composition with the object being contacted can occur at substantially the same time as the administration of the composition, over an extended period of time starting from around the time of administration of the composition, or be delayed from the time of administration of the composition.
- composition means a combination or mixture of one or more substances.
- “substance” means that which has mass and occupies space.
- “foreign substance” means any substance that is determined by a medical doctor, clinician, veterinarian or researcher to be harmful or toxic to the eye of a subject and/or to be a substance that is not normally found in a healthy mammalian eye.
- ophthalmologically acceptable canier is a substance with which a second substance (for e.g., a TPCD) can be combined, without making the second substance unsuitable (as determined by a medical doctor, clinician, veterinarian or researcher) for its intended use in the eye of a subject.
- a second substance for e.g., a TPCD
- Non-limiting examples of an ophthalmologically acceptable canier include balanced salt solution (BSS) and BSS-PLUS®.
- pharmaceutically acceptable canier includes, without limitation, water, buffered saline, polyol (for e.g., glycerol, propylene glycol, liquid polyethylene glycol), or suitable mixtures thereof.
- polyol for e.g., glycerol, propylene glycol, liquid polyethylene glycol
- suitable mixtures thereof include, for example, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (20th Edition, A. Gennaro (ed.), Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2000).
- an effective amount means an amount of a substance or composition that elicits a response in an eye of a human or other mammal that is being sought by a researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician.
- inducing means to bring about or stimulate the occunence of a desired result.
- toxic effects to the eye means any adverse effect to the eye of a subject that is determined to be harmful to the subject by a researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician.
- vitreous means the vitreous humor, also refened to as the vitreous body, which occupies the chamber between the crystalline lens of the eye and the retina.
- TPCD is an acronym for "truncated plasmin protein comprising a catalytic domain of plasmin.”
- a "truncated plasmin protein” means any plasmin protein obtained by deleting one or more amino acids of Val 7 -plasmin (i.e., amino acids 79-791 of human plasminogen), wherein the resulting protein possesses serine protease catalytic activity. Such amino acid deletions can be at the N-terminus (resulting in TPCDs consisting for example of, amino acids 444-791 , 543-791 , or 562-791 of SEQ ID
- truncated protein derived from SEQ ID NO: 10 is made as an enzymatically inactive form, it must be activated using a plasminogen activator to convert it into the conesponding active form of the truncated protein.
- a protein consisting of amino acids 543- 791 of SEQ ID NO: 10 is made recombinantly, it is highly likely that the protein will not be in its enzymatically active form.
- Non-limiting examples of a TPCD include miniplasmin, recombinant miniplasmin, stabilized miniplasmin, stabilized, recombinant miniplasmin, variants of miniplasmin, microplasmin, recombinant microplasmin, stabilized microplasmin, stabilized, recombinant microplasmin and variants of microplasmin wherein, the variants of microplasmin and miniplasmin include a catalytic domain of plasmin.
- Plasin protein means any protein made or derived from the amino acid sequence of human plasminogen (SEQ ID NO: 10) that has a cleavage of the peptide bond between Arg 56 ⁇ and Val 562 of human plasminogen. The cleavage of the peptide bond between Arg 56 ⁇ and Vai 562 can be accomplished using plasminogen activators.
- Non- limiting examples of plasmin proteins include Lys-plasmin, miniplasmin and microplasmin.
- catalytic domain of plasmin means an amino acid sequence of about 130-240 amino acids derived from amino acids 543 to 791 of SEQ ID NO: 10 (human plasminogen), which includes the catalytic triad of plasmin namely, His 6 o 3 , Asp 646 and Ser 74 ⁇ , wherein the amino acid sequence possesses serine protease activity.
- modified catalytic domain of plasmin means a catalytic domain of plasmin that has been altered by changing the amino acid sequence of the catalytic domain by addition and/or deletion and/or substitution of one or more amino acids.
- amino acids conesponding to the catalytic triad of plasmin namely, His 6 o 3 , Asp 646 and Ser 74 ⁇ , are not altered.
- the modification may increase, decrease or leave unchanged the plasmin-like catalytic activity of the protein.
- the modified catalytic domain of microplasmin and miniplasmin may increase, decrease or leave unchanged the catalytic activity of these proteins.
- modified TPCD is a TPCD containing a modified catalytic domain of plasmin, wherein the TPCD possesses plasmin-like serine protease catalytic activity.
- second agent means any substance that can be used, either by itself, or in combination with a TPCD, in treating or preventing an eye disorder or a complication of an eye disorder of a subject. Preferably the second agent does not prevent the catalytic activity of a TPCD.
- stabilizing a protein means protecting a protein from degradation and/or inactivation through the use of one or more stabilizing agents.
- Pharmacological vitreolysis is a method of using one or more proteinaceous and/or chemical and/or nucleic acid agents to treat or prevent a disorder, or a complication of a disorder, of an eye of a subject.
- the present invention provides methods of pharmacological vitreolysis using at least one truncated plasmin protein comprising a catalytic domain (TPCD).
- TPCD catalytic domain
- the present invention provides methods of treatment or prevention of eye disorders, or complications of eye disorders, by contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor with an effective amount of a composition comprising a TPCD.
- the present invention provides, as a first aspect, a method of treating or preventing a disorder, or a complication of a disorder, of the eye of a subject comprising contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor with an effective amount of a composition comprising a TPCD.
- a TPCD has a molecular weight less than about 40,000 daltons.
- a TPCD has a molecular weight of about 26,500 daltons in reduced form or about 29,000 daltons in non-reduced form.
- a TPCD has a molecular weight of between about 20,000 and 30,000 daltons.
- a TPCD has a molecular wight of less than about 20,000 daltons.
- the present invention provides a method of treating or preventing a disorder, or a complication of a disorder, of the eye of a subject comprising contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor with an effective amount of a composition -comprising at least two TPCDs.
- the present invention provides a method of treating or preventing a disorder, or a complication of a disorder, of the eye of a subject comprising contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor with an effective amount of a first composition comprising at least one TPCD and an effective amount of a second composition comprising at least one TPCD.
- the first composition comprising at least one TPCD and the second composition comprising at least one TPCD can comprise the same TPCD
- the first composition comprising at least one TPCD and the second composition comprising at least one TPCD can comprise different TPCDs.
- the first and second compositions may be administered to a subject at substantially the same time or at different times.
- the present invention provides a method of treating or preventing a disorder, or a complication of a disorder, of the eye of a subject comprising contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor with an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one TPCD and at least one second agent.
- the second agent is not intended to be a TPCD.
- the present invention provides a method of treating or preventing a disorder, or a complication of a disorder, of the eye of a subject comprising contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor with an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one TPCD prior to, at the same time as, or after contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor with an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one second agent.
- the present invention provides a method of liquefying the vitreous comprising contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor with an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one TPCD.
- the liquefaction of the vitreous decreases the viscosity of the vitreous humor.
- the liquefaction of the vitreous increases the rate of clearance from the vitreous cavity and/or aqueous humor of blood, deposited material, foreign substances and/or materials toxic to the eye, especially the retina.
- the liquefaction of the vitreous decreases extraretinal neovascularization.
- the liquefaction of the vitreous increases the diffusion of an agent or composition administered to the vitreous and/or aqueous humor.
- the liquefaction of the vitreous helps in the removal of the vitreous during standard vitrectomy or 25 Gauge (or smaller) vitrectomy.
- the present invention provides a method of inducing posterior vitreous detachment comprising contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor with an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one TPCD.
- the step of contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor with a composition comprising a TPCD can be performed as an adjunct to, or in the absence of vitrectomy.
- the present invention provides a method of performing a vitrectomy comprising the step of contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor with a composition comprising at least one TPCD.
- the contacting step can be performed at the same time as, or prior to vitrectomy.
- the present invention provides a composition comprising at least two TPCDs.
- the present invention provides a composition comprising at least one TPCD and at least one second agent.
- a TPCD is selected from the group consisting of miniplasmin, recombinant miniplasmin, stabilized miniplasmin, stabilized, recombinant miniplasmin, variants of miniplasmin, microplasmin, recombinant microplasmin, stabilized microplasmin, stabilized, recombinant microplasmin, variants of microplasmin, and any combinations thereof.
- the methods of treatment or prevention of an eye disorder, or complications of an eye disorder, and methods of performing a vitrectomy result in the amelioration of an eye disorder by one or more of the following outcomes: reducing the viscosity of the vitreous, liquefying the vitreous, inducing posterior vitreous detachment, clearing or reducing hemonhagic blood from the vitreous, vitreous cavity and/or aqueous humor, clearing or reducing intraocular foreign substances from the vitreous, vitreous cavity and/or aqueous humor, clearing or reducing materials toxic to the retina from the vitreous, vitreous cavity and/or aqueous humor, increasing the diffusion of an agent or a composition administered to the vitreous and/or aqueous humor, or reducing retinal neovascularization.
- the eye disorder or complication of an eye disorder sought to be treated or prevented is selected from the group consisting of retinal detachment, retinal tear, vitreous hemonhage, diabetic vitreous hemonhage, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, non- proliferative diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, macular holes, vitreomacular traction, macular pucker, macular exudates, cystoid macular edema, fibrin deposition, retinal vein occlusion, retinal artery occlusion, subretinal hemonhage, amblyopia, endophthalmitis, retinopathy of prematurity, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, and any combination thereof.
- a TPCD includes any truncated plasmin protein comprising a catalytic domain of plasmin.
- a truncated plasmin protein encompasses any plasmin protein obtained by deleting one or more amino acids of Val 79 -plasmin (i.e., amino acids 79-791 of human plasminogen), wherein the resulting protein possesses serine protease catalytic activity.
- all TPCDs must contain the catalytic triad of the plasmin serine protease domain namely, His 6 o 3 , Asp 6 6 and Ser 74 ⁇ .
- Truncations of Val 79 -plasmin can be made by deletions of one or more amino acids in amino acids 79-791 of SEQ ED NO: 10 (human plasminogen). Such deletions can be at the N-terminus, C-terminus or at an internal location of amino acids 79-791 of SEQ ID NO: 10. It should be understood that if a protein resulting from a truncation of amino acids 79-791 of SEQ ID NO: 10 (human plasminogen) is made in an enzymatically inactive form, the protein must be converted to its active form using a plasminogen activator, to be considered a TPCD.
- Plasminogen activators cleave the peptide bond between Arg5 6 ⁇ and Val 562 , thereby activating a protein.
- a TPCD includes proteins consisting essentially of amino acids 444-791 of SEQ ID NO: 10.
- a TPCD includes proteins with one or more amino acid deletions in amino acids 444-791 of human plasminogen, wherein the resulting protein possesses serine protease catalytic activity.
- a TPCD includes proteins consisting essentially of amino acids 543-791 of SEQ ID NO: 10.
- a TPCD includes proteins with one or more deletions in amino acids 543- 791 of human plasminogen, wherein the resulting protein possesses serine protease catalytic activity.
- a TPCD includes proteins consisting essentially of amino acids 562-791 of SEQ ED NO: 10.
- a TPCD includes proteins with one or more deletions in amino acids 562-791 of human plasminogen, wherein the resulting protein possesses serine protease catalytic activity.
- the deletions can be at the N-terminus, C-terminus or at an internal location of amino acids 444-791, 543-791 and 562-791 of SEQ ID NO: 10 (human plasminogen), respectively.
- TPCD can be determined by measuring the amidolytic activity of the TPCD, using the chromogenic substrate S2403 (Chromogenix, Antwerp, Belgium) (see Example 2), any other chromogenic substrate, or by any other methods known in the art.
- a modified TPCD is a TPCD with a modified form of the catalytic domain of plasmin, wherein the modified TPCD possesses plasmin-like serine protease catalytic activity.
- Modifications to the catalytic domain include amino acid insertions and/or deletions and/or substitutions in the catalytic domain of plasmin.
- the amino acids conesponding to the catalytic triad of the plasmin serine protease domain namely, Histidine 6 o 3 , Aspartic Acid 46 and Serine 7 ⁇ are not altered.
- the modifications of the catalytic domain involve one or more conservative substitution(s) of amino acids that are not part of the catalytic triad.
- Conservative amino acid substitutions and methods of making such conservative amino acid substitutions are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art (see, e.g., Cunent Protocols in Molecular Biology, supra; and Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, supra). These modifications may increase, decrease or leave unchanged the catalytic activity of the original domain.
- the catalytic activity of a modified TPCD can be determined by measuring the amidolytic activity of the TPCD, using the chromogenic substrate S2403 (Chromogenix, Antwerp, Belgium) (see Example 2) or by any other methods known in the art.
- TPCD includes, but is not limited to, miniplasmin, recombinant miniplasmin, stabilized miniplasmin, stabilized, recombinant miniplasmin, variants of miniplasmin, microplasmin, recombinant microplasmin, stabilized microplasmin, stabilized, recombinant microplasmin, and variants of microplasmin.
- Variants of microplasmin and miniplasmin include shorter forms of microplasmin and miniplasmin that can be produced by amino acid deletions from these proteins. All variants of microplasmin and miniplasmin are expected to have serine protease catalytic activity, even if they do not possess the same level of catalytic activity as microplasmin and miniplasmin, respectively.
- microplasmin and miniplasmin are required to contain amino acids 603-741 of SEQ ED NO: 10, which contains the catalytic triad of the plasmin serine protease domain namely, His 6 o 3 , Asp 646 and Ser 74 ⁇ of human plasminogen.
- a variant of miniplasmin includes proteins containing one or more amino acid deletions in amino acids 444-791 of human plasminogen, wherein the resulting protein possesses serine protease catalytic activity.
- a variant of microplasmin includes proteins containing one or more deletions in amino acids 543-791 of human plasminogen, wherein the resulting protein possesses serine protease catalytic activity.
- a variant of microplasmin includes proteins containing one or more deletions in amino acids 562-791 of human plasminogen, wherein the resulting protein possesses serine protease catalytic activity.
- the deletions can be at the N-terminus, C-terminus or at an internal location of amino acids 444-791, 543-791 and 562-791 of SEQ ID NO:10, respectively; however, all variants of microplasmin and miniplasmin are required to contain amino acids 603-741 of SEQ ED NO: 10.
- Variants of microplasmin and miniplasmin also include, but are not limited to, amino acid insertions and/or substitutions in these proteins. It is envisioned that amino acid substitutions made in microplasmin or miniplasmin are preferably conservative substitutions. Any variant of microplasmin and miniplasmin or any other TPCD can be prepared by recombinant methods and activated to the active plasmin form with a plasminogen activator.
- variants of microplasmin and miniplasmin or any other TPCD can be prepared by any other means well known in the art such as, but not limited to, digestion of human plasminogen with elastase or partial reduction and alkylation of plasmin, microplasmin or miniplasmin.
- variants of microplasmin, miniplasmin, or for that matter any TPCD can be assayed for serine protease catalytic activity using the chromogenic substrate S2403 or any other chromogenic substrate.
- the variants of microplasmin, miniplasmin or any other TPCD can be tested for their ability to induce PVD and/or effect vitreous liquefaction by injecting different doses of the variant in any balanced saline solution into porcine, feline or post-mortem human eyes. If a TPCD can induce PVD and/or effect vitreous liquefaction in any of these eyes, that TPCD is considered to be useful for treating eye disorders of mammals. Preferably, the TPCD does not result in toxicity to the injected eye.
- Table 1 Non- limiting examples of variants of microplasmin are provided in Table 1.
- microplasmin listed below conespond to the amino acid sequence and numbering of human plasminogen, which consists of amino acids 1-791 (see, Fig.l, SEQ ID NO:10).
- 547-741 547-742 547-743 547-744 547-745 547-746, 547-747, 547-748, 547-749, 547-750547-751 547-752547-753 547-754547-755, 547-756, 547-757, 547-758, 547-759547-760, 547-761 547-762547-763 547-764, 547-765, 547-766, 547-767, 547-768547-769547-770547-771 547-772547-773, 547-774, 547-775, 547-776, 547-777547-778 547-779547-780 547-781 547-782, 547-783, 547-784, 547-785, 547-786547-787 547-788 547-789 547-790547-791;
- 548-741 548-742 548-743 548-744 548-745 548-746, 548-747, 548-748, 548-749, 548-750548-751 548-752548-753 548-754548-755, 548-756, 548-757, 548-758, 548-759548-760548-761 548-762548-763 548-764, 548-765, 548-766, 548-767, 548-768 548-769548-770548-771 548-772548-773, 548-774, 548-775, 548-776, 548-777548-778548-779548-780 548-781 548-782, 548-783, 548-784, 548-785, 548-786548-787548-788548-789 548-790548-791;
- 549-741 549-742, 549-743 549-744 549-745 549-746, 549-747, 549-748, 549-749, 549-750, 549-751 549-752549-753 549-754, 549-755, 549-756, 549-757, 549-758, 549-759549-760549-761 549-762 549-763 549-764, 549-765, 549-766, 549-767, 549-768549-769549-770549-771 549-772549-773, 549-774, 549-775, 549-776, 549-777 549-778 549-779549-780549-781 549-782, 549-783, 549-784, 549-785, 549-786549-787549-788 549-789 549-790, 549-791;
- 551-741 551-742, 551-743 551-744, 551-745 551-746, 551-747, 551-748, 551-749, 551-750551-751 551-752551-753, 551-754551-755, 551-756, 551-757, 551-758, 551-759 551-760551-761 551-762, 551-763 551-764, 551-765, 551-766, 551-767, 551-768 551-769551-770, 551-771, 551-772551-773, 551-774, 551-775, 551-776, 551-777 551-778551-779551-780, 551-781 551-782, 551-783, 551-784, 551-785, 551-786, 551-787551-788551-789, 551-790551-791;
- 552-741 552-742 552-743 552-744, 552-745 552-746, 552-747, 552-748, 552-749, 552-750, 552-751 552-752, 552-753, 552-754552-755, 552-756, 552-757, 552-758, 552-759552-760552-761 552-762, 552-763 552-764, 552-765, 552-766, 552-767, 552-768 552-769552-770552-771, 552-772, 552-773, 552-774, 552-775, 552-776, 552-777 552-778552-779552-780, 552-781 552-782, 552-783, 552-784, 552-785, 552-786552-787552-788 552-789, 552-790, 552-791; 553-741, 553-742, 553-743, 553-744, 553-745, 553-746, 552-747, 552-7
- 561-741 561-742, 561-743 561-744 561-745 561-746, 561-747, 561-748, 561-749, 561-750, 561-751 561-752, 561-753 561-754561-755, 561-756, 561-757, 561-758, 561-759561-760, 561-761 561-762561-763 561-764, 561-765, 561-766, 561-767, 561-768 561-769561-770, 561-771 561-772, 561-773, 561-774, 561-775, 561-776, 561-777 561-778 561-779561-780561-781 561-782, 561-783, 561-784, 561-785, 561-786561-787 561-788561-789 561-790561-791;
- 562-741 562-742, 562-743 562-744, 562-745 562-746, 562-747, 562-748, 562-749, 562-750562-751 562-752, 562-753 562-754562-755, 562-756, 562-757, 562-758, 562-759562-760562-761 562-762562-763 562-764, 562-765, 562-766, 562-767, 562-768 562-769562-770562-771 562-772, 562-773, 562-774, 562-775, 562-776, 562-777 562-778, 562-779562-780, 562-781 562-782, 562-783, 562-784, 562-785, 562-786562-787 562-788 562-789562-790562-791;
- 563-741 563-742 563-743 563-744 563-745 563-746, 563-747, 563-748, 563-749, 563-750563-751 563-752563-753 563-754, 563-755, 563-756, 563-757, 563-758, 563-759 563-760563-761 563-762563-763 563-764, 563-765, 563-766, 563-767, 563-768 563-769 563-770, 563-771 563-772563-773, 563-774, 563-775, 563-776, 563-777 563-778 563-779563-780, 563-781 563-782, 563-783, 563-784, 563-785, 563-786563-787 563-788 563-789 563-790563-791;
- 564-741 564-742 564-743 564-744 564-745 564-746, 564-747, 564-748, 564-749, 564-750564-751 564-752564-753 564-754, 564-755, 564-756, 564-757, 564-758, 564-759 564-760564-761 564-762, 564-763 564-764, 564-765, 564-766, 564-767, 564-768 564-769 564-770, 564-771 564-772564-773, 564-774, 564-775, 564-776, 564-777564-778 564-779 564-780564-781 564-782, 564-783, 564-784, 564-785, 564-786564-787 564-788 564-789564-790564-791;
- 567-741 567-742, 567-743 567-744, 567-745 567-746, 567-747, 567-748, 567-749, 567-750567-751 567-752567-753, 567-754567-755, 567-756, 567-757, 567-758, 567-759 567-760567-761 567-762, 567-763 567-764, 567-765, 567-766, 567-767, 567-768 567-769 567-770567-771, 567-772567-773, 567-774, 567-775, 567-776, 567-777567-778567-779567-780, 567-781 567-782, 567-783, 567-784, 567-785, 567-786567-787 567-788 567-789, 567-790567-791; 568-741 568-742, 568-743 568-744568-745 5
- 569-741 569-742, 569-743 569-744 569-745 569-746 569-747, 569-748, 569-749, 569-750569-751, 569-752, 569-753 569-754569-755 569-756, 569-757, 569-758, 569-759569-760, 569-761 569-762569-763 569-764 569-765, 569-766, 569-767, 569-768 569-769, 569-770569-771 569-772569-773 569-774, 569-775, 569-776, 569-777 569-778, 569-779 569-780569-781 569-782, 569-783, 569-784, 569-785, 569-786569-787, 569-788 569-789569-790, 569-791
- 571-741 571-742, 571-743 571-744 571-745 571-746 571-747, 571-748, 571-749, 571-750, 571-751, 571-752571-753 571-754571-755 571-756, 571-757, 571-758, 571-759571-760, 571-761 571-762571-763 571-764571-765, 571-766, 571-767, 571-768 571-769, 571-770571-771 571-772571-773 571-774, 571-775, 571-776, 571-777 571-778, 571-779571-780571-781, 571-782571-783, 571-784, 571-785, 571-786571-787, 571-788 571-789 571-790571-791
- 578-741 578-742 578-743 578-744 578-745, 578-746 578-747, 578-748, 578-749, 578-750578-751 578-752, 578-753 578-754, 578-755 578-756, 578-757, 578-758, 578-759 578-760578-761 578-762578-763, 578-764, 578-765, 578-766, 578-767, 578-768 578-769 578-770578-771 578-772, 578-773 578-774, 578-775, 578-776, 578-777 578-778 578-779578-780578-781, 578-782578-783, 578-784, 578-785, 578-786578-787 578-788578-789578-790, 578-791
- 579-741 579-742, 579-743 579-744 579-745, 579-746 579-747, 579-748, 579-749, 579-750579-751 579-752579-753 579-754, 579-755 579-756, 579-757, 579-758, 579-759579-760, 579-761 579-762579-763, 579-764579-765, 579-766, 579-767, 579-768 579-769579-770579-771 579-772, 579-773 579-774, 579-775, 579-776, 579-777 579-778 579-779579-780579-781, 579-782579-783, 579-784, 579-785, 579-786579-787 579-788579-789579-790, 579-791
- 580-741 580-742, 580-743 580-744 580-745, 580-746 580-747, 580-748, 580-749, 580-750580-751 580-752580-753 580-754, 580-755 580-756, 580-757, 580-758, 580-759580-760, 580-761 580-762580-763, 580-764580-765, 580-766, 580-767, 580-768 580-769 580-770580-771 580-772, 580-773 580-774, 580-775, 580-776, 580-777580-778 580-779580-780580-781, 580-782, 580-783, 580-784, 580-785, 580-786580-787 580-788580-789580-790, 580-791
- 581-741 581-742 581-743 581-744 581-745, 581-746 581-747, 581-748, 581-749, 581-750, 581-751 581-752581-753 581-754, 581-755 581-756, 581-757, 581-758, 581-759 581-760581-761 581-762581-763, 581-764581-765, 581-766, 581-767, 581-768 581-769 581-770581-771 581-772, 581-773 581-774, 581-775, 581-776, 581-777 581-778 581-779581-780581-781, 581-782581-783, 581-784, 581-785, 581-786581-787 581-788581-789 581-790,581-791
- 584-741 584-742, 584-743 584-744 584-745 584-746 584-747, 584-748, 584-749, 584-750584-751, 584-752584-753 584-754584-755 584-756, 584-757, 584-758, 584-759 584-760, 584-761 584-762584-763 584-764584-765, 584-766, 584-767, 584-768 584-769, 584-770584-771 584-772584-773 584-774, 584-775, 584-776, 584-777 584-778, 584-779584-780584-781 584-782584-783, 584-784, 584-785, 584-786584-787, 584-788 584-789584-790, 584-791
- 590-741 590-742, 590-743 590-744, 590-745 590-746 590-747, 590-748, 590-749, 590-750590-751, 590-752590-753, 590-754590-755590-756, 590-757, 590-758, 590-759 590-760, 590-761 590-762, 590-763, 590-764590-765, 590-766, 590-767, 590-768 590-769590-770590-771 590-772, 590-773, 590-774, 590-775, 590-776, 590-777 590-778590-779 590-780, 590-781 590-782, 590-783, 590-784, 590-785, 590-786590-787 590-788 590-789590-790590-791;
- 591-741 591-742 591-743 591-744 591-745 591-746, 591-747, 591-748, 591-749, 591-750591-751 591-752591-753 591-754591-755, 591-756, 591-757, 591-758, 591-759591-760591-761 591-762, 591-763 591-764, 591-765, 591-766, 591-767, 591-768 591-769591-770591-771 591-772, 591-773, 591-774, 591-775, 591-776, 591-777591-778591-779591-780591-781 591-782, 591-783, 591-784, 591-785, 591-786, 591-787 591-788 591-789591-790591-791;
- 593-741 593-742 593-743 593-744, 593-745 593-746 593-747, 593-748, 593-749, 593-750593-751 593-752, 593-753 593-754593-755 593-756, 593-757, 593-758, 593-759 593-760593-761 593-762593-763 593-764593-765, 593-766, 593-767, 593-768 593-769593-770593-771 593-772593-773 593-774, 593-775, 593-776, 593-777 593-778 593-779 593-780, 593-781 593-782593-783, 593-784, 593-785, 593-786593-787593-788 593-789593-790593-791
- 600-741 600-742 600-743, 600-744 600-745, 600-746, 600-747, 600-748, 600-749, 600-750600-751 600-752, 600-753 600-754, 600-755, 600-756, 600-757, 600-758, 600-759 600-760600-761, 600-762600-763, 600-764, 600-765, 600-766, 600-767, 600-768 600-769600-770, 600-771 600-772, 600-773, 600-774, 600-775, 600-776, 600-777 600-778600-779, 600-780600-781, 600-782, 600-783, 600-784, 600-785, 600-786600-787600-788, 600-789600-790,600-791;
- 601-741 601-742 601-743, 601 ⁇ 744 601-745, 601-746, 601-747, 601-748, 601-749 601-750601-751 601-752, 601 ⁇ 753 601-754, 601-755, 601-756, 601-757, 601-758 601-759601-760601-761, 601 ⁇ 762601-763, 601-764, 601-765, 601-766, 601-767 601-768 601-769 601-770, 601 ⁇ 771 601-772, 601-773, 601-774, 601-775, 601-776 601-777 601-778601-779, 601 •780601-781, 601-782, 601-783, 601-784, 601-785 601-786601-787 601-788, 601 ⁇ 789601-790,601-791;
- 602-741 602-742 602-743, 602-744 602-745, 602-746, 602-747, 602-748, 602-749, 602-750602-751 602-752, 602-753 602-754, 602-755, 602-756, 602-757, 602-758, 602-759 602-760602-761, 602-762602-763, 602-764, 602-765, 602-766, 602-767, 602-768 602-769602-770, 602-771 602-772, 602-773, 602-774, 602-775, 602-776, 602-777 602-778602-779, 602-780602-781, 602-782, 602-783, 602-784, 602-785, 602-786602-787602-788, 602-789602-790, 602-791
- Miniplasmin and microplasmin are produced upon the activation of miniplasminogen and microplasminogen by plasminogen activators such as, but not limited to, streptokinase, staphylokinase, tissue-type plasminogen activator or urokinase.
- Miniplasminogen and microplasminogen are derived from plasminogen, which is a single chain glycoprotein that is an important component of mammalian blood.
- Human plasminogen is a multi-domain protein of 791 residues (SEQ ID NO: 10), composed of an N-terminal pre-activation domain, five homologous kringle domains each of about 80 amino acids, a serine protease catalytic domain and inter- domain connecting sequences.
- Plasmin or plasminogen activators cleave the peptide bonds between Arg 68 -Met 69 , or Lys 77 -Lys 78 or Lys 8 -Val 9 at the N-terminal of human plasminogen, resulting in shorter proenzymes called Lys-plasminogens (for example, proteins consisting of amino acids 69-791 or 78-791 or 79-791). Additional cleavage by the enzyme elastase removes the first four kringle domains producing the proenzyme, miniplasminogen (typically amino acids 442-791). Further cleavage of the fifth kringle yields the proenzyme, microplasminogen (typically amino acids 543- 791).
- the kringles of plasminogen contain lysine-binding sites that mediate specific binding of plasminogen to substrates such as fibrin.
- the proenzyme forms of plasminogen are activated to their enzymatically active form by the cleavage of the peptide bond between Arg 56 i and Vals 62 to yield a disulfide bonded double chain form of the conesponding protein.
- the product of activation of a plasminogen protein is called a plasmin.
- Lys-plasminogen activation is called Lys- plasmin
- miniplasminogen and microplasminogen are refened to as miniplasmin and microplasmin, respectively.
- Lys-plasmin has a molecular weight of about 65,000 in its unglycosylated form and a molecular weight of about 83,000 daltons in its fully glycosylated form, while miniplasmin has a molecular weight of about 38,000 daltons, and microplasmin has a molecular weight of about 26,500 daltons in the reduced form and about 29,000 daltons in the non- reduced form.
- miniplasmin and microplasmin possess catalytic activity.
- An advantage of miniplasmin and microplasmin over plasmin is their smaller size compared to plasmin. Thus, both microplasmin and miniplasmin are expected to have faster diffusion rates in the vitreous than plasmin (Xu, J. et al., Pharmaceutical Research 17: 664-669, 2000).
- a TPCD has a molecular weight of less than about 40,000 daltons. In another embodiment, a TPCD has a molecular weight of between about 20,000 and about 30,000 daltons. hi yet another embodiment, a TPCD has a molecular weight of about 26,500 daltons in reduced form and about 29,000 daltons in non-reduced form. In a further embodiment a TPCD has a molecular weight less than about 20,000 daltons.
- Microplasmin can be prepared by the autolytic reaction of plasmin and plasminogen in high alkaline solution having a pH ranging from about 9.5 to 11.5, as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,774,087.
- microplasmin and miniplasmin can be prepared by recombinant methods as described in PCT application WO 02/50290. Briefly, DNA encoding miniplasminogen and microplasminogen are independently cloned into a yeast expression vector (for e.g., pPICZ ⁇ A secretion vector from Invitrogen Corporation) that can be used to express these proteins in methylotropic yeasts (e.g., Hansenula, Pichia, Candida, and Torulopsis).
- yeast expression vector for e.g., pPICZ ⁇ A secretion vector from Invitrogen Corporation
- methylotropic yeasts e.g., Hansenula, Pichia, Candida, and Torulopsis
- Yeast clones that produce proteins with the highest miniplasmin and microplasmin activity are selected for large-scale production. These clones can be grown at any scale, but typically at about a 20 liter to about a 500 liter scale.
- the secreted miniplasminogen or microplasminogen are purified in a three-step process comprising cation exchange expanded bed chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, and affinity chromatography.
- the purified microplasminogen and miniplasminogen obtained by this process are activated to their active forms using a molar ratio of a plasminogen activator (e.g., urokinase, streptokinase, staphylokinase, the SY162 staphylokinase variant, etc.).
- a plasminogen activator e.g., urokinase, streptokinase, staphylokinase, the SY162 staphylokinase variant, etc.
- the TPCD obtained by the processes described above can be concentrated, stabilized and/or lyophilized.
- Methods of concentrating proteins are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art (see for example, Protein Purification Methods: A Practical Approach, Hanis, E.LN and Angal, S. (eds.), E L Press, 1989; A Guide to Protein Isolation (Second Edition), Clive Dennison, Kluwer Academic Publications, 2003; and Protein Methods (Second Edition), Daniel M. Bollag, Michael D. Rozycki, Stuart J. Edelstein (eds.), Wiley, 1996).
- Stabilization is a method of protecting a protein from degradation and/or inactivation through the use of one or more stabilizing agents (for e.g., by contacting a TPCD with a stabilizing agent, or purifying a TPCD in the presence of a stabilizing agent).
- Stabilizing agents include without limitation, tranexamic acid, hexanoic acid, lysine, serine, threonine, methionine, glutamine, alanine, glycine, isoleucine, valine, alanine aspartic acid, polyhydric alcohol, pharmaceutically acceptable carbohydrates, gmcosamine, thiamine, niacinamide, any acidic buffer comprising citric acid, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, carboxylic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, or benzoic acid, and salts such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and any derivatives or combinations thereof.
- TPCD recombinantly produced compared to autologous plasmin enzyme
- these proteins are more stable than autologous plasmin enzyme, which is obtained by collecting blood and, purifying, preparing and storing plasmin enzyme on a patient-by-patient basis.
- autologous plasmin enzyme which needs to be used very soon after its preparation
- stabilized, recombinant TPCD can be used even after a significant period of time from the time of purification.
- Lyophilization of a TPCD of the invention can be performed immediately after the concentration of the purified proteins or after stabilization. Methods of lyophilizing proteins are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
- the lyophilized TPCD can be stored in vials (e.g., glass) in any amount, but preferably, in amounts that can be readily reconstituted for use.
- Lyophilized microplasmin, miniplasmin, or any other TPCD can be reconstituted in an ophthalmologically acceptable canier prior to being used for contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor.
- an ophthalmologically acceptable carrier is a sterile solvent having a pH and osmolarity that is compatible with the vitreous of the subject.
- ophthalmologically acceptable carriers are isotonic saline solution, balanced salt solution (BSS) and BSS PLUS®.
- a balanced salt solution typically contains: 0.64% sodium chloride, 0.075% potassium chloride, 0.048% calcium chloride dehydrate, 0.03% magnesium chloride hexahydrate, 0.39% sodium acetate trihydrate, 0.17% sodium citrate dihydrate, sodium hydride/hydrochloric acid to adjust the pH, and water.
- the method of contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor using compositions comprising a TPCD will depend upon the particular subject, the severity of the condition being treated and the dosage required for therapeutic efficacy, and can be determined by a physician on a patient-by-patient basis. Any method of contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor that provides an effective amount of a TPCD to the vitreous and/or aqueous humor can be utilized. It should be understood that such contact with the vitreous and/or aqueous humor does not have to take place simultaneously with the administration of a composition comprising a TPCD. The contact may be delayed or occur over an extended period of time from the time of administration.
- One method of contacting the vitreous and/or aqueous humor is by one or more intraocular injections directly into the vitreous and/or aqueous humor respectively.
- the vitreous and/or aqueous humor can also be contacted by sub- conjunctiva!, intramuscular or intravenous injections. Any of these injections can be provided using a liquid solution comprising a TPCD according to procedures well known in the art.
- the vitreous and/or aqueous humor can be contacted with a TPCD by any other suitable method, which results in sufficient distribution of the TPCD to the vitreous and/or aqueous humor to treat or prevent the disorder, or a complication of a disorder, of the eye of a subject.
- a composition comprising a TPCD can also be administered by placing an intra-vitreal implantable devices including, but not limited to, OCUSERT® (Alza Corp., Palo Alto, Calif.) and VLTRASERT® (Bausch and Lomb, Inc., Rochester, N.Y.).
- the present invention also envisions that the vitreous and/or aqueous humor can be contacted with a TPCD using a depot, sustained release formulation, or any implantable device so that a TPCD is supplied continuously.
- TPCD Dosing regimens for TPCD can be readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art and will vary depending on the patient and the effect sought.
- TPCD can be used at any dose, which brings about desirable therapeutic effects, including but not limited to vitreous liquefaction, posterior vitreous detachment, and/or clearing of blood, toxic materials or foreign substances from the vitreous cavity, without causing significant toxicity to the eye (especially the retina) or associated anatomical structures.
- a TPCD may be administered as a single dose or in multiple doses.
- a typical TPCD dosage is in the range of about 0.005 mg to about 0.2 mg per eye.
- TPCD can be provided in a delivery volume of about 0.05 ml to about 0.3 ml of a sterile solvent (e.g. sterile BSS or BSS PLUS®) per eye.
- a sterile solvent e.g. sterile BSS or BSS PLUS®
- the TPCD is left in the vitreous and/or aqueous humor for between about 15 and 120 minutes before removal of the vitreous.
- a dose of 0.125 mg of TPCD is delivered in 0.1 ml of sterile BSS or BSS PLUS® per eye.
- a dose of 0.125 mg of TPCD is delivered in 0.1 ml of sterile BSS or BSS PLUS® per eye for about 15-120 minutes prior to vitrectomy.
- the present invention also contemplates the use of compositions comprising more than one TPCD.
- the vitreous and/or aqueous humor is contacted with a composition comprising a first TPCD and a second TPCD.
- the first and second TPCD are selected from the group consisting of miniplasmin, recombinant miniplasmin, stabilized miniplasmin, stabilized, recombinant miniplasmin, variants of miniplasmin, microplasmin, recombinant microplasmin, stabilized microplasmin, stabilized, recombinant microplasmin, variants of microplasmin, and any combinations thereof.
- the vitreous and/or aqueous humor is contacted with a first composition comprising at least one TPCD and with a second composition comprising at least one TPCD.
- the TPCD can be the same or different proteins and can be administered at substantially the same time or at different times. Additionally, a TPCD can also be administered as a composition further comprising at least one second agent.
- the vitreous and/or aqueous humor may be contacted with a composition comprising at least one TPCD followed by a composition comprising at least one second agent or vice versa. This may be necessary where the time required for each of these compositions is different, i.e., where one compositions needs more time to act compared to the other.
- a second agent is any protein (but not a TPCD), chemical or other substance that is useful in treating or preventing eye disorders, or complications of an eye disorder.
- Such second agents are described in U.S. Patent Nos.: 4,820,516; 5,292,509; 5,866,120; 6,051,698; 6,462,071; 6,596,725; and 6,610,292.
- Non-limiting examples of second agents usable with the present invention include glycosaminoglycanase enzymes such as hyaluronidases, chondroitinase ABC, chondroitinase AC, chondroitinase B, chondroitin 4-sulfatase, chondroitin 6-sulfatase and B-glucuronidase; collagenase enzymes; dispase; RGD containing peptides such as RGD, GRGDS, GRGDTP, Echistatin and Falvoridin; anti-integrin antibody; P2Y receptor antagonists; urea, hydroxyurea, thiourea and anti-angiogenic agents such as, but not limited to, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors (e.g., anti-VEGF antibodies, VEGF aptamers, soluble VEGF receptors, etc.) and placental growth factor (PIGF) inhibitors (e.g., anti-PlGF antibodies,
- Second agents are themselves capable of promoting vitreous liquefaction and/or inducing posterior vitreous detachment.
- Anti-angiogenic second agents could be useful in preventing neo-vascularization in the eye.
- Expression of VEGF and/or PIGF from an hypoxic retina are thought to result in the development of extraretinal neovascularization.
- inhibiting VEGF and/or PIGF would be an effective way to prevent neovascularization.
- a composition comprising a TPCD is useful to effect the liquefaction of the vitreous and/or the disinsertion or detachment of the vitreous from the retina and other tissues (e.g., epiretinal membranes, macula).
- the fractional forces of the vitreous on the retina and other tissues are minimized and the rate of natural turnover of fluids within the vitreous is accelerated.
- compositions comprising a TPCD are particularly suitable for the treatment or prevention of many disorders of the eye, which benefit from vitreous liquefaction, posterior vitreous detachment, decreasing extraretinal neovascularization and/or accelerated clearance of toxins or other deleterious substances (e.g., angiogenic factors, edema fluids, hemonhagic blood etc.) from the posterior chamber of the eye and/or tissues adjacent to the posterior chamber (e.g., retina or macula).
- toxins or other deleterious substances e.g., angiogenic factors, edema fluids, hemonhagic blood etc.
- eye disorders include, but are not limited to, retinal detachment, retinal tear, vitreous hemorrhage, diabetic vitreous hemonhage, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, macular holes, vitreomacular traction, macular pucker, macular exudates, cystoid macular edema, fibrin deposition, retinal vein occlusion, retinal artery occlusion, subretinal hemonhage, amblyopia, endophthalmitis, retinopathy of prematurity, glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa, and others in which the clinical symptoms of these disorders respond to TPCD administration.
- the present invention contemplates the treatment of disorders of the eye comprising contacting the vitreous with a composition comprising a TPCD. Such contact is expected to liquefy the vitreous and/or induce posterior vitreous detachment and/or clear the vitreous cavity of blood or other toxic substances and/or decrease extraretinal neovascularization, thereby treating or preventing the disorder.
- the present invention is also directed to methods of preventing or inhibiting the onset of various diso ders of the eye that are the result of, or exacerbated by, vitreous adhesion to the retina and vitreous contraction.
- the methods of the present invention are able to prevent or inhibit the disorders, or complications resulting from a disorder in the eye of a subject without removing the vitreous from the eye.
- the invention is directed to a process of treating a patient with proliferative disorders or at risk of developing proliferative disorders, such as, but not limited to, a diabetic patient, by inducing posterior vitreous detachment as a prophylactic step in preventing or delaying the onset of disorders associated with vitreous contraction or neovascularization into the vitreous.
- the composition is introduced into the eye of a diabetic patient to inhibit progression of diabetic retinopathy.
- the composition is introduced into the eye before the proliferative disorders occur.
- the composition is introduced into the vitreous of the eye before the onset of proliferative disorders and allowed to remain in the eye indefinitely without removing the vitreous from the eye.
- the invention is directed to a process for inhibiting complications in central and branch retinal vein occlusion, such as retinal neovascularization and macular edema by inducing posterior vitreous detachment in a patient in need of such treatment.
- the present invention provides a process for treating impending or full-thickness macular hole (whether idiopathic or traumatic) by inducing posterior vitreous detachment. Preventing or reducing the incidence of retinal detachment, retinal tears and retinal hemonhage caused by vitreous contraction can be achieved by inducing posterior vitreous detachment before such disorders occur and without removing the vitreous from the eye.
- ophthalmic disorders have as a causative component, a destabilization of the blood-retina membrane.
- This destabilization permits various components (e.g., serum components, lipids, proteins) of the choriocapillaries to enter the vitreal chamber and damage the retinal surface.
- This destabilization is also a precursor to vascular infiltration of the vitreal chamber, known as neovascularization.
- Neovascularization of the vitreous is dependent on the matrix of the vitreous.
- liquefaction of the vitreous which removes the matrix in the form of the polymerized vitreous, blocks neovascularization.
- the invention provides a method of treating or preventing eye disorders by preventing or reducing the incidence of retinal neovascularization comprising contacting the vitreous with a composition comprising a TPCD.
- Vitreous hemonhage typically manifests as clouding or opacification of the vitreous and is sometimes, but not always, accompanied by tearing or detachment of the retina.
- the vitreous hemonhage is accompanied by a retinal tear or detachment, it is important that such retinal tear or detachment be promptly diagnosed and surgically repaired. Failure to promptly diagnose and repair the retinal tear or detachment may allow photoreceptor cells of the retina, in the region of the tear or detachment, to become necrotic.
- Necrosis of the photoreceptor cells of the retina may result in loss of vision. Furthermore, allowing the retinal detachment to remain unrepaired for such extended period of time may result in further vitreous hemonhage and/or the formation of fibrous tissue at the site of the hemonhage. Fibrous tissue may result in the formation of an undesirable permanent fibrous attachment between the vitreous body and the retina. In the absence of any treatment, hemonhagic clouding of the vitreous can take between 6-12 months or longer to clear sufficiently to allow trans-vitreal viewing of the retina.
- vitrectomy a microsurgical procedure known as vitrectomy may need to be performed. This procedure involves removal of all or a portion of the vitreous with a microsurgical cutter and the replacement of the vitreous with a clear liquid or other substance that allows the ocular cavity to maintain its shape. Standard vitrectomy surgical procedures are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
- the present invention contemplates contacting the vitreous with a composition comprising at least one TPCD as an adjunct to vitrectomy.
- the vitreous is contacted with the composition comprising at least one TPCD in the absence of performing a vitrectomy.
- the pPICZ A secretion vector purchased from Invitrogen Corporation
- this vector includes: (i) a 942 bp fragment containing the alcohol oxidase 1 (AOZ7) promoter that allows methanol-inducible, high level expression of recombinant protein in Pichia, as well as targeted plasmid integration to the AOXl chromosomal locus; (ii) the native transcription termination and polyadenylation signal from the AOXl gene; (iii) an expression cassette confening zeocin resistance to Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris; (iv) a ColEl origin of replication for propagation and maintenance of the plasmid in Escherichia coli; (v) a c-myc epitope and a polyhistidine (6X His) tag, which can be used for protein detection and purification; and (vi) unique restriction sites (AOZ7) promoter that allows methanol-inducible, high level expression of recombinant protein in Pichia, as well as targeted plasmid integration to the AO
- this vector contains the secretion signal of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ⁇ -factor prepropeptide, allowing expression of heterologous proteins as secreted proteins into the medium.
- the processing of the factor mating signal sequence in pPICZ ⁇ occurs in two steps:
- the Glu- Ala repeats are further cleaved by the STE13 gene product. In some cases where Stel3 cleavage is not efficient, the Glu- Ala repeats are left on the NH 2 - terminus of the expressed protein of interest.
- Engineered immediately downstream of the ⁇ factor signal sequence in the pPICZ ⁇ A vector is a multi-cloning site with recognition sequences for the enzymes EcoR I, Sfi I, Kpn I, Xho I, Sac II and Xba I to facilitate the cloning of foreign genes.
- Xho I site in the multiple cloning site, there is a Xho I recognition sequence at the carboxyl-terminus of the ⁇ factor secretion signal, immediately upstream of the Lys-Arg Kex2 cleavage site.
- This Xho I restriction site may be used to clone the gene of interest flush with the Kex2 cleavage site by using a PCR cloning approach and an appropriate forward primer to rebuild the sequence from the Xho I site to the arginine codon.
- the recombinant protein of interest will then be expressed with a native NH 2 -terminus.
- the nucleic acid sequence encoding the human microplasminogen protein was amplified ("PCR-rescue") from the vector Fmyc- ⁇ Pli (Lasters et al. in Eur. I. Biochem. 244:946, 1997) using the Advantage cDNA polymerase mix available from Clontech (Palo Alto, California). After a DNA template denaturation step of 3 minutes at 94°C, 30 rounds of thermal cycling were performed (30 seconds at 94°C, 30 seconds at 50°C, 30 seconds at 72°C), followed by a 2 minutes final elongation step at 72°C. The following oligonucleotide primers LY-MPLGl (sense) and LY-MPLG2 (antisense) were used in this reaction:
- LY-MPLGl 5' GGGGTATCT CTC GAG AAA AGA GCC CCT TCATTT GAT TG (SEQ ID NO:1)
- LY-MPLG2 5' GTTTTTGT TCT AGA TTA ATT ATT TCT CAT CAC TCC CTC (SEQ ED NO: 2)
- the LY-MPLGl primer had an annealing region conesponding to residues
- LY-MPLG2 primer had an annealing region conesponding to the last seven residues of plasminogen, followed by a TAA stop-codon and a non- annealing region comprising a Xba I recognition sequence (underlined).
- the amplified fragment having the expected size ( ⁇ 780 bp) was digested with Xho I and Xba I, and directionally cloned into the vector pPICZ ⁇ A.
- the recipient vector-fragment was prepared by Xho I and Xba I restriction, and purified from agarose gel using the Qiaquick gel extraction kit (Qiagen GmbH, Germany).
- the E.coli strain TGI DSMZ collection #1208, Germany
- was transformed with the ligation mixture and zeocin resistant clones were selected. Based on restriction analysis, a plasmid clone containing an insert of the expected size was retained for further characterization.
- the determined nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino-acid sequence of human microplasminogen used are represented in SEQ ED NO: 3 and SEQ ED NO: 4, respectively. Compared to the sequence previously determined by Forsgren et al. in FEBS Lett. 213: 254, 1987, the nucleotide sequence differs in 10 positions. However, the amino acid sequence was identical.
- a pPICZ ⁇ -derived secretion vector was constructed as follows for miniplasminogen expression, making use of the hereinabove described pPICZ ⁇ - MPLG1 vector.
- a 500 bp DNA fragment encoding kringle five and part of the catalytic domain of the miniplasminogen protein was amplified ("PCR-rescue") from the vector FdTet-SN-miniPlg (Lasters et al., cited supra). After a DNA template denaturation step of 3 minutes at 94°C, 30 rounds of thermal cycling were performed (10 seconds at 94°C, 10 seconds at 50°C, 15 seconds at 72°C), followed by a 2 minutes final elongation step at 72°C.
- the following oligonucleotide primers LY-MESfPLGl (sense) and LY-MINPLG2 (antisense) were used in this reaction:
- LY-MINPLG1 5' GGGGTATCTCTC GAGAAAAGAGCACCT CCGCCT GTT GTC CTGCTT CC (SEQDDNO: 5)
- LY-MINPLG2 5' GCAGTGGGCTGC AGTCAACACCCACTC (SEQIDNO: 6)
- the LY-MESfPLGl primer has an annealing region conesponding to residues 444-452 of plasminogen (Ala-Pro-Pro-Pro-Val-Val-Leu-Leu-Pro) preceded by a non- annealing extension which included the last four residues of the factor mating signal (Leu-Glu-Lys-Arg).
- the Leu-Glu codons determine the Xho I restriction site (underlined) allowing the cloning of the gene of interest flush with the Kex2 cleavage site.
- the LY-MINPLG2 primer has an annealing region conesponding to the residues 596-604 of human plasminogen (Glu-Trp-Val-Leu-Thr-Ala-Ala-His-Cys).
- This annealing region of the catalytic domain also present in the microplasminogen expression vector, comprises a unique Pst I recognition sequence (underlined).
- the amplified fragment having the expected size was digested with Xho I and Pst I, and directionally cloned into the recipient vector fragment derived from pPICZ ⁇ -MPLGl (described above).
- the recipient vector-fragment was prepared by Xho I and Pst I restriction, and purified from agarose gel using the Qiaquick gel extraction kit (Qiagen GmbH, Germany).
- the E. coli strain TGI DSMZ collection #1208, Germany
- zeocin resistant clones were selected. Based on restriction analysis, a plasmid clone containing an insert of the expected size was retained for further characterization.
- Zeocin resistant transformants were selected on YPDSZ plates (1% yeast extract, 2% peptone, 2% glucose, IM sorbitol, 2% agar, 100 ⁇ g/ml zeocin). Thirty-four single colonies were inoculated in 10 ml BMYZ-glycerol medium (1% yeast extract, 2% peptone, 1% glycerol, 100 mM potassium phosphate, pH 6.0, 1.34% yeast nitrogen base, 4xl0 "5 % biotin, 100 ⁇ g/ml zeocin) in 50 ml Falcon tubes and cultured for 16 hours at 30°C.
- the cells were pelleted and re-suspended in 2 ml of BMYZ-methanol medium (same as BMYZ-glycerol but with 0.5% methanol instead of glycerol) to induce expression from the AOXl promoter, and cultured for 40 hours. 4 pulses of 0.5% methanol were supplied to the cultures over this period (after 6, 22, 26 and 30 hours). At the end of the induction culture, the presence of microplasminogen in the culture supernatant was estimated as described by Lijnen et al. in Eur. J. Biochem. 120:149, 1981.
- microplasminogen in pure or 10-fold diluted supernatants was incubated with urokinase for 30 minutes to activate microplasminogen to microplasmin.
- the generated microplasmin activity was compared to the activity of known amounts of purified plasmin or microplasmin preparations.
- the clone X33-MPLG1 #5 showing the highest microplasmin activity after urokinase activation, was selected for subsequent large scale production. This clone was deposited under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty with the Belgian Coordinated Collections of Microorganisms (BCCM-MUCL-COLLECTION) on December 12, 2001, under Accession Number MUCL 43676.
- Fermentation of X33-MPLG1#5 at a 50 liter scale was canied out in four steps as follows. Two liter flask cell cultures were performed for 23 hours at 30°C in 400 ml YSG+ (6 g/1 of yeast extract, 5 g/1 of soya peptone, 20 g/1 of glycerol) using an inoculum of 0.7 ml (of cell bank vial number glycerol OOC17) and 270 rpm agitation, yielding (at the end of the pre-culture step) an OD600 of 15.
- Fermentation was then performed in a MRP80 fermentation device in 30 1 basal medium (26.7 ml/1 H3PO4 85%, 1.05 g/1 CaSO4.2H2O, 18.2 g/1 K2SO4, 14.9 g/1 MgSO4.7H2O, 4.13 g/1 KOH, 40 g/1 of 100% glycerol and 4.76 ml/1 PTM1 salt solution [comprising 6 g/1 CuSO4.5H2O, 0.08 g/1 Nai, 3.36 g/1 MnSO4.H2O, 0.2 g/1 NaMoO4.2H2O, 0.02 g/1 Boric acid, 0.82 g/1 CoC12.6H2O, 20 g/1 ZnC12, 65 g/1 FeSO4.7H2O, 0.2 g/1 d-biotin and 5 ml/1 HSSO4]), using 600 ml inoculum at 30°C with an air flow of 50 1/min at atmospheric pressure, dissolved oxygen (DO) >20% and 200-500
- glycerol depletion was evidenced by a rapid increase of dissolved oxygen.
- Glycerol feeding (632 g/1 glycerol 100% and 12 ml/1 PTM1) increased the OD 600 up to 258 in 24 hours.
- Methanol feeding was then carried out with an increasing flow of up to 250 ml/h within 6 hours, which was maintained for 66 hours using 988 ml/1 methanol and 12 ml/1 PTM1 to reach an OD 600 of 352 at the end of culture. Fermentation of X33-MPLG1#5 at a 350 liter scale provided proportionally similar results.
- the harvest was then purified in a three-steps process comprising cation exchange expanded bed chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography and affinity chromatography as follows:
- Cation exchange expanded bed adsorption chromatography was conducted with Streamline SP (available from Pharmacia Biotechnology, Cat. No. 17-0993- 01/02) packed in a Streamline 200 column (Pharmacia Biotechnology Cat No. 18- 1100-22) with a bed volume of 5, 120 cm 3 , expanded and equilibrated by applying an upward flow of 1 M NaCl, 25 mM sodium acetate (CH 3 COONa.3 H 2 O) buffer, pH 6.0, for two column volumes followed by column volumes of 25 mM sodium acetate buffer, pH 6.0.
- the fermentation broth was on line diluted (7x) with water and passed upwards through the expanded bed at a flow rate of 1000 ml/min.
- Loosely bound material was washed out with the upward flow of 25 mM sodium acetate buffer pH 6.0.
- the column adaptor was then lowered to the surface of the sedimented bed at a height of 16.3 cm.
- Flow was reversed and the captured proteins eluted with 2 column volumes of 0.5 M NaCl, 25 mM sodium acetate buffer, pH 6.0.
- Solid ammonium sulfate was added to the eluted Streamline fraction to reach 30 % saturation (164 g ammonium sulfate per liter of eluted Streamline fraction) and the mixture was gently stined at 4-8°C for 1 hour.
- Hydrophobic chromatography was conducted with Hexyl TSK 650C (available from Toso-Haas Cat. No. 19027) packed in a Vantage 180/500 column (available from Millipore, Cat. No. 87018001) with a packed volume of 2,700 cm 3 at 4-8°C.
- the eluted streamline fraction was loaded on the column at a flow rate of 38 1/hour.
- the column was then washed with 1.5 column volumes of 25 mM sodium acetate buffer, pH 6.0, containing 164 g/1 ammonium sulfate and eluted from the column with 7 column volumes of 25 mM sodium acetate buffer, pH 6.0.
- Affinity chromatography was conducted with Blue Sepharose 6 Fast Flow (available from Pharmacia Biotechnology, Cat. No. 17-0948-02/03) packed in a Vantage 130/500 column (available from Millipore, Cat. No. 87013001) with a packed volume of 3,186 cm3 at 4-8°C.
- the eluted fraction was loaded on the column at a flow rate of 20 1/hour, and washed with one column volume of 25 mM disodium hydrogenophosphate (Na 2 HPO 4 .12 H 2 O) buffer, pH 7.0.
- microplasminogen protein fraction was eluted from the column with 5 column volumes of 0.5 M NaCl, 25 mM di-sodium hydrogenophosphate buffer, pH 7.0, and kept frozen at -20°C. The purity of the material was above 98% as demonstrated by SDS gel electrophoresis.
- microplasminogen to microplasmin was performed at 23 °C for 30 minutes at a molar ratio of 0.5% of a staphylokinase variant SY162 in 0.5 M NaCl, 25 mM di-sodium hydrogenophosphate (Na 2 HPO 4 .12 H 2 O) buffer, pH 7.0.
- SY162 is a staphylokinase variant with reduced immunogenicity comprising 12 amino-acid substitutions (K35A, E65Q, K74R, E80A, D82A, T90A, E99D, T101S, E108A, K109A, K130T and K135R) as compared to wild-type, as described by WO 99/40198.
- Solid ammonium sulfate was added to microplasmin at a final concentration of 1 M (132 g/1) and the mixture stined at 4 - 8°C for 15 minutes.
- Flow (available from Pharmacia Biotechnology, Cat. No. 17-0965-03/05) packed in a BPG 100/500 column (available from Pharmacia Biotechnology, Cat. No. 18-1103- 01) having a packed volume of 1,738 cm 3 , equilibrated with 4 column volumes of 25 mM Na 2 HPO .12 H 2 O buffer, pH 7.0, containing 0.1 M of the stabilizing agent, tranexamic acid (available from BournonviUe Pharma, Braine-L'Alleud, Belgium) and 1 M (NH ) 2 SO pH 7.0, at 4-8°C.
- the activated product was loaded on the column at a linear flow rate of 18 1/hour and washed with 4.5 column volumes of 25 mM Na 2 HPO 4 .12 H 2 O buffer, pH 7.0, containing 0.1 M tranexamic acid and 1 M (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 .
- Microplasmin was eluted from the column at a linear flow rate of 6 1/hour with 5 column volumes of 25 mM Na 2 HPO 4 .12 H 2 O buffer, pH 7.0, containing 0.1 M tranexamic acid and 0.7 M (NH 4 ) 2 SO and equilibrated with phosphate buffered saline containing 0.1 M tranexamic acid.
- Staphylokinase variant SY162 was eluted from the column with 25 mM Na 2 HPO 4 .12H 2 O buffer, pH 7.0 containing 0.1 M tranexamic acid. This procedure removed above 99% of staphylokinase from the microplasmin peak as demonstrated with a specific ELISA assay. iii) Concentration and diafiltration by tangential ultrafiltration
- step (ii) the eluate from step (ii) was concentrated and the buffer was exchanged for the low pH citric acid buffer.
- the tranexamic acid of step (ii) was removed during this step and microplasmin was stabilized by the low pH citric acid buffer.
- the membranes were then rinsed with 5 mM citric acid, pH 3.1, until the permeate reached a pH of 3.1.
- the pH of the Phenyl Sepharose eluate was adjusted to 3.1 and the protein was concentrated to 4 mg/ml by ultrafiltration. Diafiltration was performed for 60 to 90 minutes against 5 volumes of 5 mM citric acid, pH 3.1. Yields (expressed in grams) of three runs performed on a 50 liter fermentation apparatus are summarized in Table 2.
- This step was performed to ensure absence of microbial contamination.
- Mannitol was added at 2-8°C to a concentration of 1.5 g/g of protein and sterile filtration performed at 23 °C on a Millipak 100 filter (size 500 cm 2 ) (available from Millipore, Cat. No. MPGL10CA3) and rinsed with about 500 ml of 5 mM citric acid, pH 3.1, with a peristaltic pump at a flow rate of 500 ml/minute.
- the filtrate was collected in a sterile and pyrogen free bag and stored at -20°C.
- the selection of high-expression strain was performed essentially as follows. Zeocin resistant transformants were selected on YPDSZ plates (as defined in example 2). Fifty isolated colonies were inoculated in 15 ml BMYZ-glycerol medium (as defined in example 2) in 50 ml Falcon tubes and cultured for 16 hours at 30°C. The cells were pelleted and re-suspended in 1.5 ml of BMYZ-methanol medium (as defined in example 2) to induce expression from the AOXl promoter, and cultured for 40 hours. 3 or 4 pulses of 0.5 % methanol were regularly supplied to the cultures over this period.
- miniplasminogen in the culture supernatant was estimated as described by Lijnen et al. (cited supra). Briefly, the miniplasminogen in 10-fold diluted supernatants was incubated with streptokinase for 10 minutes to form an active complex. The generated miniplasmin activity, as determined with the chromogenic substrate S2403 (see example 2) at different times, was compared to the activity of known amounts of a purified plasminogen preparation. In these conditions, all tested clones produced miniplasminogen with yields varying between 3 and 15 mg/1.
- Freshly isolated porcine eyes obtained from the slaughterhouse were either immediately processed or allowed to sit at room temperature for up to 6 hours.
- the cornea was removed to facilitate fixation. Eyes were fixed in Peter's solution (1.25% glutaraldehyde/1% paraformaldehyde in 0.08 M cacodylate buffer pH 7.4) at 0°C for 24 to 36 hours to stop enzymatic reactions.
- the eyes were then washed with 0.1 M cacodylate buffer pH 7.4 and progressively dehydrated in progressively higher concentrations of ethanol up to 100%.
- Both the freshly processed eyes and the eyes allowed to sit for 6 hours showed no significant change in the ultrastructure of the retina, and the vitreous remained attached to the retinal surface.
- this method provides a non-traumatic fixation procedure for eye tissue and minimizes the possibility of the separation of the vitreous from the retinal surface. Furthermore, this procedure allows the whole retinal surface, from the optic nerve to the retinal periphery to be studied.
- This experiment was carried out to determine the ability of microplasmin to disinsert the posterior vitreous cortex from the inner limiting membrane of the retinal surface.
- Microplasmin was used at the following doses: 0.0625, 0.125, 0.156, 0.25 and 0.390 mg, in a volume of 0.1 ml of the intraocular inigating solution, BSS PLUS®.
- the pH of these microplasmin solutions ranged from 7.92 for the 0.0625 mg dose to 6.52 for the 0.390 mg dose.
- microplasmin solutions disclosed above were separately injected into the vitreous humor of eyes obtained from freshly slaughtered pigs at room temperature (24°C). The eyes were fixed as described in Example 4, after 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes or 120 minutes following injection of microplasmin. Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) was observed after 1 hour of treatment with 0.0625 mg of microplasmin, whereas PVD was visible from about 30 minutes after the injection for all doses including and above 0.125 mg of microplasmin. This detachment was most apparent around 120 minutes post-injection (Fig.
- Vacuolation of cells is often seen as an early sign of autolysis and at doses lower than 0.390 mg, no vacuolation was observed.
- Fig. 5, Panels A and B No structural alterations to the retina were observed at doses lower than 0.390 mg.
- retinal elevations and small numbers of inflammatory cells were sparsely distributed on the retinal surface.
- Gross histology of the eye treated with the highest dose of microplasmin (0.390 mg) indicated that the retinal interface had a whitish appearance.
- Electron microscopy of this eye revealed that there were multiple small elevations in the retinal surface, which suggests localized retinal detachment.
- microplasmin used at a dosage of 0.06 to 0.2 mg resulted in consistent separation of the posterior hyaloid without inducing any ultrastructural changes in the retina.
- the posterior hyaloid separation is not only at the optic nerve but also all the way to the vitreous base.
- the posterior hyaloid separation leaves a clear, smooth retinal surface on which no collagen fibers can be recognized using high-electron microscopic scanning (12,000X magnification), a magnification that is high enough to exclude the possibility of undetected fibers.
- microplasmin Of the 13 eyes treated with microplasmin, 9 eyes were treated by an intravitreal injection of microplasmin alone. A dose of 62.5 ⁇ g of microplasmin (pH 7.4) was injected into the vitreous cavity of two eyes; a dose of 125 ⁇ g of microplasmin (pH 7.2) was injected into the vitreous cavity of 5 eyes; and a dose of 188 ⁇ g of microplasmin (pH 7.2) was administered in 2 eyes. Of the remaining 4 eyes, two were treated with 62.5 ⁇ g of microplasmin and 0.6 ml of sulfurhexafluoride (SF 6 ) and two were treated with 125 ⁇ g of microplasmin and 0.6 ml of sulfurhexafluoride (SF 6 ). The additional treatment with SF 6 was performed because of previous reports that plasmin only induces PVD in combination with vitrectomy or gas injection. The dosing and treatment discussed above are summarized in Table 3.
- the globes were then hemisected along the pars plana, and the anterior segment was discarded.
- a corneal trephine of 12.5 mm diameter was slowly moved through the vitreous and the posterior pole was punched out.
- Retinal specimens for scanning and transmission electron microscopy were then obtained from the posterior pole using a corneal trephine of 4 mm diameter.
- Retinal discs for scanning electron microscopy were post-fixed in 2% osmium tetroxide (Dalton's fixative), dehydrated in ethanol, dried to the critical point, sputter- coated in gold, and photographed using a ISM-35 CF electron microscope (JEOL®, Tokyo, Japan).
- Specimens for transmission electron microscopy were post-fixed in Dalton's fixative, dehydrated, and embedded in EPONTM. Semithin sections were stained with 2% toluidine blue. Ultrathin sections were contrasted contrasted with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, and analyzed using a Zeiss EM 9 electron microscope (Zeiss, Jena, Germany).
- Each observer evaluated the degree of vitreoretinal separation by deciding whether a continuous or discontinuous network of collagen fibrils covered the inner limiting membrane (ELM), or whether single or sparse collagen fibrils were present at the ELM, or whether the ELM was devoid of any collagen fibrils (bare ELM).
- ELM inner limiting membrane
- microplasmin can induce a cleavage between the vitreous cortex and the inner limiting membrane of the human eye without vitrectomy or any other surgical intervention.
- 125 ⁇ g of microplasmin cleaves the human vitreoretinal junction within 30 minutes.
- 125 ⁇ g of microplasmin is the equivalent dose of 2 U of plasmin (Sigma- Aldrich, Kunststoff, Germany), which caused complete vitreoretinal separation in pig cadaver eyes and in human donor eyes.
- the feline retina has been extensively studied by anatomists and physiologists making this a useful model to assess the safety of pharmacologically induced PVD.
- the cat retina is rod-dominated and has an intraretinal circulation, outside the fovea. This is in contrast to the rabbit retina, which has no intraretinal vessels.
- the rabbit inner retina is perfused by vasculature that lies on its vitreal surface, and this limits the value of experimental studies primarily focused on the vitreoretinal interface in the rabbit.
- the feline model has provided high- quality data on the cellular responses of the retina to detachment.
- we used a feline model to study the utility of n- ⁇ croplasmin in effecting PVD in vivo.
- the globes were removed from the sacrificed cats, fixed and processed for electron microscopy as described for human post-mortem eyes in Example 6. Electron micrographs were evaluated independently by two observers. Each observer evaluated the degree of vitreoretinal separation by deciding whether a continuous or discontinuous network of collagen fibrils covered the ELM, or whether single or sparse collagen fibrils were present at the ILM, or whether the ELM was devoid of any collagen fibrils.
- the eye specimens were rinsed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and orientated in 5% agarose (Sigma, St Louis MO, USA) prepared in PBS.
- PBS phosphate buffered saline
- 5% agarose Sigma, St Louis MO, USA
- anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP; 1:500; DAKO, Hamburg, Germany) with anti-collagen IV (1:50; DAKO); anti- vimentin (1:50; DAKO) with anti-fibronectin (1:400; DAKO); anti-synaptophysin (1:50; DAKO) with anti-neurofilament (1:25; DAKO); anti-laminin (1:25; DAKO) with anti-CD 68 (1:50; DAKO); anti-red/green opsin (1:100; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, USA) with anti-rhodopsin (1:200; Santa Cruz Biotech); anti-blue opsin (1:100; Santa Cruz Biotech, Santa Cruz, CA, USA) with anti-rhodopsin (1:200; Santa Cruz Biotech).
- the specifity of the antibodies used in this experiment is listed in Table 5.
- microplasmin cleaving effect of microplasmin at the vitreoretinal interface in vivo
- the first dose we used was 25 ⁇ g of microplasmin, which is one-fifth of the dose that was found sufficient to induce complete PND in human post-mortem eyes.
- 25 ⁇ g of microplasmin is equivalent to 0.4 U of plasmin (Sigma), and clinically 0.4 U of autologous plasmin has been applied to the vitreous cavity of human eyes with macular holes and diabetic retinopathy.
- the second dose of 14.5 ⁇ g of microplasmin is equivalent to a dose of 25 ⁇ g of microplasmin in the human eye, if one adjusts for the smaller vitreous volume of the cat eye (roughly 60% of the vitreous volume of the human eye).
- Three days following an intravitreal application of 25 ⁇ g of microplasrnin in the cat eye there was complete vitreoretinal separation, whereas one day after treatment some collagen fibrils were still present at the vitreoretinal interface. This indicates that the effect of microplasmin continues beyond 24 hours and stands in striking contrast to the rapid inactivation of plasmin in the blood by its natural antagonist alpha-2-antiplasmin.
- microplasmin activity may be that alpha-2-antiplasmin is saturated by another substrate, or that microplasmin has a different affinity for the antiplasmin antagonist compared to plasmin.
- Another possible reason could be that pathways downstream of microplasmin (for example, activation of coUagenases or matrix metalloproteinases) remain active after microplasmin is inactivated by alpha-2-antiplasmin.
- the cytoarchitecture of the retina of microplasmin-treated eyes was unchanged compared to control eyes. In ultrastructural terms, there was no difference in the retinal anatomy between microplasmin-treated eyes and control eyes. The ELM and the retina were well preserved in all specimens. Additionally we did not observe any signs of an inflammatory reaction following microplasmin injection. Specifically, electron microscopy and laser confocal microscopy did not show any evidence of inflammatory cellular infiltration of the retina.
- M ⁇ ller cells In the feline model, retinal detachment produces a significant proliferation of M ⁇ ller cells and a massive upregulation of intermediate filament proteins in their cytoplasm, such as glial fibrillic acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin.
- GFAP glial fibrillic acidic protein
- This M ⁇ ller cell response is widely known as gliosis, and is supposed to play a key role in the complex cellular responses of the retina to detachment.
- M ⁇ ller cells appear quiescent and express very small amounts of GFAP and vimentin.
- vitrectomy without inducing retinal detachment has been shown to cause upregulation of GFAP.
- microplasmin is effective in inducing PVD in vivo.
- these studies indicate that microplasmin appears safe in that no retinal alterations were observed at the ultrastructural level.
- DLS dynamic light scattering
- the DLS apparatus built for our studies provides dynamic information such as diffusion coefficient, size, scattered intensity, and polydispersity (measure of heterogeneity).
- diffusion coefficient size
- scattered intensity size
- polydispersity measure of heterogeneity
- an increase in particle sizes from nanometers to a few microns
- Polydispersity is a measure of the number of distinct groups of species with different size(s).
- up to three groups differing in size can be identified since they diffuse at different time scales (small particles move faster and larger slower). Therefore, a change in scattered light intensity and polydispersity can complement the particle size data.
- vitreous particle sizes decrease and scattered intensity increases, then there is probably an increased number of smaller size molecular species in the solution, either due to breakdown of larger molecular species, and/or, as in the case of these experiments, an influx of 20 nm polystyrene nanospheres that were previously excluded by the inherent vitreous structure. If polydispersity decreases, then the most likely explanation is that there is increased homogeneity in the population of molecular species in the sample, again indicative of the influx of 20 nm polystyrene nanospheres that were previously excluded.
- DLS dispersions
- the data presented herein was analyzed using the cumulant and exponential size distribution routines obtained from Brookhaven Instruments, NY. These schemes have been reviewed by Stock and Ray (Stock R.S. and Ray W. H., J. Polym. Sci. 23:1393, 1985).
- Figure 11 shows a typical DLS measurement in terms of a time autoconelation function or TCF for the whole porcine vitreous (polydisperse system) and a solution of polystyrene nanospheres of 20 nm diameter (monodisperse system).
- a new compact DLS fiber-optic probe (U.S. Patent No. 5,973,779) was fabricated for the vitreous studies described herein. It comprises of a pair of 0.25 pitch Selfoc GRIN lenses, and it has a penetration depth of -16 mm and a scattering angle of 160°.
- a fiber optic probe comprising two monomode optical fibers and two GRIN lenses provides a compact and remote means of studying the dynamic characteristics of the macromolecules in the eye.
- Two monomode optical fibers, each housed in a stainless steel ferrule are mounted into a separate stainless steel housing. An air gap is intentionally left between the fiber housing and the lens housing in order to produce a tightly focused spot in the scattering volume.
- the two optical fibers in their housings are aligned and fixed into position off-axis with the micro lens.
- the two housings are placed inside a third (outer) housing made of stainless steel, and the back end of the housing is covered with a heat- shrink tubing.
- the two free ends of the optical fibers were terminated with FC/PC-type male connectors for easy mating with the laser and photo-detector module.
- the experimental set up's main components consist of a DLS compact fiber optic probe (described above), a computer (Gateway PC 500S) containing a digital conelator card (BI-9000 Brookhaven Instruments NY), and a 635 nm wavelength 1 mW solid-state laser (OZ Optics, Canada), and an avalanche photo diode detector (Perkin Elmer, Canada).
- the probe is mounted on an optical assembly connected through translational stages controlled manually to access and direct the probe to a desired location in the eye.
- TCF temporal autocorrelation function
- DLS is able to non-invasively provide objective quantification of the average diameter of particles suspended in a solution, in this case the vitreous.
- To calculate particle sizes accurately it is necessary to either know, or assume the viscosity of the solvent. As previously mentioned, it is not presently possible to accurately measure the viscosity of a non-Newtonian fluid, so assumptions must be made. Given that vitreous is approximately 99% water, it is reasonable to ascribe the viscosity of water to the vitreous.
- Microviscosity in vitreous refers to the viscosity of trapped water in which the hyaluronan (HA) molecules and collagen bundles are suspended.
- the Brownian motion of HA molecules are much faster than the collagen bundles which are fairly large in size compared to HA molecules.
- HA molecular information is embedded at faster (short) delay times and the collagen at slower (longer) delay times. The derived information is shown in the particle size distribution(s).
- Microplasmin was used at a concentration of 4 mg/ml stock solution.
- Polystyrene nanospheres (Bangs Laboratories, Fishers, IN) of 20 nm diameter and suspended in doubly distilled de-ionized water were added at a fixed ratio in all samples, assuring a uniform number of nanospheres in all samples.
- Fresh, unfixed porcine eyes (n ll) underwent dissection of the anterior segment via a pars planar incision and sharp dissection of the lens/iris diaphragm off the anterior vitreous. The dissection was canied as close to the posterior lens capsule as possible, without incising this tissue. The eyes were maintained in a holder with the posterior segment below.
- the specimens were treated with controls and ⁇ Pli at doses of 0.08, 0.125, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mg at room temperature by placing the solutions (300 ⁇ l) that contained 60 ⁇ L of 20 nm polystyrene nanosphere solution onto the anterior surface of the exposed vitreous body.
- DLS was performed at a single point along the central optical axis located 1, 2, and 4 mm below the vitreous/air interface. Every 15 minutes a DLS reading was obtained for a duration of 90 to 360 minutes.
- Figure 12 shows the TCF's obtained from a point 4 mm below the air/vitreous interface in 5 different porcine eyes and from a solution of 20 nm polystyrene nanospheres, for comparison. It can be seen that with increasing doses of ⁇ Pli there is a decrease in the slope of the TCF with disappearance of the slow component (larger molecular species) ultimately approaching the TCF of pure 20 nm nanospheres, i.e. all smaller size molecular species.
- the normalized total intensity and polydispersity plots further support the reliability of this data.
- the particle size distributions demonstrate a significant shift to the left in the distribution of particle sizes with increasing doses of ⁇ Pli. This suggests that ⁇ Pli is effective in significantly weakening and breaking various chemical bonds and lysing vitreous macromolecular structure. Similar changes were detected along the horizontal axis.
- the primary parameter that derives from the DLS measurements is the diffusion coefficient.
- a change in the diffusion coefficient indicates a change in the vitreous macromolecular structure in response to ⁇ Pli treatment.
- ⁇ Pli doses there is an increase in the diffusion coefficient of the vitreous.
- diffusion coefficients were directly proportional to ⁇ Pli dose.
- this drug appears to achieve the two desired components for pharmacologic vitreolysis: posterior vitreous detachment and a breakdown in vitreous macromolecules with consequent increases in vitreous diffusion coefficients and ultimately liquefaction.
- a patient presenting vitreoretinal disease in which surgical vitrectomy is indicated is treated with an injection of microplasmin prior to the surgical vitrectomy procedure.
- the patient is to receive a full ophthalmic examination to establish a baseline of ocular health.
- the ophthalmic examination includes indirect ophthalmoscopy, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, peripheral retinal examination, intraocular pressure measurements, visual acuity (unaided and best conected) symptomatology, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, electroretinography and A-scan measurements.
- the eye to be treated is injected with 0.025 to 0.125 mg of microplasmin in 0.2 ml of the intraocular irrigating solution, BSS PLUS® or other inigating solution to promote the liquefaction of the vitreous and/or induce posterior vitreous detachment.
- the surgical vitrectomy may be made quicker and easier with less iatrogenic retinal trauma and risk of surgical complications. Allowing for more complete removal of vitreous may also lessen the risk of post-operative complications such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
- a diabetic patient manifesting diabetic retinopathy is treated by the intravitreal injection of microplasmin.
- the diabetic patient is to receive a full ophthalmic examination to establish a baseline of ocular health.
- the ophthalmic examination includes indirect ophthalmoscopy, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, peripheral retinal examination, intraocular pressure measurements, visual acuity (unaided and best conected) symptomatology, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, electroretinography and A-scan measurements.
- microplasmin is given to the patient's affected eye. If both eyes are affected, they may be treated separately.
- the eye to be treated is injected with a dose ranging from 0.005 mg to 0.125 mg of microplasmin in 0.05 to 0.2 ml of BSS PLUS® or other inigating solution intravitreally to promote the liquefaction of the vitreous.
- diabetic retinopathy After treatment, the patients' eyes are to be examined periodically. The extent of diabetic retinopathy presented by the patient is continuously monitored through periodic retinal examinations and fluorescein angiograms to monitor the extent of venous beading, IRMA, retinal ischemia, traction retinal detachment, vitreous hemonhage, need for vitrectomy, or other complications of diabetic retinopathy.
- IRMA venous beading
- retinal ischemia retinal ischemia
- traction retinal detachment traction retinal detachment
- vitreous hemonhage need for vitrectomy, or other complications of diabetic retinopathy.
- Microplasmin is approximately one-third the molecular weight of full-length plasmin. Due to its smaller size, microplasmin is expected to diffuse more rapidly in the vitreous than plasmin (Xu, J. et al., cited supra). More rapid diffusion would be expected to lead to a more rapid pharmacologic effect. The present study was performed in order to confirm both that microplasmin diffuses more rapidly than plasmin, and that microplasmin is able to alter the vitreous gel.
- one eye was injected with microplasmin (0.125mg) and the fellow eye with vehicle control (BSS-PLUS®). After maintaining both eyes at room temperature for 2 hours, both eyes were then injected with fluorescein and incubated an additional 30 minutes. Photographs were taken at time 0, 10, 20, and 30 minutes.
- microplasmin-treated eyes had fluorescein diffusion of 14% and 16%, respectively, over 20 minutes (Figure 13), while the plasmin-treated eye had fluorescein diffusion of less than 10% ( Figure 14).
- Microplasmin demonstrated a clear facilitation of fluorescein diffusion compared to vehicle control. Furthermore, as predicted based on molecular weight of microplasmin, this fluorescein diffusion was of a greater extent than that observed with full-length plasmin administration. These findings support the theoretical prediction that microplasmin diffuses more rapidly than plasmin. These findings may have clinical benefit, in allowing for more rapid pharmacologic effect.
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Abstract
Description
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Priority Applications (23)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2004559328A JP5426063B2 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | Pharmacological vitreous thawing |
NZ541075A NZ541075A (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | Pharmacological vitreolysis |
BRPI0310144A BRPI0310144A8 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | pharmacological vitreolysis |
EP11152414.6A EP2327416B1 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | Pharmacological vitreolysis using truncated plasmin |
CA2508606A CA2508606C (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | Pharmacological vitreolysis |
AT03812818T ATE534400T1 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | PHARMACOLOGICAL VITREOLYSIS USING A SHORTENED PLASMIN |
ES03812818T ES2377965T3 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | Composition comprising a truncated plasmin protein |
MXPA05006038A MXPA05006038A (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | Pharmacological vitreolysis. |
DK03812818.7T DK1581254T3 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | Pharmacological vitreolysis using truncated plasmin |
BR0317033-0A BR0317033A (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | Pharmacological vitreolysis |
AU2003300821A AU2003300821C1 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | Pharmacological vitreolysis |
EP03812818A EP1581254B1 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | Pharmacological vitreolysis using truncated plasmin |
SI200332111T SI1581254T1 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-12-05 | Pharmacological vitreolysis using truncated plasmin |
IL169008A IL169008A (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2005-06-05 | Composition comprising microplasmin for use as a medicament for the eye |
NO20052988A NO333837B1 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2005-06-17 | Use of a composition comprising a truncated plasmin protein for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an eye disorder as well as composition and kit. |
HK06103894.5A HK1082419A1 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2006-03-28 | Pharmacological vitreolysis using truncated plasmin |
IL202851A IL202851A (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2009-12-20 | Use of a composition comprising a truncated plasmin protein in the preparation of a medicament for treating ophthalmology related disorders |
IL213838A IL213838A0 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2011-06-29 | A composition comprising microplasmin for use as a medicament for the eye |
NO20121169A NO343759B1 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2012-10-12 | The first composition comprises a truncated plasmin protein (TPCD) comprising a catalytic domain of plasmin and a second composition comprising a further agent for use, as well as kits. |
NO20121170A NO20121170A1 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2012-10-12 | Pharmacological vitreolysis |
CY2013033C CY2013033I1 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2013-08-23 | PHARMACOLOGICAL DISSOLUTION OF THE VITREOUS, USING COLOUR PLASMIN |
FR13C0052C FR13C0052I2 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2013-08-29 | PHARMACOLOGICAL VITREOLYSIS USING SHORTENED PLASMIN |
NO2013016C NO2013016I2 (en) | 2002-12-06 | 2013-11-19 | Okriplasmin |
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