HK1228253A1 - Composition for treating and preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition for treating and preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia, and a method for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia using same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a composition comprising telomerase-derived peptides for effectively treating and preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia and a method for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia using same. The composition comprising the peptide according to the present invention exhibits excellent effectiveness in treating and preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Description

Composition for treating and preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a composition for the treatment and prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia. More specifically, the present invention relates to a composition comprising a peptide derived from telomerase and the composition is useful for the treatment and prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Background

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common disease in the elderly in men, with lower urinary tract symptoms. The associated symptoms appear from the age of 40, but most clinical symptoms appear later in the age of more than 50. BPH can cause sexual dysfunction due to a decrease in quality of life, and treatment and surgery for BPH can affect sexual function.

BPH, which causes hyperplasia, is androgen dependent. In particular, androgens are required to suppress normal cell proliferation and normal apoptosis of the prostate. The most well known cause is aging. The prostate becomes enlarged due to aging and normal testicular function. Testosterone, as a prostate-dependent androgen, plays an important role in the growth and differentiation of the prostate, and is metabolized by 5 α -reductase to produce Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which plays an important role in prostate growth and expression of prostate genes.

As external factors causing the prostate growth, there are androgen, estrogen, glucocorticoid and a substance related to endocrine enzyme, which are induced by diet and environment. The physiological effects of these exogenous factors arise via a variety of growth factor peptides.

BPH occurs in the early 20's to late 40's, which is caused by histological changes when androgen and estrogen act synergistically to cause BPH. With age, the estrogen/DHT ratio increases, followed by an increase in BPH.

Meanwhile, it is well known that prostate growth is until the early 20 years of age, and its size is maintained until the age of 50, which relies on very complex interactions such as endogenous growth factors, signaling pathways, cell cycle regulation, cell division and apoptosis that keep the prostate in its equilibrium. If the cell cycle regulators are transformed, BPH may be induced.

Genetic factors are one of the major factors affecting BPH. Patients with a family history of BPH reportedly show an increase in BPH of more than 60%, while treatment with 5 α -reductase inhibitors has also been reported to be less effective in patients with a family history of BPH. The reason for this is that BPH is dependent on an androgen-independent pathway in this case.

For treatment of BPH, surgery and drug therapy may be used. For drug treatment, drug administration is adjusted according to the age and clinical course of the patient. Recently, a large number of BPH patients have remarkably increased in korea and worldwide and the prevalence of young patients is also increasing. A large number of drugs are used for therapy but their use is limited due to side effects.

Sulpiride (sulpiride) is a type 2 dopamine receptor antagonist, which is commonly used as a drug for the treatment of depression. Dopamine is an intermediate produced during the synthesis of epinephrine and norepinephrine, and is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Sulpiride inhibits dopamine binding to its receptor, which inhibits prolactin secretion as a dopaminergic effect, and increases the concentration of prolactin in blood. Prolactin increased by continuous administration of sulpiride causes hyperprolactinemia.

Prolactin has been reported to be involved in the proliferation of the prostate, the development and regulation of prostate cancer and BPH. Prolactin is also known to increase prostate proliferation in conjunction with androgens. As another mechanism, prolactin is also known as a stress hormone to increase the expression of 5 α -reductase and induce hyperplasia of the prostate. Prolactin is a nonsteroidal factor that is associated with hyperplasia of the prostate and induction of BPH. With age, prolactin increases and testosterone levels decrease. Prolactin is reported to induce BPH in the elderly. Prolactin has been reported to be associated with hyperplasia and differentiation of the prostate gland in rats and humans. According to this report, prolactin is thought to be induced by receptors through signaling pathways.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

KR 2011-0062943 A

KR 2011-0057049 A

EP 1020190 A3

Non-patent document

MCCONNELL, John D., et al, "The effect of precision on The roof of acid urea and The need for a cosmetic treatment, mean with benign positive hyperplastic", New England Journal of Medicine, 1998, volume 338, No. 9, page 557-.

Detailed Description

Technical problem

Accordingly, the present inventors have attempted to develop a composition for the treatment and prevention of BPH, which has minimal side effects and excellent therapeutic effects, and have completed the present invention.

The present inventors have found that a peptide derived from telomerase can have excellent effects for the treatment and prevention of BPH and completed the present invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition that is effective in the treatment and prevention of BPH.

Technical scheme

In order to solve the above technical problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a composition for treating and preventing BPH comprising a peptide or a fragment of a peptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 (hereinafter, "PEP 1", "GV 1001", or "GV") or a sequence having 80% or more homology with SEQ ID NO: 1.

In the composition for treating and preventing BPH according to the present invention, the fragment may include 3 or more amino acids.

In the composition for treating and preventing BPH according to the present invention, the peptide may be included at a concentration of 0.01mg to 1mg, preferably 0.56mg (4nmol peptide/kg body weight).

In the composition for treating and preventing BPH according to the present invention, the composition may be a pharmaceutical composition.

In the composition for treating and preventing BPH according to the present invention, the composition may be a food composition.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for treating and preventing BPH by administering a composition for treating and preventing BPH to a subject in need thereof.

In the method for treating and preventing BPH according to the present invention, the administration of the composition may be performed 3 times a week.

Effects of the invention

The composition according to the present invention, which comprises a peptide having the sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 or a peptide having a sequence having 80% or more homology with SEQ ID NO. 1, has excellent effects and less side effects on the treatment and prevention of BPH.

Description of the drawings

Fig. 1 shows a photograph of a process of removing a target organ to measure its weight.

Fig. 2 shows an electrophoresis photograph in experiments verifying the therapeutic effect of PEP1 on BPH, which shows the results of the effect on 5 α -reductase expression in the ventral prostate of each experimental group by using RT-PCR.

Fig. 3 shows a graph showing the results of seminal vesicle weight measured in each experimental group in experiments verifying the therapeutic effect of PEP1 on BPH.

Fig. 4 shows a graph showing the results of prostate weight measured in each experimental group in experiments verifying the therapeutic effect of PEP1 on BPH.

FIG. 5 shows a graph showing the amount of cell proliferation after treatment with PEP1 in a stromal cell line (WPMY-1) of a BPH-induced animal model.

FIG. 6 shows graphs showing the amount of cell proliferation after treatment with PEP1 in an epithelial cell line (RWPE-1) in a BPH-induced animal model.

Fig. 7 shows a graph showing measurement of binding ability of PEP1 to androgen receptor by using PEP1-FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) conjugate in a stromal cell line (WPMY-1) of BPH induced animal model.

FIG. 8 shows a graph showing measurement of binding ability of PEP1 to androgen receptor by using PEP1-FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) conjugate in epidermal cell line (RWPE-1) of BPH-induced animal model.

FIG. 9 shows an electrophoretogram showing the effect of PEP1 on PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) expression, which was increased in the BPH-induced model.

Fig. 10 shows a photograph of an immunostaining showing the effect of PEP1 on Ki67(MK67) expression, which Ki67 expression was increased in a BPH-induced model when BPH was induced.

Fig. 11 is a photograph showing the results of showing the effect of PEP1 on BPH tissue-associated cells by the H & E staining method in an experiment of BPH animal model.

Fig. 12 is a photograph showing the results of showing the effect of PEP1 on BPH tissue-associated cells by Masson trichrome staining method in an experiment in BPH animal model.

Figure 13 shows a graph showing the change in body weight of the animals in an experiment to determine the effect of PEP1 in BPH animal models.

Figure 14 shows a graph showing the change in prostate weight of BPH animal models in experiments determining the effect of PEP1 in the animal models.

Figure 15 shows a graph showing the change in seminal vesicle weight in the animals in experiments determining the effect of PEP1 in BPH animal models.

Best mode for carrying out the invention

The invention is described in more detail below, since it can be used in a variety of fields of application and with numerous variations. However, this is not meant to limit the form of practical application; it should be understood that the subject matter is intended to include the concepts and the technical degree in all modifications, equivalents, or alternatives. In the description of the present invention, if any detailed description about the prior art is considered to undermine the basic principle of the present invention, the description is omitted.

Telomeres are known as repetitive sequences of genetic material found at the ends of chromosomes, which prevent chromosome damage or incorporation into other chromosomes. The length of telomeres is shortened at each cell division, and after a certain number of cell divisions, the telomere length is so shortened that the cells stop dividing and die. On the other hand, extension of telomeres is known to extend cell life. For example, cancer cells make an enzyme called telomerase, which prevents shortening of telomeres, thus leading to the proliferation of cancer cells. The inventors of the present invention identified a peptide derived from telomerase, which is effective in the treatment and prevention of BPH and completed the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the peptide of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1, the peptide fragment of the above-mentioned peptide, or the peptide having a sequence homology of 80% or more with the amino acid sequence of the above-mentioned peptide includes telomerase, particularly telomerase derived from human. The peptides disclosed herein can include peptides or fragments thereof comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% sequence homology to the peptide of SEQ ID No. 1. Additionally, the peptides disclosed herein can include peptides that differ from SEQ ID No. 1 or fragments thereof by at least 1 amino acid, at least 2 amino acids, at least 3 amino acids, at least 4 amino acids, at least 5 converted amino acids, at least 6 converted amino acids, or at least 7 amino acids.

In one embodiment of the invention, the change in amino acid comprises a modification of the physical and chemical properties of the peptide. For example, amino acid modifications can be made to improve the thermostability, change the substrate specificity, and change the optimal pH of the peptide.

The term "amino acid" herein includes not only the 22 standard amino acids that naturally constitute the peptide, but also the D-isomers and modified amino acids. Thus, in a particular embodiment of the invention, the peptides herein include peptides having D-amino acids. In another aspect, the peptide can include non-standard amino acids, such as those that are post-translationally modified. Examples of post-translational modifications include phosphorylation, glycosylation, acylation (including acetylation, myristoylation, palmitoylation), alkylation, carboxylation, hydroxylation, glycation, biotinylation, ubiquitination, modifications of chemical nature (e.g., β -elimination deamidation, deamidation), and structural modifications (e.g., formation of disulfide bonds). Meanwhile, the changes in amino acids include changes in amino acids occurring due to chemical reactions during binding with a cross-linking agent for forming a peptide conjugate, such as changes in amino groups, carboxyl groups, and side chains.

The peptides disclosed herein can be wild-type peptides identified and isolated from natural sources. On the other hand, the peptides disclosed herein may be artificial variants comprising one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions when compared to seq id No. 1 or a fragment thereof. Amino acid changes in a wild-type polypeptide (not only artificial variants) include folding of the protein and/or conservative substitutions of amino acids that do not significantly affect activity. Examples of conservative substitutions may be within the following groups: basic amino acids (arginine, lysine and histidine), acidic amino acids (glutamic acid and aspartic acid), polar amino acids (glutamine and asparagine), hydrophobic amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, valine and methionine), aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine) and small amino acids (glycine, alanine, serine and threonine). Amino acid substitutions that do not generally alter a particular activity are known in the art. The most frequently occurring transformations are Ala/Ser, Val/Ile, Asp/Glu, Thr/Ser, Ala/Gly, Ala/Thr, Ser/Asn, Ala/Val, Ser/Gly, Tyr/Phe, Ala/Pro, Lys/Arg, Asp/Asn, Leu/Ile, Leu/Val, Ala/Glu and Asp/Gly, and the inversions thereof. Other examples of conservative substitutions are shown in table 1 below:

[ Table 1]

Original amino acid	Examples of residue substitutions	Preferred residue substitutions
			Ala(A)	val；leu；ile	Val
Arg(R)	lys；gln；asn	Lys
			Asn(N)	gln；his；asp，lys；arg	Gln
Asp(D)	glu；asn	Glu
			Cys(C)	ser；ala	Ser
Gln(Q)	asn；glu	Asn
			Glu(E)	asp；gln	Asp
Gly(G)	Ala	Ala
			His(H)	asn；gln；lys；arg	Arg
Ile(I)	leu; val; met; ala; phe; norleucine	Leu
			Leu(L)	norleucine；ile；val；met；ala；phe	Ile
Lys(K)	arg；gln；asn	Arg
			Met(M)	leu；phe；ile	Leu
Phe(F)	leu；val；ile；ala；tyr	Tyr
			Pro(P)	Ala	Ala
Ser(S)	thr	Thr
			Thr(T)	Ser	Ser
Trp(W)	tyr；phe	Tyr
			Tyr(Y)	trp；phe；thr；ser	Phe
Val(V)	ile; leu; met; phe; ala; norleucine	Leu

A significant transformation of the biological properties of the peptide is performed by selecting for significantly different substitutions among the following efficacies: (a) the efficacy of maintaining the structure of the polypeptide backbone (e.g., a sheet-like or helical three-dimensional structure) at the substitution region, (b) the efficacy of maintaining the charge or hydrophobicity of the molecule at the target region, or (c) the efficacy of maintaining the volume of the side chain. Natural residues are divided into the following groups by general side chain properties:

(1) hydrophobicity norleucine, met, ala, val, leu, ile;

(2) neutral hydrophilicity cys, ser, thr;

(3) acid, asp, glu;

(4) basic asn, gln, his, lys, arg;

(5) residues affecting chain orientation gly, pro; and

(6) aromatic, trp, tyr, phe.

Non-conservative substitutions may be made by exchanging members of the above-mentioned class groups for members of a different group. Any cysteine residue not associated with maintaining a suitable three-dimensional structure of the peptide may typically be substituted with serine, thereby increasing the oxidative stability of the molecule and avoiding inappropriate cross-linking. In contrast, an improvement in stability can be obtained by adding a cysteine bond to the peptide.

Amino acid variants of another type of peptide are those with altered glycosylation patterns of the peptide. The term "altering" herein means deleting at least one sugar residue present in the peptide and/or adding at least one glycosylated residue not present in the peptide.

Glycosylation of peptides is typically either N-linked or O-linked. The term "N-linked" as used herein refers to the attachment of a sugar residue to the side chain of an asparagine residue. As tripeptide sequences, asparagine-X-serine and asparagine-X-threonine (where X is any amino acid except proline) are recognition sequences for enzymatically attaching sugar residues to asparagine side chains. Thus, a potential glycosylation site is created when one of such tripeptide sequences is present in a polypeptide. "O-linked glycosylation" means that one of N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose, or xylose, which is a sugar, is linked to a hydroxyamino acid. The hydroxyamino acid is most typically serine or threonine, but 5-hydroxyproline or 5-hydroxylysine may also be used.

By altering the amino acid sequence to include the tripeptide sequences described above (for N-linked glycosylation sites), glycosylation sites for the polypeptide can be conveniently added. The change may be made by adding at least one residue from serine or threonine to the first antibody sequence or by substitution with these residues (for O-linked glycosylation sites).

Meanwhile, the peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1, the peptide comprising the amino acid sequence having more than 80% homology with the above sequence, or the fragment of the above peptide according to the present invention has advantages of low toxicity and high stability in a living material. SEQ ID No. 1 as used herein is a peptide consisting of 16 amino acids derived from telomerase.

SEQ ID NO:1EARPALLTSRLRFIPK

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a composition for treating and preventing BPH, comprising a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1, a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence having more than 80% homology with the above sequence, or a fragment of the above peptide.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the composition may have applications to all animals including human, dog, chicken, pig, cow, sheep, guinea pig and monkey.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition for treating and preventing BPH, comprising a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1, a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence having more than 80% homology with the above sequence, or a fragment of the above peptide. In one embodiment of the present invention, the pharmaceutical composition may be administered by oral, rectal, transdermal, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intramedullary, epidural, or subcutaneous routes.

The form of oral administration may be, but is not limited to: tablets, pills, soft or hard capsules, granules, powders, solutions or emulsions. The form of non-oral administration may be, but is not limited to: injections, drops, lotions, ointments, gels, creams, suspensions, emulsions, suppositories, patches or sprays.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the pharmaceutical composition may contain additives such as diluents, excipients, lubricants, binders, disintegrants, buffers, dispersants, surfactants, colorants, aromatics or sweeteners, as necessary. In one embodiment of the present invention, the pharmaceutical composition may be manufactured by conventional industrial methods in the art.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the dose of the active ingredient of the pharmaceutical composition may vary according to the age, sex, body weight, pathology and condition of the patient, administration route or the judgment of the prescriber. Dosages according to such factors may be determined within the level of skill in the art, and daily dosages may be, for example, but are not limited to: 0.01. mu.g/kg/day to 10 g/kg/day, particularly 0.1. mu.g/kg/day to 1 mg/kg/day, more particularly 1. mu.g/kg/day to 0.1 g/kg/day, more particularly 1. mu.g/kg/day to 10 mg/kg/day, preferably 1. mu.g/kg/day to 1 mg/kg/day, preferably 0.005 mg/kg/day to 0.05 mg/kg/day, most preferably 0.01 mg/kg/day, but it may be adjusted if it is different depending on the effect of the dose to be administered. For adults, a preferred dose of administration is 0.1mg to 1mg, preferably 0.4mg to 0.6mg, especially the most preferred dose is 0.56 mg.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the pharmaceutical composition may be administered, but is not limited to, 1 to 3 times per day.

In one embodiment of the invention, the composition may comprise 0.01g/L to 1kg/L, particularly 0.1g/L to 100g/L, more particularly 1g/L to 10g/L of a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of at least one of SEQ ID NO 1, a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% homology to the above sequence, or a fragment of the above sequence. When the content of the peptide is within the above range, both safety and stability of the composition can be satisfied, and the range is suitable in terms of cost efficiency.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a food composition for treating and preventing BPH, comprising a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1, a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence having more than 80% homology with the above sequence, or a fragment of the above peptide.

In one embodiment of the invention, the food composition is not limited to a particular form, but may be, for example, in the form of tablets, granules, powders, liquids and solids. Each form can be formed by selecting an appropriate ingredient commonly used in the industry, in addition to the active ingredient, by one skilled in the art, and can produce a synergistic effect in combination with other ingredients.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. No number preceding a term is intended to be limiting in number, but rather indicates that more than one of the term can be used. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended (i.e., "including, but not limited to").

Numerical values are mentioned as ranges only because of the ease of describing the ranges than individual numbers. Unless otherwise indicated, each individual numerical value is understood to be separately described and incorporated into the specification. All ranges of thresholds are included and may be independently combined.

All methods described herein are performed in an appropriate order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of "any and all embodiments" or exemplary language (e.g., "such as," e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended to more clearly describe the invention and does not limit the scope of the invention unless it is included in the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the invention. Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

Preferred embodiments of this invention include the best mode known to the inventors. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, the present invention includes equivalents, modifications and variations of the inventive subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, all possible variations in any combination of the above-described elements is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

For establishing the embodiments of the invention

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail by examples and test examples. However, the following examples and test examples are for illustrative purposes only, and it is apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the examples and test examples.

Example 1 Synthesis of peptides

The peptide of SEQ ID NO. 1 was synthesized according to a conventionally known method of solid phase peptide synthesis. More specifically, the peptides were synthesized by coupling each amino acid from the C-terminus by Fmoc Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS) using ASP48S (Peptron, inc. Those peptides whose first amino acid was linked to the resin at the C-terminus were used as follows:

NH2-Lys (Boc) -2-chlorotrityl resin

NH 2-Ala-2-chlorotrityl resin

NH2-Arg (Pbf) -2-chlorotrityl resin

All amino acids used to synthesize the peptide were protected at the N-terminus by Fmoc, and the amino acid residues were protected by Trt, Boc, t-Bu (t-butyl ester), Pbf (2,2,4,6, 7-pentamethyldihydrobenzofuran-5-sulfonyl) which was soluble in acid. Examples include the following:

Fmoc-Ala-OH, Fmoc-Arg (Pbf) -OH, Fmoc-Glu (OtBu) -OH, Fmoc-Pro-OH, Fmoc-Leu-OH, Fmoc-Ile-OH, Fmoc-Phe-OH, Fmoc-Ser (tBu) -OH, Fmoc-Thr (tBu) -OH, Fmoc-Lys (Boc) -OH, Fmoc-Gln (Trt) -OH, Fmoc-Trp (Boc) -OH, Fmoc-Met-OH, Fmoc-Asn (Trt) -OH, Fmoc-Tyr (tBu) -OH, Fmoc-Ahx-OH, Trt-thioglycolic acid.

HBTU [2- (1H-benzotriazol-1-yl) -1,1,3, 3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate was used as a coupling reagent]HOBt [ N-hydroxybenzotriazole]/NMM 4-methylmorpholine]. Piperidine solution in 20% DMF was used to remove Fmoc. To remove the protecting group from the residue or to separate the synthesized peptide from the resin, a cleavage mixture [ TFA (trifluoroacetic acid)/TIS (triisopropylsilane)/H₂O＝92.5/2.5/2.5]。

The synthesis of the peptide was performed by using a solid phase scaffold and the following procedure was repeated: starting with amino acid protection, isolation reaction of each amino acid, washing with solvent and deprotection. Each peptide was synthesized by using a solid phase scaffold to bind to the starting amino acid with an amino acid protecting group, reacting the corresponding amino acid separately, washing with a solvent and deprotecting, and repeating the process. After release from the resin, the synthesized peptide was purified by HPLC, verified by mass spectrometry, lyophilized, verified by MS for synthesis, and then lyophilized.

The purity of the prepared peptide was found to be 95% or more by high performance liquid chromatography.

The specific synthesis of PEP1 can be as follows:

1) coupling of

By NH₂-lys (boc) -2-chlorotrityl resin protected amino acid (8 eq) was mixed with HBTU (8 eq)/HOBt (8 eq)/NMM (16 eq) as coupling reagent melted in DMF and incubated for 2 h at Room Temperature (RT). After incubation, the reaction mixture was washed sequentially with DMF, MeOH and DMF.

2) Fmoc deprotection

Piperidine solution in 20% DMF was added and incubated at RT for 5 minutes, 2 times, then sequentially washed with DMF, MeOH, and DMF.

3) Production of the basic framework of the peptide, NH, by repetition of reactions 1) and 2) above₂-E (OtBu) -A-R (Pbf) -P-A-L-L-T (tBu) -S (tBu) -R (Pbf) L-R (Pbf) -F-I-P-K (Boc) -2-chlorotrityl resin.

4) Cleavage the peptide is cleaved from the resin by adding a cleavage mixture to the peptide whose synthesis is completed.

5) Precooled ether was added to the resulting mixture, which was then centrifuged to precipitate the collected peptide.

6) After purification by Prep-HPLC, molecular weight was confirmed by LC/MS, and lyophilized to be manufactured into powder form.

Example 2 Effect of PEP1 on BPH was verified by experiments using BPH-induced animal models

Preparation of BPH-induced animal model

1) As an androgen, testosterone is the most commonly used in vivo hormone. The most potent hormone of androgens associated with prostate development, however, is 5 α -Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is produced by binding testosterone to 5 α -reductase. In rats, when sulpiride is administered at a concentration of 40mg/kg for 30 days, it inhibits type 2 dopamine receptors in vivo to increase the concentration of prolactin and induces hyperprolactinemia to activate 5 α -reductase, and it shows synergistic effects by reacting with testosterone. DHT produced by hyperprolactinemia is reported to produce more weight gain in the lateral lobes of the prostate than in the dorsal or ventral lobes. Based on this fact, experiments using PEP1 according to example 1 alone or co-administered with other test materials to BPH-induced animal models were performed as follows. Mature Sprague-Dawley male rats (6 weeks old) were purchased from Jae-il experimental animal centers and housed for one week (7 weeks old, 49 days) for purification prior to use in the experiment. To induce BPH, sulpiride (40mg/kg) was orally administered once a day for 30 days. The results of the previous experiment were followed for each experiment (Van Coppenolle et al, 2001). Each animal began application of the test material 10 am. After application of the test material, each animal was observed daily for general status and specific symptoms. The body weight of each animal was measured and recorded prior to the concurrent administration of the test materials.

2) Applied test materials and dosages

Sulpiride as a test material was purchased from Sigma Chemical co. (st. louis, MO, usa) and used in experiments. The present inventors administered sulpiride (40mg/kg) by once daily continuous intraperitoneal injection for 60 days to induce BPH by hyperprolactinemia. Prior to each application of the test material, sulpiride was first dissolved in a 0.1N HCl solution and then neutralized to pH 7.0 by using a 0.1N NaOH solution. For the combination group, PEP1 according to example 1 and finasteride were administered by intraperitoneal injection after the administration of sulpiride. PEP1(0.01mg/kg, 0.1mg/kg, 1mg/kg and 10mg/kg) was freshly prepared before use and administered by subcutaneous injection. Finasteride is prepared daily using 15% ethanol/corn oil (v/v) as the carrier. The dose administered was calculated based on a concentration of 0.5ml/kg, in response to the body weight measured daily. Administration to 7 groups was done following table 2 below to verify the effect of PEP1 on BPH.

[ Table 2]

(i.p. intraperitoneal, s.c. subcutaneous)

1) For the BPH-induced model, following the experiment with PEP1 and test materials, animal organs were collected, stored and their weights measured

After 60 days of 24 hours from the administration of the test material, all animals were anesthetized by ether and then separated into serum from blood collected from the abdominal aorta. The separated serum was stored at-80 ℃ for hormone analysis.

For all animals, accessory gonads such as glans penis (Gp), seminal vesicle and coagulated gland (SV), Ventral Prostate (VP), bulbar urethra (CpG), levator ani and bulbocavernosus musculus (LABC) were sequentially isolated from animals after testing the exit of preputial separation (PPS). The detailed procedure for isolation follows the OECD protocol.

As mentioned in fig. 1, for separating Gp, the Gp segment is clamped and the circumcision line is cut off by using forceps. As mentioned in fig. 1, for the lung, after separating the bladder from the abdominal muscle layer, the left and right leaflets of the lung covered by the lipid layer are exposed, the bladder is exposed to SV, lipids are separated from the left and right leaflets of the lung by using forceps, the left leaflet of the lung is cut off from the urethra by using poking-off with micro-forceps, and the right leaflet of the lung is cut off after being exposed from the urethra by using surgical forceps. As mentioned in fig. 1, for SVs containing coagulated glands, a paper towel was prepared under the SV to classify the muscle, lipid layers and glands. The base of the SV, which contains the seminal tubules connected to the urethra, is secured by using a clip to prevent leakage during the removal of the seminal vesicle. After removal of the lipid, the relevant accessory organs were cleaned, the clamps were removed and the seminal vesicles were placed on the disc to measure their weight.

2) Effect of PEP1 administration on 5 alpha-reductase expression in a BPH-induced animal test model

After 60 days of administration of sulpiride and test material and collection of the ventral prostate, its effect on 5 α -reductase expression was determined by RT-PCR. Specifically, total RNA was isolated from the ventral prostate (25mg) and resuspended by addition of DEPC-treated water. Thereafter, RNA was quantified by using a spectrophotometer. First strand cDNA was synthesized by the method using Torres and Ortega (2004). The PCR procedure was: denaturation at 94 ℃ (30sec), annealing at 55 ℃ (30sec), extension at 72 ℃ (30sec), and 30 to 35 cycles. Using control GAPDH, quantified in electrophoresis, the expression level was not altered by the use of other drugs. As a result, by administering sulpiride, an increase in the level of 5 α -reductase was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner in the PEP1 administration group, and the inhibition was higher in the high-dose PEP1 administration group (GV10, 10mg PEP1 administration group) than in the finasteride administration group (see fig. 2). PEP1 may therefore provide dose-dependent therapy and enhance its effect on BPH by inhibiting 5 α -reductase.

3) Effect of PEP1 administration on BPH-induced testing of animal model organs

In table 3 below, the peptide PEP1 was reported to affect seminal vesicle weight, prostate weight, and prostate index in each set of experiments. The prostate index described in table 3 was calculated by using the formula "body weight/final prostate weight".

[ Table 3]

The results described in table 3 were converted into pictures, i.e., the results of seminal vesicles were observed after administration of PEP1 and phenacetin (5mg/kg) followed by sulpiride in BPH-induced animal models, which showed a significant reduction in seminal vesicle weight with high dose PEP1 administration (10mg/kg) (see fig. 3). Meanwhile, in BPH-induced animal models, a significant reduction in prostate weight was shown in the case of co-administration of sulpiride and PEP1 (see fig. 4). If the P value is less than 0.05, the significance result is shown.

Thus, by the results of example 2, an animal model of BPH induced by administration of PEP1 to sulpiride can effectively reduce the expression of 5 α -reductase, reduce seminal vesicle weight, and reduce prostate weight in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, administration of PEP1 is effective in treating and improving BPH-related disease symptoms caused by expression of 5 α -reductase and weight of reproductive organs.

Example 3: demonstration of the Effect of PEP1 on BPH by observing the alteration of DHT on prostate stromal and epithelial cells

1) Test cell preparation and Experimental procedures

Testosterone is converted to DHT by 5 α -reductase after injection into the body, which induces prostate cell proliferation to cause bph based on which experiments were performed to observe its effect on prostate cell line proliferation by using the administration of PEP1 in example 1 as cell lines, WPMY-1 (prostate stromal cell line) and RWPE-1 (prostate epithelial cell line) from animal models were used for the experiments WPMY-1(2.5 × 10)³Individual cell) and RWPE-1(1 × 10)⁴Individual cells) were seeded into 96-well plates with different experimental groups as in table 4 to observe proliferation changes. After aspirating the medium, the proliferation change was measured by injecting 10. mu.L of CCK-8 solution per well of the medium, and then measuring the optical density at a wavelength of 450nm for 1 to 4 hours.

2) Confirmation of observations and effects

In the non-DHT treated groups (groups 1-3), there was no significant difference between the absence of PEP1 (group 1) and the presence of PEP1 (groups 2 and 3) in WPMY-1 and RWPE-1. There was a significant difference between the DHT-treated groups (groups 4-6), no PEP1 administered (group 4) and PEP1 administered (groups 5 and 6), and the group treated by PEP1 showed significant inhibition of proliferation (see table 4 and figures 5 and 6). Thus, PEP1 can effectively inhibit the proliferation of prostate cells, which affects DHT-induced BPH.

[ Table 4]

Treatment conditions for each group of cell lines

Example 4: verifying the binding capacity of PEP1 to androgen receptor and the mechanism of inhibiting BPH

1) Preparation of test cells and Experimental procedures

DHT produced by 5 α -reductase promotes the proliferation of prostate cells by binding to androgen receptor and causes BPH. Based on this, experiments were performed to observe its effect on prostate cell line proliferation by using the administration of PEP1 according to example 1. As cell lines, WPMY-1 and RWPE-1 from animal models were used. WPMY-1 and RWPE-1 were classified into an antiandrogen receptor group and an isotype control group, a competition test was performed by placing PEP1-FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) therein, incubating with each antibody, and the results of fluorescence values were measured. Fluorescence values were measured by using a flow cytometry method.

2) Confirmation of observations and effects

For each of WPMY-1 and RWPE-1, fluorescence values were determined for the following cases: one case was first reactive with an anti-androgen receptor isotype control antibody (competition with antibody, rightmost peak), another case was reactive with an anti-androgen receptor antibody (competition with antibody, middle peak), and yet another case was not reactive with two antibodies that both did not bind FITC (leftmost peak) (see fig. 7 and 8). PEP1 bound to the anti-androgen receptor in competition with the anti-androgen receptor isotype control antibody, so the fluorescence value of PEP1-FITC conjugate increased (peak shift to right side of histogram in the figure). In competition with the antiandrogen receptor, PEP1 binds weakly to the antiandrogen receptor, so the fluorescence value decreased (peak shift to left of histogram in the figure). Thus, considering that PEP1 inhibits DHT-induced BPH binding to anti-androgen receptors, PEP1 can affect BPH by directly binding to anti-androgen receptors.

Example 5 validation of PEP1 on BPH in vivo by Using BPH-evoked animal models

1) Preparation of test animals

Male C57BL/6 (n-10/group) mice of 6 to 8 weeks of age were used for the experiments, which were housed in the SPF (specific pathogen free) area of the laboratory animals of the institute of medicine, seoul university. For injection 50mg testosterone enanthate (TE, from EVER Pharma Hena GmbH, germany) and 0.5mg estradiol valerate (from EVER Pharma Hena GmbH, germany) were mixed separately to a volume of 70 μ l of a micro-osmotic pump (Alzet pump, from duretrcorporation, usa) implanted under anesthesia in the back of the mice. The pump was designed to release hormones to mice by using the osmotic phenomenon in 28 days (2 weeks) at a concentration of 0.11 μ l per hour.

2) Test materials and applied dosages

As test materials, testosterone and phenantil were used. Animal models were prepared and each subject (25g mouse model) was administered 250 μ g of PEP1 described in example 1 and 2500 μ g of phenantril (in DMSO or cyclodextrin, purchased from Sigma Aldrich, usa) subcutaneously (by injection) per day, respectively. After 2 weeks of injection of the test material (4 weeks after implantation of the pump to the animal model), blood was collected from the supraorbital vein and centrifuged at 14000rpm for 30 minutes at 4 ℃ to separate serum, and the prostate was extracted and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen at-70 ℃ or fixed in a fixative. The experimental test groups are described in table 5 below.

[ Table 5]

3) Measurement of reduction of factors inducing BPH

Induction of BPH increases PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, an essential protein for replication) and Ki67(MK167, an essential protein for cell proliferation) in prostate tissue. Based on this, tests were performed in a BPH-induced mouse model to determine the effectiveness of PEP1 in inhibiting PCNA and Ki67 expression. PCNA was determined using 2D-gel electrophoresis with proteins extracted from prostate tissue cells and Ki67 was determined by detecting the expression level in the tissue by immunostaining methods. As a result, expression of PCNA and Ki67 was increased in the prostate tissue of BPH-induced animals and decreased in the group treated with PEP1 (see fig. 9 and 10). Thus, PEP1 inhibits BPH-inducing factors and is effective for treating and ameliorating BPH.

4) Measuring changes in tissue associated with induced BPH

BPH is known to be induced by abnormal proliferation of stromal and epithelial cells that make up the prostate gland. Based on this, in order to detect changes caused by PEP1 in prostate tissue of BPH-induced animal models, histological analysis was performed on BPH-induced animal models. Changes in general tissues were detected using the H & E staining method, and inflammatory response levels and the shape of nuclei were more clearly detected using the Masson trichrome staining method. As a result, it was shown that the epithelial layer of the BPH-induced group was thicker than that of the control group, but in the PEP 1-treated group, it was shown that the epithelial layers were arranged in a similar conventional order to that of the control group, and the thickness of the epithelium was thinner than that of the BPH-induced group (see fig. 11 and 12). Thus, PEP1 may be effective in restoring BPH-induced tissue changes and transforming the tissue into normal tissue that does not exhibit BPH.

5) Measuring changes in BPH-related organs

BPH can be detected by changes in prostate and seminal vesicle weight. Based on this, to examine the effect of PEP1 on prostate and seminal vesicle weight (which directly shows BPH-related symptoms), body weight, prostate weight, and seminal vesicle weight were measured in BPH-induced animal models. The measurement results are shown as a graph in table 5 by grouping (see fig. 13, 14 and 15). No change in overall body weight was shown, but a significant reduction in prostate weight was shown in the PEP 1-treated group compared to the hormone-treated group, and the reduction in PEP 1-treated group was comparable to the results of administration of finasteride (a therapeutic drug known as BPH), so this confirmed the significance of the reduction in the PEP 1-treated group. For seminal vesicles, the weight of seminal vesicles was less for the PEP 1-treated group than for the hormone-treated group. Therefore, PEP1 can be effective in significantly reducing the weight of organs with symptoms of BPH.

In all of the above examples, in vitro and in vivo experiments in BPH-induced animal models showed that PEP1 has a good therapeutic effect on BPH-related inducing factors, hormone receptors, and parenchymal reproductive organs. Therefore, PEP1 is considered to be effective for the treatment, amelioration and prevention of BPH, and there is a high possibility that PEP1 is developed as a composition for BPH treatment and a method for treating BPH.

Sequence Listing free text

1132 amino acids of the pan-telomerase sequence

MPRAPRCRAVRSLLRSHYREVLPLATFVRRLGPQGWRLVQRGDPAAFRALVAQCLVCVPWDARPPPAAPSFRQVSCLKELVARVLQRLCERGAKNVLAFGFALLDGARGGPPEAFTTSTRSYLPNTVTDALRGSGAWGLLLRRVGDDVLVHLLARCALFVLVAPSCAYQVCGPPLYQLGAATQARPPPHASGPRRRLGCERAWNHSVEEAGVPLGLPAPGARRRGGSASRSLPLPKRPRRGAAPEPERTPVGQGSWAHPGRTRGPSDRCFCVVSPARPAEEATSLEGALSGTRHSHPSVGRGHHAGPPSTSRPPRPWDTPCPPVYAETKHFLYSSGDKEQLRPSFLLSSLRPSLTGARRLVETIFLGSRPWMPGTPRRLPRLPQRYWQMRPLFLELLGNHAQCPYGVLLKTHCPLRAAVTPAAGVCAREKPQGSVAAPEEEDTDPRRLVQLLRQHSSPWQVYGFVRACLRRLVPPGLWGSRHNERRFLRNTKKFISLGKHAKLSLQELTWKMSVRDCAWLRRSPGVGCVPAAEHRLREEILAKFLHWLMSVYVVELLRSFFYVTETTFQKNRLFFYRKSVWSKLQSIGIRQHLKRVQLRELSEAEVRQHREARPALLTSRLREIPKPDGLRPIVNMDYVVGARTFRREKRAERLTSRVKALFSVLNYERARRPGLLGASVLGLDDIHRAWRTFVLRVRAQDPPPELYFVKVDVTGAYDTIPQDRLTEVIASIIKPQNTYCVRRYAVVQKAAHGHVRKAFKSHVSTLTDLQPYMRQFVAHLQETSPLRDAVVIEQSSSLNEASSGLFDVFLRFMCHHAVRIRGKSYVQCQGIPQGSILSTLLCSLCYGDMENKLFAGIRRDGLLLRLVDDFLLVTPHLTHAKTFLRTLVRGVPEYGCVVNLRKTVVNFPVEDEALGGTAFVQMPAHGLFPWCGLLLDTRTLEVQSDYSSYARTSIRASLTFNRGFKAGRNMRRKLFGVLRLKCHSLFLDLQVNSLQTVCTNIYKILLLQAYRFHACVLQLPFHQQVWKNPTFFLRVISDTASLCYSILKAKNAGMSLGAKGAAGPLPSEAVQWLCHQAFLLKLTRHRVTYVPLLGSLRTAQTQLSRKLPGTTLTALEAAANPALPSDFKTILD

Claims (10)

1. A composition for treating and preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia, wherein the composition comprises a peptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, a peptide having an amino acid sequence with 80% or more homology to the peptide, or a fragment of the amino acid sequence.

2. A composition for treating and preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia, wherein the composition comprises a peptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, a peptide having an amino acid sequence with 80% or more homology to the peptide, or a fragment of the amino acid sequence.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises one or more additives selected from the group consisting of: diluents, excipients, lubricants, binders, disintegrants, buffers, dispersants, surfactants, colorants, fragrances or sweeteners.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises 0.01mg to 1mg of the peptide.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises 0.56mg of the peptide.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is a food composition.

8. A method for the treatment and prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia, wherein the method comprises the step of administering to a subject in need of treatment the composition of any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the composition is administered at 0.005mg/kg to 0.05mg/kg per administration.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the composition is administered every 2 weeks in a total of 12 week period of treatment, wherein the administration is completed on a day of week 0, week 2, week 4, week 6, week 8, week 10 and week 12, and the composition is 0.56mg per administration, which corresponds to 4nmol peptide/kg body weight.