An isolated antiviral peptide is characterized by the amino acid sequence GDEPLENYLDTEYF and a significant in vitro binding affinity for HIV-1 gp 120 and gp 41, and human CD4 cells. The peptide exhibits anti-retroviral activity in vivo, particularly anti-HIV-1 activity.

Description of the Invention

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV-1, eventually causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and an associated syndrome, AIDS-related complex (ARC). Neutralizing this virus has proved difficult, largely because its structure obstructs immune system access to viral epitopes and its genetic material is highly variable. Accordingly, researchers have been seeking prophylactic and therapeutic methods for preventing or controlling HIV which are not dependent upon antibody-mediated immunity.

The HIV retrovirus replicates in certain immune system cells, specifically the CD4+ subset of T-lymphocytes (pre-Th cells arising in the thymus). In the usual course of a cell-mediated immune response to an intracellular pathogen such as a virus, dendritic cells (antigen-presenting cells) carrying antigen fragments and secreted cytokines activate these CD4+ T-cells. Activated cells, called T-helper or Th cells, in turn secrete their own cytokines and stimulate macrophages. CD4+Th cells also propagate cellular immune response by binding chemotactic cytokines (chemokines, CCs) to their CC surface receptors. It is by this route that HIV-1 infection of these cells is enabled because, in addition to binding chemokines, these CC receptors act together with the CD4+ surface glycoprotein as coreceptors for HIV-1 and mediate entry of the virus into the CD4+Th cell. There, the virus usurps the native genetic material for viral replication while destroying cell functions essential for building immunity; the increasing destruction of these cells appears to be responsible for the eventual collapse of the cell-mediated immune system often seen in terminal AIDS patients.

It has been recognized that denying entry into CD4+ cells to the HIV-1 virus could at least slow the progress of the infection and alleviate, if not cure, the disease and/or its symptoms. The complex mechanism by which the virus crosses the cell membrane has been widely investigated. Broadly, the entry of human immunodeficiency virus into, for example, CD4+ Th1 cells (T-helper type 1 cells, is dependent upon a sequential interaction of the gp120/gp41 subunits of the viral envelope glycoprotein gp160 with the CD4+Th1 cell surface glycoprotein and the cell surface receptor CCR5. On binding of gp120 with its cell surface binding sites, a conformational change in the latent gp41 subunit through an intermediate state to an active state is initiated, inducing fusion of the viral and cellular membranes and transport of the virus into the cell (Nature 387:426-30, 1997).

Accordingly, numerous binding experiments have been conducted in an effort to find antiviral ligands that will effectively compete with the HIV-1 for CD4+ gp and/or CCR5 binding sites, or that will preferentially block gp120 and/or gp41 binding domains. In one example, a reported structure (X-ray crystallography) comprising a HIV-1 gp120 core complexed with a two-domain fragment of human CD4 and an antigen-binding fragment of a neutralizing antibody that blocks chemokine-receptor binding, is said to reveal a CD4-gp120 interface, a conserved binding site for the chemokine receptor, evidence for a conformational change on CD4 binding, the nature of a CD4-induced antibody epitope, and specific mechanisms for viral immune evasion, "which should guide efforts to intervene" (Nature 393 (6686):632-1, 1998). Also, it has been shown that inhibition of the change in structure of gp41 from its intermediate to active state with peptides used as competitors for critical cell receptors may reduce viral load, and that while gp120 masks epitopes on the gp41 subunit in its latent state, gp41 may be vulnerable to neutralizing antibodies in its transient or intermediate state (Molecular Membrane Biology 16:3-9, 1999). In another study, disclosed in US Patent Application Publication US 2004/0018639 A1, filed Jan. 3, 2003, published Jan. 29, 2004, by Zhabilov et al., the content of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, a protein designated "Thymus Factor" ("TF") is stated to have the ability to bind to a fragment of HIV-1 gp41 in gel electrophoresis, and that this binding property can be used to assay TF activity or in the treatment of HIV.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Some embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to providing an isolated antiviral peptide characterized by the amino acid sequence GDEPLENYLDTEYF (SEQ ID:NO 1) and a significant in vitro binding affinity for HIV-1 gp 120, gp 41 and human CD4 cells. The peptide has anti-retroviral activity in vivo, particularly anti-HIV-1 activity. The peptide, referred to herein as IPF (Inactivated Pepsinogen Fragment), was isolated from porcine pepsinogen, purified, and irreversibly inactivated for use in HIV-1 prophylactic, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.

Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to providing pharmaceutical compositions comprising IPF and methods for preventing, treating, and diagnosing HIV-1 infections and HIV-1 related conditions such as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and ARC (AIDS Related Complex) with these compositions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Pepsins (of which there are several isozymes) are the principal proteases in gastric secretions of adult mammals. They belong to the family of aspartic proteases and are synthesized and secreted by cells in the gastric mucosa as inactive enzyme-precursors consisting of a signal peptide, an activation peptide and an occluded active enzyme. En route to the lumen of the stomach for protein digestion, the signal peptide is cleaved to yield the inactive proenzyme pepsinogen, which, on exposure to a low gastric pH (<4), cleaves in turn to yield mature, catalytically active pepsin.

Porcine pepsin was one of the first enzymes to be studied, and is perhaps the best-understood aspartic protease. It has 327 amino acid (aa) residues, and a molecular mass of 34kDa (PNAS (U.S.) 70:3437-39 1973). Proteolytic activity of pepsin is at its highest at a pH of about 1.8 to 3.5; it is inactivated at a pH of about 5 and irreversibly inactivated (denatured) at a pH of about 6-7. Owing to their importance, amino acid residues associated with the substrate binding (active) site have been a research focal point. However, it is apparently still not clear how much functional activity, if any, is influenced by the remainder of the peptide.

The family of aspartic proteases (aspartases) is characterized by aspartic acid residues at their active (catalytic) sites. Human pepsin, for example, has two active site aspartate residues (coded "D" or "Asp"). This family also includes the HIV protease (and its numerous variants), comprising two identical chains each having a single active-site aspartate residue. Essential for maturation of the newly synthesized virus, which is expressed as a polyprotein, this protease has become a popular target for researchers attempting to block HIV replication.

The peptide of the present invention, characterized by the amino acid sequence GDEPLENYLDTEYF (-Gly-Asp-Glu-Pro-Leu-Glu-Asn-Tyr-Leu-Asp-Thr-Glu-Tyr-Phe-), has been shown to bind in vitro with the gp41 and gp120 subunits of HIV-1 and human CD4 cells, and is expected to have anti-retroviral activity in vivo, particularly inhibition of HIV-1 entry into human CD4+ cells.

The exemplified peptide was obtained from porcine pepsinogen (FIG. 1, see Original Patent) by isolation from a 45 kDa band of IPF preparation under gel electrophoresis (FIG. 2, Examples hereinbelow, see Original Patent). It can also be derived from pepsinogen from any other source containing this sequence, or from any other peptides or proteins containing this sequence whereby suitable source pepsinogens are readily available commercially. Common laboratory methods and reagents for selectively cleaving intact proteins and for isolating and sequencing the cleaved peptides, such as the Erdman degradation process, may be used. The peptide may also be produced by peptide synthesis, using conventional methods. Moreover, genetically engineered constructs expressing the sequence of interest are generally preferred, although chemical syntheses may also be used. The peptides in the IPF fractions may be isolated and concentrated by any one of several techniques well-known to those skilled in the art, such as ammonium sulfate precipitation. The produced peptide isolate may be purified by standard processes such as gel filtration and RP-HPLC, and inactivated, as discussed supra, by exposure to a neutral-to-alkaline environment of about pH 6.5 or greater or as otherwise known in the art. The peptide may also be alkylated to increase immunogenicity if desired, for example, by the process described for methylation of TF in U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2004/0018639 A1, supra. A HPLC chromatogram of the purified, inactivated IPF product of the invention is shown in FIG. 3 (see Original Patent).

Homologues or analogues of the sequence which conserve at least critical binding site amino acid structures and functions and also conserve any distal structural/functional residues essential for binding activity, as described herein, may be substituted for the IPF of SEQ ID:NO 1. Variants of the sequence, including chemically modified derivatives, having a high sequence similarity will be generally preferred, provided that binding activity is not significantly adversely affected. Residues superfluous to the disclosed function of the peptide of the invention may be deleted or added with the same proviso. Modified sequences may be evaluated for conserved binding activity by, for example, following the binding assays described herein or in the literature. Numerous databanks are accessible for protein sequence analysis, such as those which combine sequence similarity with fold recognition to predict functional equivalents. Binding properties (affinity, specificity, etc.) may also be evaluated by the binding assays described below or other conventional assays, as known in the art.

IPF demonstrates binding in vitro with nonglycolysed fragment 579-601 of the HIV-1 envelope protein gp41 subunit (FIGS. 4 and 8, see Original Patent), with gp120 HIV-1 subunit (FIG. 5, see Original Patent), with human CD4+ cells (FIG. 6, see Original Patent), and with human serum (FIG. 7, see Original Patent) under gel electrophoresis. The spontaneous binding of IPF with the gp41 subunit is a particularly important biological property. Separately, under simple agarose electrophoresis, IPF and gp41 move in opposite directions. However, when they are mixed prior to electrophoresis, gp41 changes direction and takes the direction of IPF. Quantitative analysis showed that the binding capacity ratio of IPF to gp41 was 1:0.66. That is, three molecules of IPF bound two molecules of gp41 to form a complex which may function in vivo as, for example, a superantigen with significant anti-HIV-1 biological activity. Such antigen can be used as a bioassay reagent, in the production of mono- or polyclonal antibodies, in the manufacture of vaccines, and in other applications wherein antigens are conventionally employed. While the mechanism of these binding events is not completely understood at this time, it is contemplated that exposure of HIV-1 to the IPF of the present invention will effectively block gp41 and gp120 domains essential for viral entry into CD4+ cells and inhibit viral infection, in vivo and in vitro. It is also contemplated that the IPF of the present invention will effectively compete with HIV-1 for its CD4+ cell surface binding sites and inhibit virus entry into these cells, in vivo and in vitro. Various in vitro protocols are known in the art for predicting in vivo antiviral activity of compounds for inhibiting replication of HIV, and these protocols may be used in connection with the practice of the present invention. Exemplary art-recognized anti-HIV screening assays are cited in U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,522, issued 9 Feb. 1999 to Boyd et al., including those described in J.Virol.Methods, 33:87-100,1991; J.Natl.Cancer Inst., 81:577-586, 1992; and J.Med.Chem. 35:1978-1986, 1992, and Boyd, M. R., in AIDS Etiology: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention, pp305-319 (Lippincott, 1988, DeVita, V. T., Jr., et al., eds). In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, IPF is used to diagnose viral infection, particularly HIV-1 infection. Bioassays suitable for this purpose are well-known and routine. Typical of these are assays based on competitive binding between, for example, a known amount of a viral protein and a biological sample to be tested for the same viral protein, using an excess of antiviral reagent capable of specifically binding with the known protein, such as an antibody. A mixture of these is incubated and the amount of bound complex calculated and compared to that in a control mixture lacking the sample. The presence, if any, and amount of the viral protein in the sample can then be determined. There are numerous variations on this process, such as sandwich assays, assays with immobilized reagent, assays using labeled reagent (e.g., ELISA, RIA, FIA), and so on. Whatever the variation, whether for detecting or quantifying complex, or for additional reagents, or other modification, they all require a binding agent for the unknown sample. Any of these routine binding assays for quantifying or identifying an unknown sample may thus be used in the practice of the present invention by substituting IPF as the antiviral binding agent for samples to be tested for HIV-1 gp120, gp41, or infected CD4+T- cells.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, IPF is used as a prophylactic or therapeutic to prevent or to treat HIV infections. (Herein the term "HIV infections" refers to AIDS and ARC in addition to viral infection per se unless otherwise noted). For in vivo use, IPF may be prepared for administration by mixing it at the desired degree of purity with a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier suitable for the route of administration, as well-known in the art. Although IPF is desirably administered with an adjuvant in some applications, in situations where a series of IPF doses are administered, boosters with IPF may not require adjuvant. Intramuscular or subcutaneous injections are presently the contemplated route for both therapeutic and prophylactic administration of IPF. However, intravenous delivery, delivery via catheter or other surgical tubing, or other parenteral route may also be used. Alternative routes include oral routes for administering tablets, liquid formulations and the like, as well as inhalation routes. Liquid formulations reconstituted from powder formulations may be utilized. IPF may also be administered via microspheres, liposomes, or other microparticulates, and via delivery systems or sustained release formulations dispersed in certain tissues including blood.

The dosage of IPF administered will depend upon the properties of the formulation employed, e.g., its binding activity and in vivo plasma half-life, the concentration of IPF in the formulation, the administration route, the site and rate of dosage, the clinical tolerance of the patient involved, the patient's condition, and other considerations, as known in the art. Different dosages may be utilized during a series of sequential treatments. The practitioner may administer an initial dose and then boost with relatively smaller doses of IPF. The dosages of IPF may be combined with other HIV antivirals, such as AZT.

The following is an example of a contemplated IPF formulation, dosage and administration schedule:

The patient is administered an intramuscular injection containing 8 mg of IPF (preferably 2 ml of a formulation containing 6 mg/ral of IPF in a pharmaceutically acceptable solution) or 57 .mu.g of IPF protein per kg body weight of the patient. Each treatment course consists of 16 injections, with two injections on consecutive days per week for 8 weeks. Three months after the last injection, if the patient's condition warrants, the treatment regimen is repeated. The treatment regimen may be repeated until satisfactory results are obtained, e.g., a halt or delay in the progress of the infection or disease, an alleviation of the infection or disease, or a cure is obtained. Preferably, in this application, IPF will be formulated with an aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) adjuvant. Aluminum hydroxide is a widely used adjuvant, especially in commercial products such as vaccines. It is well suited for strong antigens. Many sources of aluminum hydroxide are available. The adjuvant is commercially available under the trade name Alhydrogel.RTM. by Accurate Chemical & Scientific Co. of Westbury, N.Y. In one example, the final 1 ml of the final IPF formulation may contain: 4 mg IPF (purity > 96% .+-.0.290); 2.26 mg 0.016M AlPO.sub.4 (or 0.5 mg A1.sup.+3); 4.1 mg 0.004M CH.sub.3COONa; and 12.9 mg C.sub.6H.sub.5O.sub.7 (sodium citrate); pH 6.2. In one regimen, 2 ml of this formulation makes up one vial with the dosage per patient per day being 16 vials. During the regimen, the patient should be monitored to assess the effectiveness of the regimen. CD+4 cell counts are useful and common methodology for evaluating HIV infection, as are assays for antibody or T-cell titers.

Claim 1 of 7 Claims

1. An isolated peptide with antiviral efficacy consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, said peptide having substantial in vitro binding affinity for human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), gp 120, HIV-1 gp 41 and HIV-1 infected human CD4 cells.

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