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Peptide factorRelated Patent Categories: Drug, Bio-affecting And Body Treating Compositions, Designated Organic Active Ingredient Containing (doai), Peptide Containing (e.g., Protein, Peptones, Fibrinogen, Etc.) DoaiPeptide factor description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060229234, Peptide factor. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 10/339,271, filed on Jan. 9, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/647,117, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,519, filed on Jan. 23, 2001, which claims priority under 37 U.S.C. .sctn.371 from PCT Application No. PCT/GB99/00833, filed in English on Mar. 29, 1999, which claims the benefit of Great Britain Application Serial No. 9806632.7 filed on Mar. 28, 1998, and also claims the benefit of Great Britain Application Serial No. 0008903.7 filed on Apr. 12, 2000, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to a peptide factor isolated from steroid-treated monocytes. More particularly the invention relates to a peptide factor which can be used to replace steroid therapy. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [0003] Steroids are effectively used for anti-inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, eczema, allergic reactions, and rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, steroids have serious side effects and are therefore only used in cases where non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are not effective. [0004] Monocytes are important immune effector cells that play a fundamental role in cellular immunity. In addition to their antigen-presenting and phagocytic activities at the sites of inflammation, peripheral blood mononuclear cells are also involved in the synthesis and release of a variety of pro-inflammatory enzymes and polypeptide cytokines which modulate neutrophil responses. The production of these components can be suppressed by glucocorticoids and this has been suggested as the basis for their anti-inflammatory action. [0005] The effect of steroid-induced factors on neutrophil migration is primarily of interest in elucidating anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Corticosteroids down regulate the synthesis of many pro-inflammatory mediators (Lew et al 1988; Almawi et al 1991; Standford et al 1992) but some of their actions can be interpreted in terms of up-regulation of anti-inflammatory mediators. [0006] The neutrophil migration stimulating activity of steroid induced factors suggests that dispersive locomotion tends to prevent cells collecting at a focus and this may be important in terminating inflammatory responses. [0007] Stevenson (1973, 1974, 1978) demonstrated that human monocytes when incubated in the presence of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids released a protease sensitive factor that enhanced the migration of neutrophils from a cell pellet contained in a short capillary tube. [0008] Later studies demonstrated that the phenomenon of stimulated neutrophil migration was also observed with leucocytes from patients receiving steroid therapy. [0009] Recently, Chettibi et al (1993, 1994) have investigated the steroid induced stimulatory effect on neutrophil migration using an automated cell tracking assay enabling study of the behaviour of cells migrating on protein-coated glass coverslip. [0010] These studies determined: [0011] 1. Steroid-treated monocyte supernatant (STMS) causes a dramatic increase in the speed of locomotion of human neutrophils and a significant decrease in their adhesion to protein-coated glass. In contrast, control monocyte supernatants have a smaller effect on the speed of locomotion, but cause a large increase in adhesiveness. [0012] 2. The supernatant activity was produced equally well in the presence or absence of serum after 24 h culture at 37.degree. C. with 10.sup.-6M dexamethasone. [0013] 3. The effect of the steroid-treated monocyte supernatant on the speed of locomotion of human peripheral blood neutrophils was not altered by rabbit polyclonal antisera against lipocortins 1-6. [0014] 4. Rabbit anti-interleukin-8 antibody which blocked the effect of IL-8 on the speed of locomotion of neutrophils did not antagonize the locomotion stimulating action of steroid-treated monocyte supernatant. [0015] 5. The exocellular release of this factor(s) by human mononuclear leucocytes suggests that it may be an in vivo mediator of the anti-inflammatory effect of glucocorticoids. [0016] However, there is no disclosure of what the active agent(s) in STMS might be. [0017] Huff T. et al. (1995) and Heintz D. et al. (1994) describe studies involving beta-thymosins and how they interact with G-actin in a biomolecular complex and inhibit the polymerisation to F-actin under high salt conditions. The oxidised form of thymosin .beta.4 is disclosed as inhibiting actin polymerisation, however, only at a 20-fold higher concentration than thymosin .beta.4. Neither document however implicates any medical role for oxidised thymosin .beta.4. In fact the papers appear to teach away from a positive role for oxidised thymosin .beta.4. [0018] U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,570 (Goldstein et al.) discloses a method of treating septic shock by administering thymosin .beta.4. There is no disclosure however of oxidised thymosin .beta.4 or suggestion that this may have a role in treating septic shock. [0019] It is an object of the present invention to provide a replacement to steroid therapy. [0020] The present invention is based in part on the observations by the present inventors that the factor associated with neutrophil locomotion is an oxidised form of thymosin .beta.4. [0021] According to a first aspect the present invention provides use of oxidised thymosin .beta.4 or physiologically active variant thereof in therapy. Continue reading about Peptide factor... Full patent description for Peptide factor Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Peptide factor patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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