[go: up one dir, main page]

US20210009648A1 - Peptides for treatment of diabetes - Google Patents

Peptides for treatment of diabetes Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20210009648A1
US20210009648A1 US17/022,526 US202017022526A US2021009648A1 US 20210009648 A1 US20210009648 A1 US 20210009648A1 US 202017022526 A US202017022526 A US 202017022526A US 2021009648 A1 US2021009648 A1 US 2021009648A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
seq
peptide
agent
fol
amino acid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US17/022,526
Inventor
Jan Alenfall
Pontus Dunér
Anna Hultgårdh Nilsson
Björn Walse
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Follicum AB
Original Assignee
Follicum AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Follicum AB filed Critical Follicum AB
Priority to US17/022,526 priority Critical patent/US20210009648A1/en
Assigned to FOLLICUM AB reassignment FOLLICUM AB ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: Walse, Björn , DUNÉR, Pontus, NILSSON, Anna Hultgårdh, ALENFALL, JAN
Publication of US20210009648A1 publication Critical patent/US20210009648A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • A61K38/04—Peptides having up to 20 amino acids in a fully defined sequence; Derivatives thereof
    • A61K38/10—Peptides having 12 to 20 amino acids
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • A61K38/04—Peptides having up to 20 amino acids in a fully defined sequence; Derivatives thereof
    • A61K38/12—Cyclic peptides, e.g. bacitracins; Polymyxins; Gramicidins S, C; Tyrocidins A, B or C
    • 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
    • A61K38/164—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria
    • 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
    • A61K38/17—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • A61K38/1703—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
    • A61K38/1709—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
    • 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
    • A61K38/45—Transferases (2)
    • 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
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
    • A61K47/51—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
    • A61K47/54—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an organic compound
    • A61K47/549—Sugars, nucleosides, nucleotides or nucleic acids
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
    • A61K47/51—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
    • A61K47/56—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an organic macromolecular compound, e.g. an oligomeric, polymeric or dendrimeric molecule
    • A61K47/59—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an organic macromolecular compound, e.g. an oligomeric, polymeric or dendrimeric molecule obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyureas or polyurethanes
    • A61K47/60—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an organic macromolecular compound, e.g. an oligomeric, polymeric or dendrimeric molecule obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyureas or polyurethanes the organic macromolecular compound being a polyoxyalkylene oligomer, polymer or dendrimer, e.g. PEG, PPG, PEO or polyglycerol
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
    • A61K47/51—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
    • A61K47/62—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being a protein, peptide or polyamino acid
    • A61K47/64—Drug-peptide, drug-protein or drug-polyamino acid conjugates, i.e. the modifying agent being a peptide, protein or polyamino acid which is covalently bonded or complexed to a therapeutically active agent
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/06—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations
    • A61K49/08—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by the carrier
    • A61K49/10—Organic compounds
    • A61K49/14—Peptides, e.g. proteins
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K51/00—Preparations containing radioactive substances for use in therapy or testing in vivo
    • A61K51/02—Preparations containing radioactive substances for use in therapy or testing in vivo characterised by the carrier, i.e. characterised by the agent or material covalently linked or complexing the radioactive nucleus
    • A61K51/04—Organic compounds
    • A61K51/08—Peptides, e.g. proteins, carriers being peptides, polyamino acids, proteins
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P3/00—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P3/00—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism
    • A61P3/06—Antihyperlipidemics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P3/00—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism
    • A61P3/08—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism for glucose homeostasis
    • A61P3/10—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism for glucose homeostasis for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/001—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof by chemical synthesis
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/195—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria
    • C07K14/305—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria from Micrococcaceae (F)
    • C07K14/31—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from bacteria from Micrococcaceae (F) from Staphylococcus (G)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/46—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
    • C07K14/47—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/46—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
    • C07K14/47—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
    • C07K14/4701—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals not used
    • C07K14/4702—Regulators; Modulating activity
    • C07K14/4705—Regulators; Modulating activity stimulating, promoting or activating activity
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K7/00—Peptides having 5 to 20 amino acids in a fully defined sequence; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K7/04—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links
    • C07K7/08—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links having 12 to 20 amino acids
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N9/00—Enzymes; Proenzymes; Compositions thereof; Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating or purifying enzymes
    • C12N9/10—Transferases (2.)
    • C12N9/1085—Transferases (2.) transferring alkyl or aryl groups other than methyl groups (2.5)
    • C12N9/1088—Glutathione transferase (2.5.1.18)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12Y—ENZYMES
    • C12Y205/00—Transferases transferring alkyl or aryl groups, other than methyl groups (2.5)
    • C12Y205/01—Transferases transferring alkyl or aryl groups, other than methyl groups (2.5) transferring alkyl or aryl groups, other than methyl groups (2.5.1)
    • C12Y205/01018—Glutathione transferase (2.5.1.18)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
    • C07K2319/20—Fusion polypeptide containing a tag with affinity for a non-protein ligand
    • C07K2319/21—Fusion polypeptide containing a tag with affinity for a non-protein ligand containing a His-tag
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
    • C07K2319/20—Fusion polypeptide containing a tag with affinity for a non-protein ligand
    • C07K2319/23—Fusion polypeptide containing a tag with affinity for a non-protein ligand containing a GST-tag
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
    • C07K2319/40—Fusion polypeptide containing a tag for immunodetection, or an epitope for immunisation

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to peptides useful for treatment of diabetes and associated disorders.
  • the peptide hormone insulin which is produced by ⁇ -cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, is released in response to increasing blood glucose levels.
  • glucose is removed from the blood by insulin dependent stimulation of glucose transporters located in the cell membranes of the target tissue, e.g. adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and liver.
  • Insulin exerts its biological effects by binding to and activating the membrane-bound insulin receptor (IR), thereby initiating a cascade of intracellular signalling events, which regulate multiple biological processes such as glucose and lipid metabolism.
  • IR membrane-bound insulin receptor
  • GLP-1 glucagon-like peptide-1
  • GLP-1 is a metabolic hormone that stimulates insulin secretion.
  • GLP-1 is known to increase insulin-sensitivity in both ⁇ - and ⁇ -cells; to increase ⁇ -cell mass and insulin expression, post-translational modification, and secretion; and to decrease glucagon secretion from the pancreas.
  • Other medications used complementary to insulin treatment for the purpose of lowering plasma glucose levels include DPP-IV inhibitors, Metformin, SGLT-2 inhibitors and sulfonylurea.
  • the present inventors have found peptides which stimulate ⁇ -cell proliferation, have the ability to rescue ⁇ -cell from apoptosis induced by glucotoxic conditions, and stimulate insulin secretion from rat INS-1 ⁇ -cells as well as isolated mouse pancreatic islets. Furthermore, the present inventors found that in a glucose tolerance test, the peptides lowered plasma glucose levels in vivo and delayed onset of diabetes disease in BB lyp/lyp rats, a model for type 1 diabetes. Hence, the peptides of the present disclosure are suitable for use in the treatment of endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and disorders.
  • the present disclosure relates to an agent comprising or consisting of:
  • the present disclosure relates to an agent comprising:
  • the present disclosure relates to a composition comprising the agent described herein above.
  • the present disclosure relates to an agent or a composition comprising said agent, for use as a medicament.
  • the present disclosure relates to an agent comprising:
  • the present disclosure concerns a method for treating an endocrine disease a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • the present disclosure concerns the use of an agent as described herein for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an endocrine disease a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease.
  • the present disclosure concerns a method for delaying onset of diabetes, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • the present disclosure concerns a method for decreasing blood glucose levels, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • the present disclosure concerns a method, e.g. an in vitro method, for improving beta cell morphology, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • the present disclosure concerns a method for improving beta cell viability, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • the present disclosure concerns the use of agent described herein for the preparation of a diagnostic composition for the diagnosis of a disease, disorder or damage of the pancreas in an individual.
  • FIG. 1 FOL-005 and FOL-014 induced proliferation of ⁇ -cells
  • FIG. 1A Wells coated with FOL-005 and blocked with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) induced more proliferation of ⁇ -cells compared to only BSA coated control (ctrl) wells ( FIG. 1B ). Wells pre-coated with FOL-014 and blocked with BSA induced more proliferation compared to only BSA coated wells ( FIG. 10 ). Data is presented as counts per minute (CPM) relative unstimulated control (ctrl) cells. Mean ⁇ SD are presented for 10-12 different observations in each group.
  • BSA Bovine Serum Albumin
  • FIG. 2 FOL-005 protected ⁇ -cells against glucotoxicity
  • INS-1 cells incubated during 48 h in 20 mM glucose displayed more apoptotic cells (Annexin V positive) compared to cells incubated at 5 mM glucose.
  • Addition of FOL-005 to cells incubated with 20 mM glucose reduced the level of apoptotic cells compared to 20 mM glucose alone ( FIG. 2A ).
  • Apoptosis measured by caspase-3 activity was increased in INS-1 cells at 20 mM compared to 5 mM glucose.
  • Addition of FOL-005 diminished the rate of glucotoxicity-induced caspse-3 activity ( FIG. 2B ). Mean ⁇ SD are presented for 4-8 different observations in each group.
  • FIG. 3 Insulin secretion was increased from islets and ⁇ -cells following FOL-005 stimulation
  • FOL-005 stimulated ⁇ -cell and islet insulin secretion. Insulin release from INS-1 cells was increased after FOL-005 (6 ⁇ M) stimulation in-non glucose containing media compared to non-stimulated control (ctrl) and to a scrambled control peptide (FOL-015) ( FIG. 3A ). FOL-005 stimulated insulin release from INS-1 at both low (5 mM) and high (20 mM) glucose ( FIG. 3B ). Isolated mouse pancreatic islets stimulated with FOL-005 (6 ⁇ M) or GLP-1 (100 nM) secreted more insulin compared to unstimulated control islets ( FIG. 3C ). Mean ⁇ SD are presented for 5-6 different observations in each group.
  • FIG. 4 Insulin secretion was increased from islets and ⁇ -cells following FOL-014 stimulation
  • FOL-014 stimulated insulin secretion from ⁇ -cells and pancreatic islets.
  • INS-1 cells stimulated with FOL-014 (6 ⁇ M) secreted more insulin compared to unstimulated control cells ( FIG. 4A ).
  • Isolated mouse pancreatic islets stimulated with FOL-014 (6 ⁇ M) secreted more insulin compared to control islets ( FIG. 4B ).
  • FIG. 5 The effect of FOL-014 on insulin secretion was dose dependent. Stimulation of INS-1 cells by increasing doses of FOL-014 resulted in a significant increase in insulin secretion for all concentrations tested. The insulin secretion increased in a linear fashion in the presence of FOL-014 ranging from 0.6 nM to 60 nM. Higher concentrations appeared to result in a less pronounced effect on insulin secretion. Furthermore, FOL-014 induced insulin secretion was comparable to the effect of 100 nM GLP-1. Bars represent mean values and standard error of the mean (SEM).
  • FIG. 6 The effect on insulin secretion of FOL-014 was glucose concentration dependent.
  • the insulin secretion from untreated or FOL-014 exposed INS-1 cells was measured in the presence of increasing glucose concentrations. At glucose levels 5.5 mM or higher, the insulin secretion was significantly higher in the FOL-014 treated cells, as compared to untreated control cells. Bars represent mean values and standard error of the mean (SEM).
  • FIG. 7 FOL-005 and FOL-014 dosed together with native GLP-1 elicited an additive effect on insulin secretion.
  • the insulin release from INS-1 cells was measured following combination treatment of GLP-1 together with FOL-005 and FOL-014 (all three peptides in a concentration of 100 nM), respectively and compared with the effect of each peptide alone.
  • the combination of GLP-1 and FOL-014 significantly increased the insulin secretion as compared with each peptide alone.
  • An increase was also observed for the combination of FOL-005 and GLP-1. Bars represent mean values and standard error of the mean (SEM).
  • FIG. 8 FOL-014 affected insulin and glucagon secretion in pancreatic islets. Two different concentrations of FOL-014 were tested and compared with the effect of 100 nM GLP-1 on isolated mouse islets in low (2.8 mM) (A, C) and high (16.7 mM) (B, D) concentrations of glucose. In the low glucose samples, the presence of FOL-014 did not increase insulin secretion, but reduced glucagon secretion as compared with control and GLP-1. In the high glucose samples, 600 nM FOL-014 and GLP-1, but not 6 ⁇ M FOL-014, significantly increased insulin secretion (B), and GLP-1 as well as both concentrations of FOL-014 efficiently reduced glucagon secretion (D). Bars represent mean values and standard error of the mean (SEM).
  • FIG. 9 FOL-014 lowered plasma glucose levels in vivo following a glucose injection.
  • IPGTT intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test
  • the dotted line corresponds to mean non-fasting glucose levels.
  • Data represents mean values and standard error of the mean (SEM). Statistical analysis was performed using student's t-test.
  • FIG. 10 FOL-014 delayed the onset of type-1 diabetes in BB lyp/lyp rats.
  • BB lyp/lyp rats treated with FOL-014 showed a significant delay in the onset of diabetes defined as plasma glucose ⁇ 11.1 mmol/l.
  • Age of onset of diabetes for each rat was depicted in (A) with a significant difference between untreated and treated groups.
  • the percentage of animals developing type 1 diabetes each day was depicted in (B) with a significant difference between groups. Error bars in (A) represent standard error of the mean (SEM).
  • FIG. 11 The effect on insulin secretion of peptide analogues derived from FOL-005 or FOL-014. Novel peptide analogues were tested in two separate INS-1 cell lines (A and B) for their ability to induce insulin secretion under high glucose (16.7 mM) conditions. The effect was compared with that of native GLP-1, FOL-005 and FOL-014 as well as the effect of high glucose alone. Analogues inducing insulin release below the average of the high glucose control were considered non-functional (not shown). The level of insulin secretion is depicted in black, filled bars for the novel analogues, and in contrasting patterns for the comparators. Bars represent mean values and standard error of the mean (SEM).
  • FIG. 12 FOL-005 and FOL-014 displayed specific distribution patterns following injection in mouse. Following subcutaneous administration of 3 H-FOL-005, the highest overall levels of radioactivity were present in pancreas and at the injection site, 1 hour (A) and 2 hours (B) after injection. Accumulation of the 3 H-FOL-005 is also visible in liver, kidney, salivary glands. Using Pearl Trilogy Small Animal Imaging System in vivo bio-distribution and tissue localization of Cy7.5 labelled FOL-005 (C) and FOL-014 (D) in NMRI nude mice via subcutaneous injection was investigated.
  • the present disclosure concerns a peptide or a peptide analog comprising an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • the present disclosure concerns a peptide or a peptide analog comprising an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • the present disclosure concerns a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • the present disclosure concerns an agent comprising:
  • the present disclosure concerns an agent comprising:
  • the present disclosure concerns a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • the present disclosure concerns a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • the present disclosure concerns a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • absent as used herein, e.g. “X 6 is C, I or absent” is to be understood as that the amino acid residues directly adjacent to the absent amino acid are directly linked to each other by a conventional amide bond.
  • peptide analog refers to a peptide comprising or consisting of a non-naturally occurring peptide.
  • amino acid as used herein includes the standard twenty genetically-encoded amino acids and their corresponding stereoisomers in the D′ form (as compared to the natural 1′ form), omega-amino acids and other naturally-occurring amino acids, unconventional amino acids (e.g., ⁇ , ⁇ -disubstituted amino acids, N-alkyl amino acids, etc.) and chemically derivatized amino acids (see below).
  • amino acid when an amino acid is being specifically enumerated, such as ‘alanine’ or ‘Ala’ or ‘A’, the term refers to both L-alanine and D-alanine unless explicitly stated otherwise.
  • Other unconventional amino acids may also be suitable components for peptides of the present disclosure, as long as the desired functional property is retained by the peptide.
  • each encoded amino acid residue where appropriate, is represented by a single letter designation, corresponding to the trivial name of the conventional amino acid.
  • Chemical derivatives of one or more amino acids may be achieved by reaction with a functional side group.
  • Such derivatives include, for example, those molecules in which free amino groups have been derivatized to form amine hydrochlorides, p-toluene sulphonyl groups, carboxybenzoxy groups, t-butyloxycarbonyl groups, chloroacetyl groups or formyl groups.
  • Free carboxyl groups may be derivatized to form salts, methyl and ethyl esters or other types of esters and hydrazides.
  • Free hydroxyl groups may be derivatized to form O-acyl or O-alkyl derivatives.
  • Also included as chemical derivatives are those peptides which contain naturally occurring amino acid derivatives of the twenty standard amino acids.
  • 4-hydroxyproline may be substituted for proline; 5-hydroxylysine may be substituted for lysine; 3-methylhistidine may be substituted for histidine; homoserine may be substituted for serine and ornithine for lysine.
  • Derivatives also include peptides containing one or more additions or deletions as long as the requisite activity is maintained. Other included modifications are amidation, amino terminal acylation (e.g. acetylation or thioglycolic acid amidation), terminal carboxylamidation (e.g. with ammonia or methylamine), and the like terminal modifications.
  • peptides of the disclosure shares amino acid sequence similarity with a sub-region of naturally occurring osteopontin proteins.
  • said peptide may be regarded as an active fragment of a naturally-occurring osteopontin protein or a variant of such as a fragment.
  • peptides of the disclosure shares amino acid sequence similarity with a sub-region of naturally occurring tenascin proteins.
  • said peptide may be regarded as an active fragment of a naturally-occurring tenascin protein or a variant of such as a fragment.
  • fragment at least 5 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence are included, for example at least 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence.
  • the fragment may be 15 or fewer amino acids in length, for example 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 or 5 amino acids in length
  • said peptide is of no more than no more than 85, such as no more than 80, such as no more than 75, such as no more than 70, such as no more than 65, such as no more than 60, such as nor more than 55, such as no more than 50, such as no more than 55, such as no more than 40 amino acids, such as no more than 35, such as no more than 30, such as no more than 28, such as no more than 26, such as no more than 24, such as no more than 22, such as no more than 20, such as no more than 19, such as no more than 18, such as no more than 17, such as no more than 16, such as no more than 15, such as no more than 14, such as no more than 13, such as no more than 12, such as no more than 11, such as no more than 10 amino acids in length.
  • no more than 80 such as no more than 75, such as no more than 70, such as no more than 65, such as no more than 60, such as nor more than 55, such as no more than 50, such as no more than 55, such as no more than 40 amino acids, such as no
  • said peptide is between 5 and 30 amino acids in length, such as between 5 and 20, such as between 8 and 20, such as between 8 and 16, such as between 10 and 15 amino acids in length.
  • said fragment comprises 15 or fewer amino acids in length, such as fewer than 14 amino acids, such as fewer than 13 amino acids, such as fewer than 12 amino acids, such as fewer than 11 amino acids, such as fewer than 10 amino acids, such as fewer than 9 amino acids, such as fewer than 8 amino acids, such as fewer than 7 amino acids, such as fewer than 6 amino acids, such as fewer than 5 amino acids in length.
  • variable refers to a peptide that does not share 100% amino acid sequence identity with the parent peptide, i.e. one or more amino acids must be mutated.
  • “Mutated” refers to altering an amino acid at a specified position in the parent peptide.
  • an amino acid at a specified position may be deleted, altered, substituted or may be the site of an insertion/addition of one or more amino acids. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the substitutions may be conservative or non-conservative.
  • said peptide variant comprises or consists of a sequence wherein no more than five amino acids are altered for another proteinogenic or non-proteinogenic amino acid, such as no more than 4 amino acids, such as no more than 3 amino acids, such as no more than 2 amino acids, such as no more than 1 amino acid is altered.
  • one or more amino acids are conservatively substituted. “Conservatively substituted” refers to a substitution of one amino acid with another with similar properties (size, hydrophobicity, etc), such that the function of the peptide is not significantly altered. Thus, by “conservative substitutions” is intended combinations such as Gly, Ala; Val, Ile, Leu; Asp, Glu; Asn, Gln; Ser, Thr; Lys, Arg; and Phe, Tyr.
  • said peptide comprises or consists of one or more additional amino acids, inserted at the N- and/or C-terminus and/or internally within the sequence.
  • at least 2 additional amino acids such as at least 3, such as at least 4, such as at least 5, such as at least 6, such as at least 7, such as at least 8, such as at least 9, such as at least 10, such as at least 15 or such as at least 20 additional amino acids are inserted.
  • the additional amino acids may be the amino acids from the corresponding positions of the wildtype human osteopontin (SEQ ID NO: 66) or from the corresponding positions of the wildtype murine osteopontin (SEQ ID NO: 134).
  • the term “corresponding positions” of the wildtype osteopontin we mean that the additional amino acids are the same as those present in the equivalent position in the above wildtype osteopontin (if one imagines that the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 replaces the sequence underlined in italics in SEQ ID NO:66
  • the peptide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 136, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85,
  • KPLAEIDSIELTYGIK SEQ ID NO: 150 KPLAEIDGIELSYGIK SEQ ID NO: 151 KPLAEIDGIELTYGIK SEQ ID NO: 152 KPLAEIGSIELSYGIK SEQ ID NO: 153 KGLAEIDSIELSYGIK SEQ ID NO: 154 KPLAGIDSIGLSYGIK SEQ ID NO: 155 KCLAEIDSCELSYGIK
  • VDVPNGDISLAYRLR SEQ ID NO: 161 VDVPEGDISLAYRLR SEQ ID NO: 167 V(beta-D)TYDGDISVVYGLR SEQ ID NO: 168 VDTY(beta-D)GDISVVYGLR SEQ ID NO: 169 VDTYDG(beta-D)ISVVYGLR
  • said peptide is derived from osteopontin, such as a mammalian osteopontin variant and/or fragment.
  • said peptide is non-naturally occurring, such as a peptide comprising non-proteinogenic amino acid residues.
  • said peptide is further conjugated to a moiety, which may be selected from the group consisting of PEG, monosaccharides, fluorophores, chromophores, radioactive compounds, and cell-penetrating peptides.
  • the fluorophore is selected from the group consisting of Lucifer yellow, biotin, 5,6-carboxyltetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA), indodicarbocyanine (C5) Alexa Fluor® 488, Alexa Fluor® 532, Alexa Fluor® 647, ATTO 488, ATTO 532, 6-carboxyfluorescein (6-FAM), Alexa Fluor® 350, DY-415, ATTO 425, ATTO 465, Bodipy® FL, fluorescein isothiocyanate, Oregon Green® 488, Oregon Green® 514, Rhodamine GreenTM, 5′-Tetrachloro-Fluorescein, ATTO 520, 6-carboxy-4′,5′-dichloro-2′,7′-dimethoxyfluoresceine, Yakima YellowTM dyes, Bodipy® 530/550, hexachloro-fluorescein, Alexa Fluor® 555, DY-5
  • said peptide is further modified such as being glycosylated or by PEGylation, amidation, esterification, acylation, acetylation and/or alkylation.
  • said peptide comprises or consists of tandem repeats, which may comprise or consist of the amino acid sequence of any one or more of the sequences as described herein.
  • said peptide is cyclic.
  • the cyclic structure may be achieved by any suitable method of synthesis.
  • heterodetic linkages may include, but are not limited to formation via disulphide, cysteine, alkylene or sulphide bridges.
  • the peptide comprises or consists of a fusion.
  • the peptide may comprise a fusion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 136.
  • fusion of a peptide relates to an amino acid sequence corresponding to, for example, SEQ ID NO: 1 or 136 (or a fragment or variant thereof) fused to any other peptide.
  • the said peptide may be fused to a polypeptide such as glutathione-S-transferase (GST) or protein A in order to facilitate purification of said peptide. Examples of such fusions are well known to those skilled in the art.
  • the said peptide may be fused to an oligo-histidine tag such as His6 or to an epitope recognised by an antibody such as the well-known Myc tag epitope. Fusions to any variant or derivative of said peptide are also included in the scope of the disclosure.
  • the fused portion may be a lipophilic molecule or peptide domain that is capable of promoting cellular uptake of the polypeptide, as known to those skilled in the art.
  • the present disclosure relates to a peptide comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of KPLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 136), GDPNDGRGDSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 137), VDTYDGGISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 138), and VDTYDGDGSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 139), VDVPEGDISLAYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 157), LDGLVRAYDNISPVG (SEQ ID NO: 158), GDPNGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 159), VDVPNGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 160) VDVPEGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 161), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • KPLAEIDSIELSYGIK SEQ ID NO: 136
  • GDPNDGRGDSVVYGLR SEQ ID NO: 137
  • VDTYDGGISVVYGLR SEQ ID NO: 138
  • the present disclosure relates to a peptide comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of KCLAECDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 141), CLAEIDSC (SEQ ID NO: 142), CFKPLAEIDSIECSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 143), KPLAEDISIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 145), KPLAEIGDIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 146), KPLAEGDIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 147), KPLAEIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 148), KPLAEIDSIELTYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 149), KPLAEIDGIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 150), KPLAEIDGIELTYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 151), KPLAEIGSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 152), KGLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 153), KPLAGIDS
  • the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 136), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAGIDSIGLSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 154), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KGLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 153), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KCLAECDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 141), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAEIDGIELTYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 151), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence
  • KPLAEIGSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 152), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAEIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 148), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • the present disclosure relates to an agent comprising:
  • said variant comprises or consists of a sequence wherein any one amino acid has been altered for another proteinogenic or non-proteinogenic amino acid, with the proviso that no more than five amino acids are so altered, such as no more than 4 amino acids, such as no more than 3 amino acids, such as no more than 2 amino acids, such as no more than 1 amino acid is altered.
  • one or more amino acids are conservatively substituted.
  • said peptide comprises or consists of one or more additional amino acids, inserted at the N- and/or C-terminus and/or internally within the sequence.
  • at least 2 additional amino acids such as at least 3, such as at least 4, such as at least 5, such as at least 6, such as at least 7, such as at least 8, such as at least 9, such as at least 10, such as at least 15 or such as at least 20 additional amino acids are inserted.
  • said peptide is no more than 85, such as no more than 80, such as no more than 75, such as no more than 70, such as no more than 65, such as no more than 60, such as nor more than 55, such as no more than 50, such as no more than 55, such as no more than 40 amino acids, such as no more than 35, such as no more than 30, such as no more than 28, such as no more than 26, such as no more than 24, such as no more than 22, such as no more than 20, such as no more than 19, such as no more than 18, such as no more than 17, such as no more than 16, such as no more than 15, such as no more than 14, such as no more than 13, such as no more than 12, such as no more than 11, such as no more than 10 amino acids in length.
  • no more than 80 such as no more than 75, such as no more than 70, such as no more than 65, such as no more than 60, such as nor more than 55, such as no more than 50, such as no more than 55, such as no more than 40 amino acids, such as no more than 35,
  • said peptide is further conjugated to a moiety, which may be selected from the group consisting of PEG, monosaccharides, fluorophores, chromophores, radioactive compounds, and cell-penetrating peptides.
  • said peptide is further modified such as being glycosylated or by PEGylation, amidation, esterification, acylation, acetylation and/or alkylation.
  • said peptide comprises or consists of tandem repeats, which may comprise or consist of the amino acid sequence of any one or more of the sequences as described herein above.
  • said peptide is cyclic.
  • the cyclic structure may be achieved by any suitable method of synthesis.
  • heterodetic linkages may include, but are not limited to formation via, cysteine, disulphide, alkylene or sulphide bridges.
  • the agents of the present disclosure are suitable for use in the treatment of endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and disorders.
  • the mammal in need of treatment of an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease is a human.
  • the endocrine disease, nutritional disease and/or metabolic disease is selected from the group consisting of diabetes mellitus, type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus, disorders of glucose regulation and pancreatic internal secretion, insulin resistance syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and any combinations thereof.
  • the endocrine disease, nutritional disease and/or metabolic disease is selected from the group consisting of diabetes mellitus, disorders of the thyroid gland, disorders of glucose regulation and pancreatic internal secretion, disorders of endocrine glands, malnutrition, nutritional deficiencies, obesity, hyperalimentation, and metabolic disorders.
  • diabetes mellitus is selected from the group consisting of type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus, specified diabetes mellitus, and unspecified diabetes mellitus.
  • disorders of glucose regulation and pancreatic internal secretion are selected from the group consisting of nondiabetic hypoglycaemic coma and disorders of pancreatic internal secretion.
  • disorders of obesity and hyperalimentation are selected from the group consisting of localized adiposity, hyperalimentation, and sequelae of hyperalimentation.
  • disorders of nutritional deficiencies are selected from the group consisting of disorders of aromatic amino-acid metabolism, disorders of branched-chain amino-acid metabolism and fatty-acid metabolism, disorders of amino-acid metabolism, lactose intolerance, disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, disorders of sphingolipid metabolism, disorders of lipid storage disorders, disorders of glycosaminoglycan metabolism, disorders of glycoprotein metabolism, disorders of lipoprotein metabolism, lipidaemias, disorders of purine and pyrimidine metabolism, disorders of porphyrin and bilirubin metabolism, disorders of mineral metabolism, cystic fibrosis, amyloidosis, volume depletion, disorders of fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance, and postprocedural endocrine and metabolic disorders.
  • the present disclosure relates to a composition comprising the agent described herein.
  • the present disclosure relates to an agent selected from the group consisting of:
  • the present disclosure relates to a composition for use in treatment of an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease, comprising an agent described herein.
  • said composition is a pharmaceutical composition.
  • the agent further comprises a second active ingredient.
  • Said second active ingredient may be selected from the group consisting of insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), biguanides, forskolin compounds, sulfonylurea, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, a thiazolidinedione, a meglitidine and a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor.
  • the present disclosure concerns a method of treating an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease, the method comprising administering an agent described herein to a subject in need thereof.
  • the present disclosure concerns the use of an agent for the manufacture of a medicament for use in treatment of an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease in a mammal.
  • the present disclosure concerns a polynucleotide encoding upon expression the peptide as described herein. In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a vector comprising said polynucleotide encoding upon expression the peptide as described herein. In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a cell comprising said polynucleotide or said vector encoding upon expression the peptide as described herein
  • the present disclosure concerns a method for increasing insulin secretion, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • said method is an in vitro method.
  • the present disclosure concerns a method for decreasing blood glucose levels, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • said method is an in vitro method.
  • insulin secretion is increased.
  • cellular uptake of glucose is increased.
  • insulin production is increased.
  • glucagon production is decreased.
  • the present disclosure concerns a method, e.g. an in vitro method, for improving ⁇ -cell morphology, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • the present disclosure concerns a method for improving ⁇ -cell viability, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • the present disclosure concerns a method for delaying onset of diabetes and diabetes associated disorders and disease, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • the agent may further comprise a detectable moiety.
  • a detectable moiety may comprise or consist of a radioisotope, such as a radioisotope selected from the group consisting of 99m Tc, 111 In, 67 Ga, 68 Ga, 72 As, 89 Zr, 123 I and 201 Tl.
  • the binding moieties may thus be coupled to nanoparticles that have the capability of multi-imaging (for example, SPECT, PET, MRI, Optical, or Ultrasound).
  • the detectable moiety may comprise or consist of a paramagnetic isotope, such as a paramagnetic isotope is selected from the group consisting of 157 Gd, 55 Mn, 162 Dy, 52 Cr and 56 Fe.
  • the agent comprises a detectable moiety
  • the detectable moiety may be detectable by an imaging technique such as SPECT, PET, MRI, optical or ultrasound imaging.
  • the present disclosure concerns the use of agent described herein for the preparation of a diagnostic composition for the diagnosis of a disease, disorder or damage of the pancreas in an individual.
  • exemplary peptides of the present disclosure stimulate ⁇ -cell proliferation, and have the ability to protect and rescue ⁇ -cells from apoptosis induced by glucotoxic conditions. It is also demonstrated that the exemplary peptides have the ability to stimulate insulin secretion from rat ⁇ -cells as well as isolated mouse pancreatic islets, where the peptides also are demonstrated to reduce glucagon levels. Furthermore, the examples demonstrate that the peptides reduce plasma glucose levels in vivo in a glucose tolerance test and that the peptides delay onset of type 1 diabetes in BB lyp/lyp rats
  • FOL-005 SEQ ID NO: 1
  • FOL-014 The X-ray crystal structure of the tenascin-3 TNfn3 domain (PDB code 1TEN, Leahy et al. (1992) Science 258(5084):987-91) was analyzed.
  • the FOL-014 (SEQ ID NO: 136) sequence span the beta-turn before and the entire 3rd beta sheet. FOL-014 variants were designed to allow for structural modification and stabilization of the 3-dimensional molecular structure. Specifically, the peptides variants covered the beta-turn region with exposed side chains and some cyclized variants to maintain geometry.
  • Rat INS-1 cells were seeded in 96-well plates in RPMI medium with supplement and after 2 hours the medium was changed to RPMI without supplement. During the proliferation experiment the cells were incubated at different test conditions (FOL-005, FOL-014, coated or in solution, 48 h incubation) and during the last 20 hours of culture period the cells were pulsed with 1 ⁇ Ci/well of [methyl-3H] thymidine. The cells were then harvested onto glass fiber filters using a FilterMate harvester. The filters were air dried, and the bound radioactivity was measured using a liquid scintillation counter.
  • FOL-005 INS-1 cells were treated with increasing amounts of soluble FOL-005 (0.06-6 ⁇ M) during 48 hours and proliferation was measured with radiolabeled thymidine incorporation into newly synthesized DNA.
  • FOL-005 stimulated INS-1 cell proliferation ( FIG. 1A ).
  • Wells coated with either FOL-005 or FOL-014 and later blocked with bovine serum albumin (BSA) before addition of INS-1 cells also stimulated proliferation compared to control (ctrl) coated wells ( FIG. 1B-C ).
  • BSA bovine serum albumin
  • the rate of apoptosis in INS-1 cells was measured with either Caspase-3 Assay Kit or stained with Annexin V Apoptosis Detection Kit with 7-AAD.
  • Caspase-3 activity was measured with fluorescence at an excitation wavelength of 380 nm and an emission wavelength of 440 nm. Caspase-3 activity was then normalized to protein concentration in each well. Measurements of Annexin V stained cells were performed using a CyAn ADP flow cytometer and analyzed with Summit V4.3 software.
  • INS-1 ⁇ -cells were used in the following experiments. Cells were seeded overnight in cRPMI and then washed with PBS before pre-incubation for 60 min at 37° C. in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (KRB), pH 7.4, supplemented with 10 mM HEPES, 0.1% bovine serum albumin. After pre-incubation, the buffer was changed and the INS-1 cells were incubated at different test conditions (0 mM, 5 mM or 20 mM glucose) and stimulated with peptide FOL-005 or FOL-015 (SEQ ID NO: 158) or left untreated during 60 min at 37° C. Immediately after incubation, an aliquot of the buffer was removed and frozen for subsequent assay of insulin with an insulin radioimmunoassay kit.
  • KRB Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer
  • Mouse pancreatic islets were isolated from 8-week old C57BL/6J male mice (Taconic). Mice were sacrificed by an overdose of isoflurane and cervical dislocation. 3 ml of 0.9 U/ml collagenase P was injected into the pancreatic duct to inflate the pancreas. The pancreas was then removed and collagen digested for 19 min at 37° C. The samples were vigorously shaken to disrupt the tissue. The digest was transferred into ice cold Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) with Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ . The suspension was allowed to sit for 10 min to allow the islet to sink, and the islets were washed in fresh HBSS four times.
  • HBSS Hank's Balanced Salt Solution
  • INS-1 ⁇ -cells were used to investigate the stimulatory effect of FOL-014 on insulin secretion.
  • Cells were seeded overnight and then washed with PBS before pre-incubation for 60 min at 37° C. in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (KRB), pH 7.4, supplemented with 10 mM HEPES, 0.1% bovine serum albumin.
  • KRB Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer
  • the buffer was changed and the INS-1 cells were incubated in new KRB buffer supplemented with 10 mM HEPES, 0.1% bovine serum albumin and stimulated with peptide FOL-014 or left untreated during 60 min at 37° C.
  • an aliquot of the buffer was removed and frozen for subsequent assay of insulin.
  • Example 8-11 Stimulation of Insulin Secretion from INS-1 Cell Lines by FOL-014, FOL-005 and Related Peptides
  • Rat INS-1 ⁇ -cells (passages 60-70) were cultured at 37° C. and 5% CO 2 in cRPMI media (RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 50 IU/mL penicillin, 50 mg/L streptomycin, 10 mM HEPES, 2 mM L-glutamine, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, and 50 ⁇ M beta-mercaptoethanol) unless otherwise stated.
  • INS-1 cells were seeded in 96-well plates (2 ⁇ 10 3 cells/well) in cRPMI medium and following overnight incubation, the cells were washed in PBS before pre-incubation for 120 min at 37° C.
  • Insulin release from INS-1 cells were measured following exposure to increasing concentrations of FOL-014 and compared with the stimulatory effect of GLP-1 and untreated control during high glucose concentration (16.7 mM). All concentrations of FOL-014 tested elicited significantly higher insulin release as compared with the untreated control. At 6 nM or higher, FOL-014 triggered insulin release within the same range as 100 mM GLP-1. At concentrations ranging from 0.6-60 nM, insulin secretion increased in a linear fashion in relation to increasing FOL-014 concentrations. Exposure to FOL-014 concentrations 600 nM did not increase the insulin secretion ( FIG. 5 ).
  • Example 9 The Capacity of FOL-014 to Induce Insulin Secretion is Glucose Dependent
  • Insulin release from INS-1 cells was measured following exposure to 60 nM FOL-014 at increasing concentrations of glucose.
  • elevated glucose concentrations increased the insulin secretion at 11.1 mM glucose or higher.
  • insulin secretion increased significantly in a glucose dependent fashion already from 5.5 mM glucose. ( FIG. 6 ).
  • Insulin secretion from INS-1 cells was measured following exposure to FOL-005, FOL-014, GLP-1 or combinations of those, expressed as percentage of untreated control.
  • the combined effect of GLP-1 and FOL-014 resulted in a significantly higher insulin release than GLP-1 or FOL-014 alone.
  • the additive effect of the combination of FOL-005 and GLP-1 was less pronounced, but did however increase the insulin secretion as compared with GLP-1 alone.
  • the experiments were performed in the presence of 16.7 mM glucose ( FIG. 7 ).
  • Novel peptide analogues derived from either FOL-005 or FOL-014 were tested concerning their ability to induce insulin secretion in two separate INS-1 cell lines in the presence of 16.7 mM glucose.
  • FOL-005, FOL-014 and GLP-1 as well as a high glucose (16.7 mM) and a low glucose (2.8 mM) control (not shown) was included in each experiment and the peptide concentration was 100 nM.
  • all values were normalized to, and expressed as percentage of the average value of the high glucose control in the individual experiments.
  • the analogues were subsequently ranked according to performance ( FIGS. 11A and 11B ). Peptide analogues eliciting an insulin response below the high glucose control average value were considered non-functional and were hence excluded (not shown).
  • Freshly isolated islets were seeded in groups of 5 in a 96-well plate and preincubated for 1 h at 37° C. in a Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.4). The islets were incubated for 1 h at 37° C. in Krebs-Ringer buffered solution supplemented with 0.6 or 6 ⁇ M FOL-014 or 100 nM GLP-1 or left unsupplemented for control. Immediately after incubation, the medium was removed for assays of insulin and glucagon using Mercodia's ELISA kits. The effect of FOL-014 on insulin ( FIGS. 8A and B) and glucagon ( FIGS.
  • FIGS. 8C and D secretion from isolated mouse islets was measured in the presence of low glucose (2.8 mM; FIGS. 8A and C) or high glucose (16.7 mM; FIGS. 8B and D) concentrations.
  • a significant effect of FOL-014 was observed in the presence of high glucose for insulin and in the presence of both high and low glucose for glucagon.
  • the effect of FOL-014 differed from that of GLP-1, which enhanced insulin secretion also in low glucose samples but failed to inhibit glucagon secretion in low glucose conditions.
  • FOL-014 enhanced insulin secretion and inhibited glucagon secretion in pancreatic islets.
  • mice Whole blood was collected for glucose and insulin measurements from 10-week-old wild type male C57bl/6 mice. After a 4 hour fast, the mice were divided into three groups and given an intraperitoneal injection (ip) of either saline, 30 nmol/kg peptide ( FIG. 9A ) or 200 nmol/kg peptide ( FIG. 9B ). 15 min after the FOL-014 or saline (control) injections, the mice were administered 2 g of glucose/kg ip. Blood glucose concentrations were measured at 5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the glucose injection. Statistical calculations were performed using student's t-test. FOL-014 dosed at 200 nmol/kg significantly lowered the plasma glucose levels as compared to the control when measured as area under the curve. In addition, the difference was significant at 15, 30 and 45 minutes. At the 30 nmol/kg dose, FOL-014 lowered the plasma glucose levels with a significant effect at 45 minutes after the glucose injection.
  • ip intraperitoneal injection
  • BB lyp/lyp rats were randomized for placebo (sodium chloride, 9 mg/ml) or FOL-014 treatment 3 times/week from day 40 until onset of type 1 diabetes, defined as plasma glucose levels 11.1 mM.
  • the dose of 100 nmol/kg FOL-014 peptide in saline or placebo (saline) was administered subcutaneously and the animals were terminated immediately upon exceeding critical plasma glucose levels.
  • the difference between FOL-014 treated animals and animals receiving placebo treatment was significant both when expressed as average age for onset of type 1 diabetes ( FIG. 10A ) and when described as percentage of animals developing type 1 diabetes per day ( FIG. 10B ).
  • mice 057BI/6 mice were injected subcutaneously with H 3 labelled FOL-005 and euthanized at 1 h ( FIG. 12A ) or 2 h ( FIG. 12B ) after injection. Following whole body sectioning the distribution of the labelled peptide was visualised. Strong binding was evident in pancreas and at the site of injection.
  • Using Pearl Trilogy Small Animal Imaging System in vivo bio-distribution and tissue localization of two Cy7.5 labelled peptides, FOL-005 ( FIG. 12C ) and FOL-014 ( FIG. 12D ) in NMRI nude mice via subcutaneous injection was investigated. High accumulation of the peptide was evident in the pancreatic tissue area. The same distribution pattern was found after i.v.
  • each peptide was 10 nmol per mouse.
  • the mice were imaged before injection, at 5 min, 20 min, 50 min, 60 min, 2 hrs, 4 hrs, 6 hrs, 24 hrs and 48 hrs post administration of labelled peptide.
  • Agents prepared as defined herein above are labelled by conjugation to suitable imaging probe or moiety, using methods known by those of skill in the art.
  • the conjugated peptide-probe agents are subsequently administered to a subject and biodistribution is subsequently monitored e.g. up to 48 h after administration.
  • the conjugated agent is thus used as a diagnostic or prognostic tool for investigation of pancreatic status.
  • the conjugated agents are suitable for detecting, diagnosing, or monitoring disease, disease processes and progression, susceptibility, as well as to determine efficacy of a treatment.
  • the agents are particularly suited for monitoring the diabetic status of a subject.
  • the conjugated agents are also used for monitoring and/or predicting risk of developing a disease, specifically diabetes.
  • the test is used alone or in combination with other tests known by those of skill in the art, such as blood tests, genetic testing, urine test, and biopsies.
  • VDVPZ 5 GDISLAYZ 13 Z 5 is E or N; LR Z 13 is R or G.
  • VDTYDGZ 7 Z 8 SVVYGLR Z 7 is D or G; Z 8 is I or G.
  • 166 GDPNZ 5 Z6Z 7 Z 8 Z 9 SV Z 5 is D or G; VYGLR Z6 is D or G Z 7 is I or R; Z 8 is G or absent; Z 9 is D or absent.
  • VZ 2 TYDGDISVVYGLR Z 2 is beta D FOL-005 (2betaAsp) 168 VDTY Z 5 is beta D Z 5 GDISVVYGLR FOL-005 (5betaAsp) 169 VDTYDG FOL-005 (7betaAsp) Z 7 ISVVYGLR Z 7 is beta D

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Proteomics, Peptides & Aminoacids (AREA)
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Gastroenterology & Hepatology (AREA)
  • Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Diabetes (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Obesity (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Emergency Medicine (AREA)
  • Endocrinology (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns agents and their use in the treatment of endocrine, nutritional and/or metabolic diseases in a mammal. The disclosure furthermore concerns novel peptides.

Description

    CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
  • This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/666,960, filed Oct. 29, 2019, which is a continuation of PCT Application No: PCT/EP2018/061547, filed May 4, 2018, designating the United States of America, which claims priority to European Patent Application No: 17169500.0, filed May 4, 2017. The entire content of each application is incorporated herein by reference.
    • TECHNICAL FIELD
  • The present disclosure relates to peptides useful for treatment of diabetes and associated disorders.
    • BACKGROUND
  • The peptide hormone insulin, which is produced by β-cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, is released in response to increasing blood glucose levels. Thus, glucose is removed from the blood by insulin dependent stimulation of glucose transporters located in the cell membranes of the target tissue, e.g. adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and liver. Insulin exerts its biological effects by binding to and activating the membrane-bound insulin receptor (IR), thereby initiating a cascade of intracellular signalling events, which regulate multiple biological processes such as glucose and lipid metabolism.
  • Currently, the treatment of diabetes, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, relies primarily on insulin treatment. A complement to insulin treatment is long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, i.e. derivatives that act on the same receptor as GLP-1. GLP-1 is a metabolic hormone that stimulates insulin secretion. Besides increasing insulin secretion from the pancreas in a glucose-dependent manner, GLP-1 is known to increase insulin-sensitivity in both α- and β-cells; to increase β-cell mass and insulin expression, post-translational modification, and secretion; and to decrease glucagon secretion from the pancreas. Other medications used complementary to insulin treatment for the purpose of lowering plasma glucose levels include DPP-IV inhibitors, Metformin, SGLT-2 inhibitors and sulfonylurea.
  • Certain drawbacks are associated with long term use of insulin, such as weight gain and increased risks of cancer and hypoglycaemia. Thus, there is a growing demand in the field for novel non-insulin compounds capable of, not only treating diabetes, by addressing insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, but also reducing associated and consequential complications.
  • Identification of novel compounds that can restore glucose metabolism and treat diabetes and related disorders is thus highly relevant. Multiple approaches can be contemplated, albeit none of which are obvious to the person of skill in the art.
    • SUMMARY
  • The present inventors have found peptides which stimulate β-cell proliferation, have the ability to rescue β-cell from apoptosis induced by glucotoxic conditions, and stimulate insulin secretion from rat INS-1 β-cells as well as isolated mouse pancreatic islets. Furthermore, the present inventors found that in a glucose tolerance test, the peptides lowered plasma glucose levels in vivo and delayed onset of diabetes disease in BB lyp/lyp rats, a model for type 1 diabetes. Hence, the peptides of the present disclosure are suitable for use in the treatment of endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and disorders.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to an agent comprising or consisting of:
      • a) a peptide or peptide analog, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 140)
    KX2LAX5X6X7X8IX10LX12YGIK
        • wherein:
          • X2 is C, P or G;
          • X5 is E or G;
          • X6 is C, D or I;
          • X7 is D, I, S or G;
          • X8 is S, D or G;
          • X12 is S or T;
        • with the proviso that if X12 is T then the peptide comprises no more than 25 amino acids; and
        • with the proviso that if X2 is P, X5 is E, X5 is I, X7 is D, X8 is S, X10 is E and X12 is S, the peptide comprises no more than 85 amino acid residues.
        • or a biologically active fragment and/or variant thereof, wherein said biologically active fragment and/or variant is selected from the group consisting of CLAEIDSC (SEQ ID NO: 142), CFKPLAEIDSIECSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 143), KPLAEGDIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 147), KPLAEIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 148), KCLAEIDSCELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 155), and CFKPLAEIDSIEC (SEQ ID NO: 156);
      • b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
      • c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); and
      • d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to an agent comprising:
      • a) a peptide or peptide analog comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence GDPNDGRGDSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 137), VDTYDGGISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 138), and VDTYDGDGSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 139). VDVPEGDISLAYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 157), LDGLVRAYDNISPVG (SEQ ID NO: 158), GDPNGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 159), VDVPNGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 160) VDVPEGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 161), V(beta-D)TYDGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO:167), VDTY(beta-D)GDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 168), VDTYDG(beta-D)ISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO:169);
      • b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
      • c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); and
      • d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a composition comprising the agent described herein above.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to an agent or a composition comprising said agent, for use as a medicament.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to an agent comprising:
      • a) (i) a peptide or a peptide analog, wherein the peptide or the peptide analog comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 140)
    KX2LAX5X6X7X8IX10LX12YGIK
        • wherein:
          • X2 is C, P or G;
          • X5 is E or G;
          • X6 is C, D or I;
          • X7 is D, I, S or G;
          • X8 is S, D or G;
          • X10 is E or G;
          • X12 is S or T;
      • with the proviso that if X12 is T, the peptide comprises no more than 25 amino acid residues;
        • (ii) a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the general formula: VDZ3Z4Z5GZ7Z8SZ10Z11YGLR (SEQ ID NO: 68)
        • wherein:
          • Z3 is T or V;
          • Z4 is Y or P;
          • Z5 is D or N;
          • Z7 is D or G;
          • Z8 is I or G;
          • Z10 is V or L;
          • Z11 is V or A;
        • (iii) a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of KCLAECDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 141), CLAEIDSC (SEQ ID NO: 142), CFKPLAEIDSIECSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 143), KPLAEIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 148), KCLAEIDSCELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 155) and CFKPLAEIDSIEC (SEQ ID NO: 156);
      • b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
      • c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); and
      • d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
      • for use in the treatment of an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease in a mammal.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a method for treating an endocrine disease a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns the use of an agent as described herein for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an endocrine disease a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a method for delaying onset of diabetes, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a method for decreasing blood glucose levels, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a method, e.g. an in vitro method, for improving beta cell morphology, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a method for improving beta cell viability, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns the use of agent described herein for the preparation of a diagnostic composition for the diagnosis of a disease, disorder or damage of the pancreas in an individual.
    • DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1. FOL-005 and FOL-014 induced proliferation of β-cells
  • Addition of increasing concentrations of FOL-005 in solution induced increasing proliferation of INS-1 cells after 48 hours (FIG. 1A). Wells coated with FOL-005 and blocked with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) induced more proliferation of β-cells compared to only BSA coated control (ctrl) wells (FIG. 1B). Wells pre-coated with FOL-014 and blocked with BSA induced more proliferation compared to only BSA coated wells (FIG. 10). Data is presented as counts per minute (CPM) relative unstimulated control (ctrl) cells. Mean±SD are presented for 10-12 different observations in each group.
  • FIG. 2. FOL-005 protected β-cells against glucotoxicity
  • INS-1 cells incubated during 48 h in 20 mM glucose displayed more apoptotic cells (Annexin V positive) compared to cells incubated at 5 mM glucose. Addition of FOL-005 to cells incubated with 20 mM glucose reduced the level of apoptotic cells compared to 20 mM glucose alone (FIG. 2A). Apoptosis measured by caspase-3 activity was increased in INS-1 cells at 20 mM compared to 5 mM glucose. Addition of FOL-005 diminished the rate of glucotoxicity-induced caspse-3 activity (FIG. 2B). Mean±SD are presented for 4-8 different observations in each group.
  • FIG. 3. Insulin secretion was increased from islets and β-cells following FOL-005 stimulation
  • FOL-005 stimulated β-cell and islet insulin secretion. Insulin release from INS-1 cells was increased after FOL-005 (6 μM) stimulation in-non glucose containing media compared to non-stimulated control (ctrl) and to a scrambled control peptide (FOL-015) (FIG. 3A). FOL-005 stimulated insulin release from INS-1 at both low (5 mM) and high (20 mM) glucose (FIG. 3B). Isolated mouse pancreatic islets stimulated with FOL-005 (6 μM) or GLP-1 (100 nM) secreted more insulin compared to unstimulated control islets (FIG. 3C). Mean±SD are presented for 5-6 different observations in each group.
  • FIG. 4. Insulin secretion was increased from islets and β-cells following FOL-014 stimulation
  • FOL-014 stimulated insulin secretion from β-cells and pancreatic islets. INS-1 cells stimulated with FOL-014 (6 μM) secreted more insulin compared to unstimulated control cells (FIG. 4A). Isolated mouse pancreatic islets stimulated with FOL-014 (6 μM) secreted more insulin compared to control islets (FIG. 4B). Addition of GLP-1 (100 nM) or FOL-014 (0.6 μM) had no effect on insulin secretion. Mean±SD are presented for 5-6 different observations in each group.
  • FIG. 5. The effect of FOL-014 on insulin secretion was dose dependent. Stimulation of INS-1 cells by increasing doses of FOL-014 resulted in a significant increase in insulin secretion for all concentrations tested. The insulin secretion increased in a linear fashion in the presence of FOL-014 ranging from 0.6 nM to 60 nM. Higher concentrations appeared to result in a less pronounced effect on insulin secretion. Furthermore, FOL-014 induced insulin secretion was comparable to the effect of 100 nM GLP-1. Bars represent mean values and standard error of the mean (SEM).
  • FIG. 6. The effect on insulin secretion of FOL-014 was glucose concentration dependent. The insulin secretion from untreated or FOL-014 exposed INS-1 cells was measured in the presence of increasing glucose concentrations. At glucose levels 5.5 mM or higher, the insulin secretion was significantly higher in the FOL-014 treated cells, as compared to untreated control cells. Bars represent mean values and standard error of the mean (SEM).
  • FIG. 7. FOL-005 and FOL-014 dosed together with native GLP-1 elicited an additive effect on insulin secretion. The insulin release from INS-1 cells was measured following combination treatment of GLP-1 together with FOL-005 and FOL-014 (all three peptides in a concentration of 100 nM), respectively and compared with the effect of each peptide alone. The combination of GLP-1 and FOL-014 significantly increased the insulin secretion as compared with each peptide alone. An increase was also observed for the combination of FOL-005 and GLP-1. Bars represent mean values and standard error of the mean (SEM).
  • FIG. 8. FOL-014 affected insulin and glucagon secretion in pancreatic islets. Two different concentrations of FOL-014 were tested and compared with the effect of 100 nM GLP-1 on isolated mouse islets in low (2.8 mM) (A, C) and high (16.7 mM) (B, D) concentrations of glucose. In the low glucose samples, the presence of FOL-014 did not increase insulin secretion, but reduced glucagon secretion as compared with control and GLP-1. In the high glucose samples, 600 nM FOL-014 and GLP-1, but not 6 μM FOL-014, significantly increased insulin secretion (B), and GLP-1 as well as both concentrations of FOL-014 efficiently reduced glucagon secretion (D). Bars represent mean values and standard error of the mean (SEM).
  • FIG. 9. FOL-014 lowered plasma glucose levels in vivo following a glucose injection. An intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed on wild type C57bl/6 mice. FOL-014 dosed at 200 nmol/kg significantly lowered the plasma glucose levels as compared to the control at 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 45 minutes (P=0.0027). At the 30 nmol/kg dose, FOL-014 lowered the glucose levels with a significant effect at 45 minutes after the glucose injection. The dotted line corresponds to mean non-fasting glucose levels. Data represents mean values and standard error of the mean (SEM). Statistical analysis was performed using student's t-test.
  • FIG. 10. FOL-014 delayed the onset of type-1 diabetes in BB lyp/lyp rats. BB lyp/lyp rats treated with FOL-014 showed a significant delay in the onset of diabetes defined as plasma glucose<11.1 mmol/l. Age of onset of diabetes for each rat was depicted in (A) with a significant difference between untreated and treated groups. The percentage of animals developing type 1 diabetes each day was depicted in (B) with a significant difference between groups. Error bars in (A) represent standard error of the mean (SEM).
  • FIG. 11. The effect on insulin secretion of peptide analogues derived from FOL-005 or FOL-014. Novel peptide analogues were tested in two separate INS-1 cell lines (A and B) for their ability to induce insulin secretion under high glucose (16.7 mM) conditions. The effect was compared with that of native GLP-1, FOL-005 and FOL-014 as well as the effect of high glucose alone. Analogues inducing insulin release below the average of the high glucose control were considered non-functional (not shown). The level of insulin secretion is depicted in black, filled bars for the novel analogues, and in contrasting patterns for the comparators. Bars represent mean values and standard error of the mean (SEM).
  • FIG. 12. FOL-005 and FOL-014 displayed specific distribution patterns following injection in mouse. Following subcutaneous administration of 3H-FOL-005, the highest overall levels of radioactivity were present in pancreas and at the injection site, 1 hour (A) and 2 hours (B) after injection. Accumulation of the 3H-FOL-005 is also visible in liver, kidney, salivary glands. Using Pearl Trilogy Small Animal Imaging System in vivo bio-distribution and tissue localization of Cy7.5 labelled FOL-005 (C) and FOL-014 (D) in NMRI nude mice via subcutaneous injection was investigated. Following initial control imaging, a dose of 10 nmol per mouse was administered and live imaging was performed at 5 min, 20 min, 50 min, 60 min, 2 hrs, 4 hrs, 6 hrs, 24 hrs and 48 hrs. High accumulation of both peptides was evident in the pancreatic region as well as at the injection site.
    •  DETAILED DESCRIPTION
  • The disclosure is as defined in the claims.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a peptide or a peptide analog comprising an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • a) 
    (SEQ ID NO: 140)
    KX2LAX5X6X7X8IX10LX12YGIK
      • wherein:
        • X2 is C, P or G;
        • X5 is E or G;
        • X6 is C, D or I;
        • X7 is D, I, S or G;
        • X8 is S, D or G;
        • X10 is E or G;
        • X12 is S or T;
          with the proviso that if X12 is T, the peptide comprises no more than 25 amino acids; and
          with the proviso that if X2 is P, X5 is E, X6 is I, X7 is D, X8 is S, X10 is E and X12 is S, the peptide comprises no more than 85 amino acid residues;
  • b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
  • c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); and
  • d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure concerns a peptide or a peptide analog comprising an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 162)
    KX2LAX5X6X7X8IX10LSYGIK

    wherein:
      • X2 is C, P or G;
      • X5 is E or G;
      • X6 is C, I or absent;
      • X7 is D, G or absent;
      • X8 is S, G or absent;
      • X10 is E or G;
      • wherein absent means that the amino acid X5 is coupled to the amino acid X10
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure concerns a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 163)
    KX2LAX5IX10LSYGIK

    wherein:
      • X2 is C, P or G;
      • X5 is E or G;
      • X10 is E or G.
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure concerns an agent comprising:
      • a) a peptide, wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of:
        • i) a peptide comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 136, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, and 156;
        • ii) a biologically active sequence variant of any one of the peptides of i), wherein any one amino acid has been altered for another proteinogenic or non-proteinogenic amino acid, with the proviso that no more than five amino acids are so altered;
        • iii) a biologically active fragment of the peptide of any one of i) or ii), wherein the fragment comprises at least 10 consecutive amino acids of any one of i) or ii);
      • b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
      • c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); and
      • d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure concerns an agent comprising:
      • a) a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of GDPNDGRGDSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 137), VDTYDGGISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 138), and VDTYDGDGSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 139). VDVPEGDISLAYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 157), LDGLVRAYDNISPVG (SEQ ID NO: 158), GDPNGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 159), VDVPNGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 160) VDVPEGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 161);
      • b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
      • c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); and
      • d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure concerns a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 164)
    VDVPZ5GDISLAYZ13LR
      • wherein:
        • Z5 is E or N;
        • Z13 is R or G.
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure concerns a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 165)
    VDTYDGZ7Z8SVVYGLR
      • wherein:
        • Z7 is D or G;
        • Z8 is I or G.
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure concerns a peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 166)
    GDPNZ5Z6Z7Z8Z9SVVYGLR
      • wherein:
        • Z5 is D or G;
        • Z6 is D or G
        • Z7 is I or R;
        • Z8 is G or absent;
        • Z9 is D or absent.
  • The term ‘absent’ as used herein, e.g. “X6 is C, I or absent” is to be understood as that the amino acid residues directly adjacent to the absent amino acid are directly linked to each other by a conventional amide bond.
  • The term “peptide analog” described herein refers to a peptide comprising or consisting of a non-naturally occurring peptide.
  • The term ‘amino acid’ as used herein includes the standard twenty genetically-encoded amino acids and their corresponding stereoisomers in the D′ form (as compared to the natural 1′ form), omega-amino acids and other naturally-occurring amino acids, unconventional amino acids (e.g., α,α-disubstituted amino acids, N-alkyl amino acids, etc.) and chemically derivatized amino acids (see below).
  • When an amino acid is being specifically enumerated, such as ‘alanine’ or ‘Ala’ or ‘A’, the term refers to both L-alanine and D-alanine unless explicitly stated otherwise. Other unconventional amino acids may also be suitable components for peptides of the present disclosure, as long as the desired functional property is retained by the peptide. For the peptides shown, each encoded amino acid residue, where appropriate, is represented by a single letter designation, corresponding to the trivial name of the conventional amino acid.
  • Chemical derivatives of one or more amino acids may be achieved by reaction with a functional side group. Such derivatives include, for example, those molecules in which free amino groups have been derivatized to form amine hydrochlorides, p-toluene sulphonyl groups, carboxybenzoxy groups, t-butyloxycarbonyl groups, chloroacetyl groups or formyl groups. Free carboxyl groups may be derivatized to form salts, methyl and ethyl esters or other types of esters and hydrazides. Free hydroxyl groups may be derivatized to form O-acyl or O-alkyl derivatives. Also included as chemical derivatives are those peptides which contain naturally occurring amino acid derivatives of the twenty standard amino acids. For example: 4-hydroxyproline may be substituted for proline; 5-hydroxylysine may be substituted for lysine; 3-methylhistidine may be substituted for histidine; homoserine may be substituted for serine and ornithine for lysine. Derivatives also include peptides containing one or more additions or deletions as long as the requisite activity is maintained. Other included modifications are amidation, amino terminal acylation (e.g. acetylation or thioglycolic acid amidation), terminal carboxylamidation (e.g. with ammonia or methylamine), and the like terminal modifications.
  • Some of the peptides of the disclosure shares amino acid sequence similarity with a sub-region of naturally occurring osteopontin proteins. In some embodiments, said peptide may be regarded as an active fragment of a naturally-occurring osteopontin protein or a variant of such as a fragment.
  • Some of the peptides of the disclosure shares amino acid sequence similarity with a sub-region of naturally occurring tenascin proteins. In some embodiments, said peptide may be regarded as an active fragment of a naturally-occurring tenascin protein or a variant of such as a fragment.
  • By “fragment”, at least 5 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence are included, for example at least 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence. Thus, the fragment may be 15 or fewer amino acids in length, for example 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 or 5 amino acids in length
  • In one embodiment, said peptide is of no more than no more than 85, such as no more than 80, such as no more than 75, such as no more than 70, such as no more than 65, such as no more than 60, such as nor more than 55, such as no more than 50, such as no more than 55, such as no more than 40 amino acids, such as no more than 35, such as no more than 30, such as no more than 28, such as no more than 26, such as no more than 24, such as no more than 22, such as no more than 20, such as no more than 19, such as no more than 18, such as no more than 17, such as no more than 16, such as no more than 15, such as no more than 14, such as no more than 13, such as no more than 12, such as no more than 11, such as no more than 10 amino acids in length.
  • In another embodiment, said peptide is between 5 and 30 amino acids in length, such as between 5 and 20, such as between 8 and 20, such as between 8 and 16, such as between 10 and 15 amino acids in length.
  • In yet another embodiment, said fragment comprises 15 or fewer amino acids in length, such as fewer than 14 amino acids, such as fewer than 13 amino acids, such as fewer than 12 amino acids, such as fewer than 11 amino acids, such as fewer than 10 amino acids, such as fewer than 9 amino acids, such as fewer than 8 amino acids, such as fewer than 7 amino acids, such as fewer than 6 amino acids, such as fewer than 5 amino acids in length.
  • The term “variant” refers to a peptide that does not share 100% amino acid sequence identity with the parent peptide, i.e. one or more amino acids must be mutated.
  • “Mutated” refers to altering an amino acid at a specified position in the parent peptide. For example, an amino acid at a specified position may be deleted, altered, substituted or may be the site of an insertion/addition of one or more amino acids. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the substitutions may be conservative or non-conservative.
  • In one embodiment, said peptide variant comprises or consists of a sequence wherein no more than five amino acids are altered for another proteinogenic or non-proteinogenic amino acid, such as no more than 4 amino acids, such as no more than 3 amino acids, such as no more than 2 amino acids, such as no more than 1 amino acid is altered. In one embodiment, one or more amino acids are conservatively substituted. “Conservatively substituted” refers to a substitution of one amino acid with another with similar properties (size, hydrophobicity, etc), such that the function of the peptide is not significantly altered. Thus, by “conservative substitutions” is intended combinations such as Gly, Ala; Val, Ile, Leu; Asp, Glu; Asn, Gln; Ser, Thr; Lys, Arg; and Phe, Tyr.
  • In another embodiment, said peptide comprises or consists of one or more additional amino acids, inserted at the N- and/or C-terminus and/or internally within the sequence. In one embodiment, at least 2 additional amino acids, such as at least 3, such as at least 4, such as at least 5, such as at least 6, such as at least 7, such as at least 8, such as at least 9, such as at least 10, such as at least 15 or such as at least 20 additional amino acids are inserted. The additional amino acids may be the amino acids from the corresponding positions of the wildtype human osteopontin (SEQ ID NO: 66) or from the corresponding positions of the wildtype murine osteopontin (SEQ ID NO: 134). The term “corresponding positions” of the wildtype osteopontin we mean that the additional amino acids are the same as those present in the equivalent position in the above wildtype osteopontin (if one imagines that the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 replaces the sequence underlined in italics in SEQ ID NO:66 In another embodiment, the peptide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 136, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 167, 168 and 169;
  • i. 15-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 1
    VDTYDGDISVVYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 2
    VDTYDGDISVVYGLS
  • ii. 14-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 3
    VDTYDGDISVVYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 4
     DTYDGDISVVYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 5
      TYDGDISVVYGLRS
  • iii. 13-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 6
    VDTYDGDISVVYG
    SEQ ID NO: 7
     DTYDGDISVVYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 8
      TYDGDISVVYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 9
       YDGDISVVYGLRS
  • iv. 12-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 10
    VDTYDGDISVVY
    SEQ ID NO: 11
     DTYDGDISVVYG
    SEQ ID NO: 12
      TYDGDISVVYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 13
       YDGDISVVYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 14
        DGDISVVYGLRS
  • v. 11-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 15
    VDTYDGDISVV
    SEQ ID NO: 16
     DTYDGDISVVY
    SEQ ID NO: 17
      TYDGDISVVYG
    SEQ ID NO: 18
       YDGDISVVYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 19
        DGDISVVYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 20
         GDISVVYGLRS
  • vi. 10-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 21
    VDTYDGDISV
    SEQ ID NO: 22
     DTYDGDISVV
    SEQ ID NO: 23
      TYDGDISVVY
    SEQ ID NO: 24
       YDGDISVVYG
    SEQ ID NO: 25
        DGDISVVYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 26
         GDISVVYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 27
          DISVVYGLRS
  • vii. 9-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 28
    VDTYDGDIS
    SEQ ID NO: 29
     DTYDGDISV
    SEQ ID NO: 30
      TYDGDISVV
    SEQ ID NO: 31
       YDGDISVVY
    SEQ ID NO: 32
        DGDISVVYG
    SEQ ID NO: 33
         GDISVVYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 34
          DISDVVYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 35
           ISDVVYGLRS
  • viii. 8-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 36
    VDTYDGDI
    SEQ ID NO: 37
     DTYDGDIS
    SEQ ID NO: 38
      TYDGDISV
    SEQ ID NO: 39
       YDGDISVV
    SEQ ID NO: 40
        DGDISVVY
    SEQ ID NO: 41
         GDISVVYG
    SEQ ID NO: 42
          DISVVYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 43
           ISVVYGLR
  • ix. 7-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 44
    VDTYDGD
    SEQ ID NO: 45
     DTYDGDI
    SEQ ID NO: 46
      TYDGDIS
    SEQ ID NO: 47
       YDGDISV
    SEQ ID NO: 48
        DGDISVV
    SEQ ID NO: 49
         GDISVVY
    SEQ ID NO: 50
          DISVVYG
    SEQ ID NO: 51
           ISVVYGL
  • x. 6-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 52
    DTYDGD
    SEQ ID NO: 53
     TYDGDI
    SEQ ID NO: 54
      YDGDIS
    SEQ ID NO: 55
       DGDISV
    SEQ ID NO: 56
        GDISVV
    SEQ ID NO: 57
         DISVVY
    SEQ ID NO: 58
          ISVVYG
  • xi. 5-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 59
    TYDGD
    SEQ ID NO: 60
      YDGDI
    SEQ ID NO: 61
       DGDIS
    SEQ ID NO: 62
        GDISV
    SEQ ID NO: 63
         DISVV
    SEQ ID NO: 64
          ISVVY
    SEQ ID NO: 65
           SVVYG
  • xii. 16-Amino Acid Peptide:
  • SEQ ID NO: 67
    VDTYDGRGDSVVYGLR
  • xiii. 15-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 69
    VDVPNGDISLAYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 70
     DVPNGDISLAYGLRS
  • xiv. 14-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 71
    VDVPNGDISLAYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 72
     DVPNGDISLAYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 73
      VPNGDISLAYGLRS
  • xv. 13-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 74
    VDVPNGDISLAYG
    SEQ ID NO: 75
     DVPNGDISLAYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 76
      VPNGDISLAYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 77
       PNGDISLAYGLRS
  • xvi. 12-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 78
    VDVPNGDISLAY
    SEQ ID NO: 79
     DVPNGDISLAYG
    SEQ ID NO: 80
      VPNGDISLAYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 81
       PNGDISLAYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 82
        NGDISLAYGLRS
  • xvii. 11-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 83
    VDVPNGDISLA
    SEQ ID NO: 84
     DVPNGDISLAY
    SEQ ID NO: 85
      VPNGDISLAYG
    SEQ ID NO: 86
       PNGDISLAYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 87
        NGDISLAYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 88
         GDISLAYGLRS
  • xviii. 10-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 89
    VDVPNGDISL
    SEQ ID NO: 90
     DVPNGDISLA
    SEQ ID NO: 91
      VPNGDISLAY
    SEQ ID NO: 92
       PNGDISLAYG
    SEQ ID NO: 93
        NGDISLAYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 94
         GDISLAYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 95
          DISLAYGLRS
  • xix. 9-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 96
    VDVPNGDIS
    SEQ ID NO: 97
     DVPNGDISL
    SEQ ID NO: 98
      VPNGDISLA
    SEQ ID NO: 99
       PNGDISLAY
    SEQ ID NO: 100
        NGDISLAYG
    SEQ ID NO: 101
         GDISLAYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 102
          DISLAYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 103
           ISLAYGLRS
  • xx. 8-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 104
    VDVPNGDI
    SEQ ID NO: 105
     DVPNGDIS
    SEQ ID NO: 106
      VPNGDISL
    SEQ ID NO: 107
       PNGDISLA
    SEQ ID NO: 108
        NGDISLAY
    SEQ ID NO: 109
         GDISLAYG
    SEQ ID NO: 110
          DISLAYGL
    SEQ ID NO: 111
           ISLAYGLR
  • xxi. 7-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 112
    VDVPNGD
    SEQ ID NO: 113
     DVPNGDI
    SEQ ID NO: 114
      VPNGDIS
    SEQ ID NO: 115
       PNGDISL
    SEQ ID NO: 116
        NGDISLA
    SEQ ID NO: 117
         GDISLAY
    SEQ ID NO: 118
          DISLAYG
    SEQ ID NO: 119
           ISLAYGL
  • xxii. 6-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 120
    DVPNGD
    SEQ ID NO: 121
     VPNGDI
    SEQ ID NO: 122
      PNGDIS
    SEQ ID NO: 123
       NGDISL
    SEQ ID NO: 124
        GDISLA
    SEQ ID NO: 125
         DISLAY
    SEQ ID NO: 126
          ISLAYG
  • xxiii. 5-amino acid peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 127
    VPNGD
    SEQ ID NO: 128
     PNGDI
    SEQ ID NO: 129
      NGDIS
    SEQ ID NO: 130
       GDISL
    SEQ ID NO: 131
        DISLA
    SEQ ID NO: 132
         ISLAY
    SEQ ID NO: 133
          SLAYG
  • xxiv. 16-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 136
    KPLAEIDSIELSYGIK
    SEQ ID NO: 137
    GDPNDGRGDSVVYGLR
  • xxv. 15-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 138
    VDTYDGGISVVYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 139
    VDTYDGDGSVVYGLR
  • xxvi. 16-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 141
    KCLAECDSIELSYGIK
  • xxvii. 8-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 142
    CLAEIDSC
  • xxviii. 18-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 143
    CFKPLAEIDSIECSYGIK
  • xxix. 16-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 144
    KPLAEDISIELSYGIK
    SEQ ID NO: 145
    KPLAEISDIELSYGIK
    SEQ ID NO: 146
    KPLAEIGDIELSYGIK
  • xxx. 15-amino acid peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 147
    KPLAEGDIELSYGIK
  • xxxi. 13-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 148
    KPLAEIELSYGIK
  • xxxii. 16-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 149
    KPLAEIDSIELTYGIK
    SEQ ID NO: 150
    KPLAEIDGIELSYGIK
    SEQ ID NO: 151
    KPLAEIDGIELTYGIK
    SEQ ID NO: 152
    KPLAEIGSIELSYGIK
    SEQ ID NO: 153
    KGLAEIDSIELSYGIK
    SEQ ID NO: 154
    KPLAGIDSIGLSYGIK
    SEQ ID NO: 155
    KCLAEIDSCELSYGIK
  • xxxiii. 13-amino acid peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 156
    CFKPLAEIDSIEC
  • xxxiv. 15-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 157
    VDVPEGDISLAYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 158
    LDGLVRAYDNISPVG
  • xxxv. 14-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 159
    GDPNGDISVVYGLR
  • xxxvi. 15-Amino Acid Peptides:
  • SEQ ID NO: 160
    VDVPNGDISLAYRLR
    SEQ ID NO: 161
    VDVPEGDISLAYRLR
    SEQ ID NO: 167
    V(beta-D)TYDGDISVVYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 168
    VDTY(beta-D)GDISVVYGLR
    SEQ ID NO: 169
    VDTYDG(beta-D)ISVVYGLR
  • In one embodiment said peptide is derived from osteopontin, such as a mammalian osteopontin variant and/or fragment.
  • In one embodiment, said peptide is non-naturally occurring, such as a peptide comprising non-proteinogenic amino acid residues.
  • In some embodiments, said peptide is further conjugated to a moiety, which may be selected from the group consisting of PEG, monosaccharides, fluorophores, chromophores, radioactive compounds, and cell-penetrating peptides. In one embodiment, the fluorophore is selected from the group consisting of Lucifer yellow, biotin, 5,6-carboxyltetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA), indodicarbocyanine (C5) Alexa Fluor® 488, Alexa Fluor® 532, Alexa Fluor® 647, ATTO 488, ATTO 532, 6-carboxyfluorescein (6-FAM), Alexa Fluor® 350, DY-415, ATTO 425, ATTO 465, Bodipy® FL, fluorescein isothiocyanate, Oregon Green® 488, Oregon Green® 514, Rhodamine Green™, 5′-Tetrachloro-Fluorescein, ATTO 520, 6-carboxy-4′,5′-dichloro-2′,7′-dimethoxyfluoresceine, Yakima Yellow™ dyes, Bodipy® 530/550, hexachloro-fluorescein, Alexa Fluor® 555, DY-549, Bodipy® TMR-X, cyanine phosphoramidites (cyanine 3, cyanine 3.5, cyanine 5, cyanine 5.5, cyanine 7.5), ATTO 550, Rhodamine Red™, ATTO 565, Carboxy-X-Rhodamine, Texas Red (Sulforhodamine 101 acid chloride), LightCycler® Red 610, ATTO 594, DY-480-XL, DY-610, ATTO 610, LightCycler® Red 640, Bodipy 630/650, ATTO 633, Bodipy 650/665, ATTO 647N, DY-649, LightCycler® Red 670, ATTO 680, LightCycler® Red 705, DY-682, ATTO 700, ATTO 740, DY-782, IRD 700, IRD 800, CAL Fluor® Gold 540 nm, CAL Fluor® Gold 522 nm, CAL Fluor® Gold 544 nm, CAL Fluor® Orange 560 nm, CAL Fluor® Orange 538 nm, CAL Fluor® Orange 559 nm, CAL Fluor® Red 590 nm, CAL Fluor® Red 569 nm, CAL Fluor® Red 591 nm, CAL Fluor® Red 610 nm, CAL Fluor® Red 590 nm, CAL Fluor® Red 610 nm, CAL Fluor® Red 635 nm, Quasar® 570 nm, Quasar® 548 nm, Quasar® 566 nm (Cy 3), Quasar® 670 nm, Quasar® 647 nm, Quasar® 670 nm, Quasar® 705 nm, Quasar® 690 nm, Quasar® 705 nm (Cy 5.5), Pulsar® 650 Dyes, SuperRox® Dyes.).
  • In another embodiment, said peptide is further modified such as being glycosylated or by PEGylation, amidation, esterification, acylation, acetylation and/or alkylation.
  • In one embodiment, said peptide comprises or consists of tandem repeats, which may comprise or consist of the amino acid sequence of any one or more of the sequences as described herein.
  • In one embodiment, said peptide is cyclic. The cyclic structure may be achieved by any suitable method of synthesis. Thus, heterodetic linkages may include, but are not limited to formation via disulphide, cysteine, alkylene or sulphide bridges.
  • In a further embodiment, the peptide comprises or consists of a fusion. For example, the peptide may comprise a fusion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 136.
  • The term ‘fusion’ of a peptide relates to an amino acid sequence corresponding to, for example, SEQ ID NO: 1 or 136 (or a fragment or variant thereof) fused to any other peptide. For example, the said peptide may be fused to a polypeptide such as glutathione-S-transferase (GST) or protein A in order to facilitate purification of said peptide. Examples of such fusions are well known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, the said peptide may be fused to an oligo-histidine tag such as His6 or to an epitope recognised by an antibody such as the well-known Myc tag epitope. Fusions to any variant or derivative of said peptide are also included in the scope of the disclosure.
  • Alternatively, the fused portion may be a lipophilic molecule or peptide domain that is capable of promoting cellular uptake of the polypeptide, as known to those skilled in the art.
    • Novel Peptides
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a peptide comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of KPLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 136), GDPNDGRGDSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 137), VDTYDGGISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 138), and VDTYDGDGSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 139), VDVPEGDISLAYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 157), LDGLVRAYDNISPVG (SEQ ID NO: 158), GDPNGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 159), VDVPNGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 160) VDVPEGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 161), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • In another embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a peptide comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of KCLAECDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 141), CLAEIDSC (SEQ ID NO: 142), CFKPLAEIDSIECSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 143), KPLAEDISIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 145), KPLAEIGDIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 146), KPLAEGDIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 147), KPLAEIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 148), KPLAEIDSIELTYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 149), KPLAEIDGIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 150), KPLAEIDGIELTYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 151), KPLAEIGSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 152), KGLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 153), KPLAGIDSIGLSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 154), KCLAEIDSCELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 155) and CFKPLAEIDSIEC (SEQ ID NO: 156), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 136), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAGIDSIGLSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 154), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KGLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 153), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KCLAECDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 141), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAEIDGIELTYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 151), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence
  • KPLAEIGSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 152), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to the agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAEIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 148), or a variant or fragment thereof.
  • In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to an agent comprising:
      • b) a peptide or peptide analog comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence GDPNDGRGDSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 137), VDTYDGGISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 138), and VDTYDGDGSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 139). VDVPEGDISLAYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 157), LDGLVRAYDNISPVG (SEQ ID NO: 158), GDPNGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 159), VDVPNGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 160) VDVPEGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 161), V(beta-D)TYDGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO:167), VDTY(beta-D)GDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 168), VDTYDG(beta-D)ISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO:169);
      • b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
      • c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); and
      • d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
  • In some embodiments, said variant comprises or consists of a sequence wherein any one amino acid has been altered for another proteinogenic or non-proteinogenic amino acid, with the proviso that no more than five amino acids are so altered, such as no more than 4 amino acids, such as no more than 3 amino acids, such as no more than 2 amino acids, such as no more than 1 amino acid is altered. In some embodiments, one or more amino acids are conservatively substituted.
  • In some embodiments, said peptide comprises or consists of one or more additional amino acids, inserted at the N- and/or C-terminus and/or internally within the sequence. In one embodiment, at least 2 additional amino acids, such as at least 3, such as at least 4, such as at least 5, such as at least 6, such as at least 7, such as at least 8, such as at least 9, such as at least 10, such as at least 15 or such as at least 20 additional amino acids are inserted.
  • In some embodiments, said peptide is no more than 85, such as no more than 80, such as no more than 75, such as no more than 70, such as no more than 65, such as no more than 60, such as nor more than 55, such as no more than 50, such as no more than 55, such as no more than 40 amino acids, such as no more than 35, such as no more than 30, such as no more than 28, such as no more than 26, such as no more than 24, such as no more than 22, such as no more than 20, such as no more than 19, such as no more than 18, such as no more than 17, such as no more than 16, such as no more than 15, such as no more than 14, such as no more than 13, such as no more than 12, such as no more than 11, such as no more than 10 amino acids in length.
  • In some embodiments, said peptide is further conjugated to a moiety, which may be selected from the group consisting of PEG, monosaccharides, fluorophores, chromophores, radioactive compounds, and cell-penetrating peptides.
  • In one embodiment, said peptide is further modified such as being glycosylated or by PEGylation, amidation, esterification, acylation, acetylation and/or alkylation.
  • In some embodiments, said peptide comprises or consists of tandem repeats, which may comprise or consist of the amino acid sequence of any one or more of the sequences as described herein above.
  • In one embodiment, said peptide is cyclic. The cyclic structure may be achieved by any suitable method of synthesis. Thus, heterodetic linkages may include, but are not limited to formation via, cysteine, disulphide, alkylene or sulphide bridges.
    • Indications
  • The agents of the present disclosure are suitable for use in the treatment of endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and disorders.
  • In one embodiment, the mammal in need of treatment of an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease is a human.
  • In some embodiments, the endocrine disease, nutritional disease and/or metabolic disease is selected from the group consisting of diabetes mellitus, type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus, disorders of glucose regulation and pancreatic internal secretion, insulin resistance syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and any combinations thereof.
  • In some embodiments, the endocrine disease, nutritional disease and/or metabolic disease is selected from the group consisting of diabetes mellitus, disorders of the thyroid gland, disorders of glucose regulation and pancreatic internal secretion, disorders of endocrine glands, malnutrition, nutritional deficiencies, obesity, hyperalimentation, and metabolic disorders.
  • In one embodiment, diabetes mellitus is selected from the group consisting of type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus, specified diabetes mellitus, and unspecified diabetes mellitus.
  • In one embodiment, disorders of glucose regulation and pancreatic internal secretion are selected from the group consisting of nondiabetic hypoglycaemic coma and disorders of pancreatic internal secretion.
  • In one embodiment, disorders of obesity and hyperalimentation are selected from the group consisting of localized adiposity, hyperalimentation, and sequelae of hyperalimentation.
  • In one embodiment, disorders of nutritional deficiencies are selected from the group consisting of disorders of aromatic amino-acid metabolism, disorders of branched-chain amino-acid metabolism and fatty-acid metabolism, disorders of amino-acid metabolism, lactose intolerance, disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, disorders of sphingolipid metabolism, disorders of lipid storage disorders, disorders of glycosaminoglycan metabolism, disorders of glycoprotein metabolism, disorders of lipoprotein metabolism, lipidaemias, disorders of purine and pyrimidine metabolism, disorders of porphyrin and bilirubin metabolism, disorders of mineral metabolism, cystic fibrosis, amyloidosis, volume depletion, disorders of fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance, and postprocedural endocrine and metabolic disorders.
    • Compositions
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a composition comprising the agent described herein.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to an agent selected from the group consisting of:
      • a) a peptide or a peptide analog selected from the group consisting of
        • (i) a peptide comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 140)
    KX2LAX5X6X7X8IX10LX12YGIK
          • wherein:
            • X2 is C, P or G;
            • X5 is E or G;
            • X6 is C, D or I;
            • X7 is D, I, S or G;
            • X8 is S, D or G;
            • X10 is E or G;
            • X12 is S or T
        • with the proviso that if X12 is T, the peptide comprises no more than 25 amino acid residues; and
        • (ii) a peptide comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 68)
    VDZ3Z4Z5GZ7Z8SZ10Z11YGLR
        • wherein:
          • Z3 is T or V;
          • Z4 is Y or P;
          • Z5 is D or N;
          • Z7 is D or G;
          • Z8 is I or G;
          • Z10 is V or L;
          • Z11 is V or A; and
        • (iii) a peptide comprising or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of KCLAECDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 141), CLAEIDSC (SEQ ID NO: 142), CFKPLAEIDSIECSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 143), KPLAEIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 148), KCLAEIDSCELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 155) and CFKPLAEIDSIEC (SEQ ID NO: 156);
      • b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
      • c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); and
      • d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c);
      • for use in the treatment of an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease in a mammal.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a composition for use in treatment of an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease, comprising an agent described herein. In one embodiment, said composition is a pharmaceutical composition.
  • In one embodiment, the agent further comprises a second active ingredient. Said second active ingredient may be selected from the group consisting of insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), biguanides, forskolin compounds, sulfonylurea, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, a thiazolidinedione, a meglitidine and a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor.
    • Other Methods
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a method of treating an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease, the method comprising administering an agent described herein to a subject in need thereof.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns the use of an agent for the manufacture of a medicament for use in treatment of an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease in a mammal.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a polynucleotide encoding upon expression the peptide as described herein. In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a vector comprising said polynucleotide encoding upon expression the peptide as described herein. In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a cell comprising said polynucleotide or said vector encoding upon expression the peptide as described herein
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a method for increasing insulin secretion, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide described herein, to an individual in need thereof. In one embodiment, said method is an in vitro method.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a method for decreasing blood glucose levels, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide described herein, to an individual in need thereof. In one embodiment, said method is an in vitro method. In one embodiment, insulin secretion is increased. In another embodiment, cellular uptake of glucose is increased. In yet another embodiment, insulin production is increased. In another embodiment glucagon production is decreased.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a method, e.g. an in vitro method, for improving β-cell morphology, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a method for improving β-cell viability, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns a method for delaying onset of diabetes and diabetes associated disorders and disease, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide described herein, to an individual in need thereof.
  • In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the agent may further comprise a detectable moiety. For example, a detectable moiety may comprise or consist of a radioisotope, such as a radioisotope selected from the group consisting of 99mTc, 111In, 67Ga, 68Ga, 72As, 89Zr, 123I and 201Tl. The binding moieties may thus be coupled to nanoparticles that have the capability of multi-imaging (for example, SPECT, PET, MRI, Optical, or Ultrasound). Alternatively, the detectable moiety may comprise or consist of a paramagnetic isotope, such as a paramagnetic isotope is selected from the group consisting of 157Gd, 55Mn, 162Dy, 52Cr and 56Fe.
  • In the case that the agent comprises a detectable moiety, then the detectable moiety may be detectable by an imaging technique such as SPECT, PET, MRI, optical or ultrasound imaging.
  • In one aspect, the present disclosure concerns the use of agent described herein for the preparation of a diagnostic composition for the diagnosis of a disease, disorder or damage of the pancreas in an individual.
    • Items
      • 1. An agent comprising:
        • a) a peptide, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 140)
    KX2LAX5X6X7X8IX10LX12YGIK
          • wherein:
            • X2 is C, P or G;
            • X5 is E or G;
            • X6 is C, D or I;
            • X7 is D, I, S or G;
            • X8 is S, D or G;
            • X10 is E or G;
            • X12 is S or T;
          • with the proviso that if X12 is T, the peptide comprises no more than 25 amino acid residues; and
          • with the proviso that if X2 is P, X5 is E, X5 is I, X7 is D, X5 is S, X10 is E and X12 is S, the peptide comprises no more than 85 amino acid residues;
          • or a biologically active fragment and/or variant of SEQ ID NO: 140;
        • b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
        • c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); and
        • d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
      • 2. An agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 164)
    VDVPZ5GDISLAYZ13LR
        • wherein:
          • Z5 is E or N;
          • Z13 is R or G.
      • 3. An agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 165)
    VDTYDGZ7Z8SVVYGLR
        • wherein:
          • Z7 is D or G;
          • Z8 is I or G.
      • 4. An agent comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 166)
    GDPNZ5Z6Z7Z8Z9SVVYGLR
        • wherein:
          • Z5 is D or G;
          • Z6 is D or G
          • Z7 is I or R;
          • Z8 is G or absent;
          • Z9 is D or absent.
      • 5. The agent according to item 2 to 4, wherein the agent comprising:
        • a) a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of GDPNDGRGDSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 137), VDTYDGGISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 138), and VDTYDGDGSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 139). VDVPEGDISLAYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 157), LDGLVRAYDNISPVG (SEQ ID NO: 158), GDPNGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 159), VDVPNGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 160) VDVPEGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 161);
        • b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
        • c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); and
        • d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
      • 6. The agent according to item 1, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 162)
    KX2LAX5X8X7X8IX10LSYGIK
        • wherein:
          • X2 is C, P or G;
          • X6 is C, I or absent;
          • X7 is D, G or absent;
          • X8 is S, G or absent;
          • X10 is E or G.
      • 7. The agent according to item 6, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 163)
    KX2LAX5IX10LSYGIK
        • wherein:
          • X2 is C, P or G;
          • X5 is E or G;
          • X10 is E or G.
      • 8. An agent comprising:
        • a) a peptide or peptide analog comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence GDPNDGRGDSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 137), VDTYDGGISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 138), and VDTYDGDGSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 139). VDVPEGDISLAYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 157), LDGLVRAYDNISPVG (SEQ ID NO: 158), GDPNGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 159), VDVPNGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 160) VDVPEGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 161), V(beta-D)TYDGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO:167), VDTY(beta-D)GDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 168), VDTYDG(beta-D)ISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO:169);
        • b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
        • c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); and
        • d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
      • 9. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the agent comprises non-naturally occurring, e.g. non-proteinogenic, amino acid residues.
      • 10. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the agent is conjugated to a moiety.
      • 11. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the moiety is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG), monosaccharides, fluorophores, chromophores, radioactive compounds, and cell-penetrating peptides.
      • 12. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the agent is further modified such as being glycosylated or by PEGylation, amidation, esterification, acylation, acetylation and/or alkylation.
      • 13. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the agent comprises or consists of tandem repeats.
      • 14. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the tandem repeats comprise or consist of the amino acid sequence of any one or more of the sequences as described in the preceding items.
      • 15. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the agent is fused to another polypeptide.
      • 16. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the said polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and protein A.
      • 17. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the agent is fused to a tag.
      • 18. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the said tag is an oligo-histidine tag.
      • 19. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the agent is cyclic, such as wherein the peptide is cyclic.
      • 20. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the peptide or peptide analog is capable of forming at least one intramolecular cysteine bridge, e.g. to form a cyclic or partially cyclic peptide.
      • 21. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of KCLAECDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 141), CLAEIDSC (SEQ ID NO: 142), CFKPLAEIDSIECSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 143), KPLAEDISIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 145), KPLAEIGDIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 146), KPLAEGDIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 147), KPLAEIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 148), KPLAEIDSIELTYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 149), KPLAEIDGIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 150), KPLAEIDGIELTYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 151), KPLAEIGSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 152), KGLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 153), KPLAGIDSIGLSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 154), KCLAEIDSCELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 155) and CFKPLAEIDSIEC (SEQ ID NO: 156), or a variant or fragment thereof.
      • 22. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 136), or a variant or fragment thereof.
      • 23. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAGIDSIGLSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 154), or a variant or fragment thereof.
      • 24. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KGLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 153), or a variant or fragment thereof.
      • 25. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KCLAECDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 141), or a variant or fragment thereof.
      • 26. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAEIDGIELTYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 151), or a variant or fragment thereof.
      • 27. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAEIGSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 152), or a variant or fragment thereof.
      • 28. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAEIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 148), or a variant or fragment thereof.
      • 29. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the variant comprises or consists of a sequence wherein any one amino acid has been altered for another proteinogenic or non-proteinogenic amino acid, with the proviso that no more than five amino acids are so altered.
      • 30. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the variant comprises or consists of a sequence wherein no more than five amino acids are altered for another proteinogenic or non-proteinogenic amino acid, such as no more than 4 amino acids, such as no more than 3 amino acids, such as no more than 2 amino acids, such as no more than 1 amino acid is altered.
      • 31. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein one or more amino acids are conservatively substituted.
      • 32. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises or consists of one or more additional amino acids, inserted at the N- and/or C-terminus and/or internally within the sequence.
      • 33. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises 1 additional amino acid conjugated to either N- or C-terminal.
      • 34. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the agent comprises no more than 85, such as no more than 80, such as no more than 75, such as no more than 70, such as no more than 65, such as no more than 60, such as nor more than 55, such as no more than 50, such as no more than 55, such as no more than 40 amino acids, such as no more than 35, such as no more than 30, such as no more than 28, such as no more than 26, such as no more than 24, such as no more than 22, such as no more than 20, such as no more than 19, such as no more than 18, such as no more than 17, such as no more than 16, such as no more than 15, such as no more than 14, such as no more than 13, such as no more than 12, such as no more than 11, such as no more than 10 amino acids.
      • 35. The agent according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the agent comprises at least 2 additional amino acids, such as at least 3, such as at least 4, such as at least 5, such as at least 6, such as at least 7, such as at least 8, such as at least 9, such as at least 10, such as at least 15 or such as at least 20 amino acids conjugated to the N- or C-terminus of the peptide.
      • 36. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the agent further comprises a detectable moiety.
      • 37. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the detectable moiety comprises or consists of a radioisotope.
      • 38. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the radioisotope is selected from the group consisting of 99mTc, 111In, 67Ga, 68Ga, 72As, 89Zr, 123I and 201Tl.
      • 39. The agent according to any of the preceding items, wherein the detectable moiety is detectable by an imaging technique such as SPECT, PET, MRI, optical or ultrasound imaging.
      • 40. Use of the agent of any of the preceding items, for the preparation of a diagnostic composition for the diagnosis of a disease, disorder or damage of the pancreas in an individual.
      • 41. A composition comprising the agent according to any of the preceding items.
      • 42. The composition according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition.
      • 43. The agent or the composition according to any one of the preceding items, for use as a medicament.
      • 44. An agent selected from the group consisting of:
        • a) a peptide selected from the group consisting of
          • (i) a peptide comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 140)
    KX2LAX5X6X7X8IX10LX12YGIK
            • wherein:
            •  X2 is C, P or G;
            •  X5 is E or G;
            •  X6 is C, D or I;
            •  X7 is D, I, S or G;
            •  X8 is S, D or G;
            •  X10 is E or G;
            •  X12 is S or T;
        • with the proviso that if X12 is T, the peptide comprises no more than 25 amino acid residues;
        • or a biologically active fragment and/or variant of SEQ ID NO: 140;
        • (ii) a peptide comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
  • (SEQ ID NO: 68)
    VDZ3Z4Z5GZ7SZ10Z11YGLR
          • wherein:
            • Z3 is T or V;
            • Z4 is Y or P;
            • Z5 is D or N;
            • Z7 is D or G;
            • Z8 is I or G;
            • Z10 is V or L;
            • Z11 is V or A; and
        • b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
        • c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); and
        • d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c);
        • for use in the treatment of an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease in a mammal.
      • 45. The agent or the composition for use according to item 44, wherein the peptide comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of KCLAECDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 141), CLAEIDSC (SEQ ID NO: 142), CFKPLAEIDSIECSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 143), KPLAEIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 148), KCLAEIDSCELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 155) and CFKPLAEIDSIEC (SEQ ID NO: 156);
      • 46. The agent or the composition for use according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155 and 156.
      • 47. The agent or the composition for use according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 136, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135, 137, 138, 139, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 167, 168 and 169.
      • 48. The agent or the composition for use according to any one of the preceding items, wherein said agent comprises a second or further active ingredient.
      • 49. The agent or the composition for use according to item 48, wherein the second or further active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), sulfonylurea, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, a thiazolidinedione, a meglitidine and a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor.
      • 50. The agent or the composition according to any of the preceding items for use in the treatment of an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease in a mammal.
      • 51. The agent or the composition for use according to item 50, wherein the mammal is a human.
      • 52. The agent or the composition for use according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the endocrine disease, nutritional disease and/or metabolic disease are selected from the group consisting of diabetes mellitus, type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus, disorders of glucose regulation and pancreatic internal secretion, insulin resistance syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and any combinations thereof.
      • 53. The agent or the composition for use according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the endocrine disease, nutritional disease and/or metabolic disease are selected from the group consisting of diabetes mellitus, disorders of the thyroid gland, disorders of glucose regulation and pancreatic internal secretion, disorders of endocrine glands, malnutrition, nutritional deficiencies, obesity, hyperalimentation, and metabolic disorders.
      • 54. The agent or the composition for use according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the diabetes mellitus is selected from the group consisting of type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus, specified diabetes mellitus, and unspecified diabetes mellitus.
      • 55. The agent or the composition for use according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the disorder of glucose regulation and pancreatic internal secretion is selected from the group consisting of nondiabetic hypoglycaemic coma and disorders of pancreatic internal secretion.
      • 56. The agent or the composition for use according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the disorder of obesity and hyperalimentation is selected from the group consisting of localized adiposity, hyperalimentation, and sequelae of hyperalimentation.
      • 57. The agent or the composition for use according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the disorder of nutritional deficiencies is selected from the group consisting of disorders of aromatic amino-acid metabolism, disorders of branched-chain amino-acid metabolism and fatty-acid metabolism, disorders of amino-acid metabolism, lactose intolerance, disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, disorders of sphingolipid metabolism, disorders of lipid storage disorders, disorders of glycosaminoglycan metabolism, disorders of glycoprotein metabolism, disorders of lipoprotein metabolism, lipiemias, disorders of purine and pyrimidine metabolism, disorders of porphyrin and bilirubin metabolism, disorders of mineral metabolism, cystic fibrosis, amyloidosis, volume depletion, disorders of fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance, and postprocedural endocrine and metabolic disorders.
      • 58. A method of treating an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease, the method comprising administering an agent according to any one of the preceding items to a subject in need thereof.
      • 59. Use of an agent according to any one of the preceding items for the manufacture of a medicament for use in treatment of an endocrine disease, a nutritional disease and/or a metabolic disease in a mammal.
      • 60. A method for delaying onset of diabetes and diabetes associated disorders and diseases, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the agent as defined in any one of the preceding items, to an individual in need thereof.
      • 61. A method for decreasing blood glucose levels, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent of any one of the preceding items, to an individual in need thereof.
      • 62. The method according to item 61, wherein insulin secretion is increased.
      • 63. The method according to item 61, wherein cellular uptake of glucose is increased.
      • 64. The method according to item 61, wherein the insulin production is increased.
      • 65. The method according to item 61, wherein the glucagon production is decreased.
      • 66. A method for improving beta cell viability, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent of any one of the preceding items, to an individual in need thereof.
      • 67. A method for improving beta cell morphology, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent of any one of the preceding items, to an individual in need thereof.
      • 68. A method for stabilising or improving viability and/or morphology of pancreatic islets, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent of any one of the preceding items, to an individual in need thereof.
    EXAMPLES
  • The disclosure is further illustrated by the following examples, which however should not be construed as being limiting for the disclosure. These examples demonstrate that exemplary peptides of the present disclosure stimulate β-cell proliferation, and have the ability to protect and rescue β-cells from apoptosis induced by glucotoxic conditions. It is also demonstrated that the exemplary peptides have the ability to stimulate insulin secretion from rat β-cells as well as isolated mouse pancreatic islets, where the peptides also are demonstrated to reduce glucagon levels. Furthermore, the examples demonstrate that the peptides reduce plasma glucose levels in vivo in a glucose tolerance test and that the peptides delay onset of type 1 diabetes in BB lyp/lyp rats
    • Example 1: Peptide Design
  • The novel peptides were designed following rational structure activity investigations. For FOL-005 (SEQ ID NO: 1) the peptides were designed around the RGD site but mutated in order to generate different structures that potentially could interact with different integrins. A sequence similar to FOL-005 was identified in the third fibronectin type III repeat domain (TNfn3) in tenascin-C and found to be reasonably similar to the mutated RGD site of FOL-005. A peptide was designed from this sequence denoted FOL-014. The X-ray crystal structure of the tenascin-3 TNfn3 domain (PDB code 1TEN, Leahy et al. (1992) Science 258(5084):987-91) was analyzed. The FOL-014 (SEQ ID NO: 136) sequence span the beta-turn before and the entire 3rd beta sheet. FOL-014 variants were designed to allow for structural modification and stabilization of the 3-dimensional molecular structure. Specifically, the peptides variants covered the beta-turn region with exposed side chains and some cyclized variants to maintain geometry.
  • All peptides were synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis using several peptide manufacturers. Mainly, the peptide variants have been provided by Biopeptide Inc., California.
    • Example 2: FOL-005 and FOL-014 Induced Proliferation of INS-1 Cells
  • To investigate if FOL-005 and FOL-014 could induce proliferation of β-cells we used INS-1 cells. Rat INS-1 cells were seeded in 96-well plates in RPMI medium with supplement and after 2 hours the medium was changed to RPMI without supplement. During the proliferation experiment the cells were incubated at different test conditions (FOL-005, FOL-014, coated or in solution, 48 h incubation) and during the last 20 hours of culture period the cells were pulsed with 1μ Ci/well of [methyl-3H] thymidine. The cells were then harvested onto glass fiber filters using a FilterMate harvester. The filters were air dried, and the bound radioactivity was measured using a liquid scintillation counter. To study whether FOL-005 influenced β-cell proliferation, INS-1 cells were treated with increasing amounts of soluble FOL-005 (0.06-6 μM) during 48 hours and proliferation was measured with radiolabeled thymidine incorporation into newly synthesized DNA. FOL-005 stimulated INS-1 cell proliferation (FIG. 1A). Wells coated with either FOL-005 or FOL-014 and later blocked with bovine serum albumin (BSA) before addition of INS-1 cells also stimulated proliferation compared to control (ctrl) coated wells (FIG. 1B-C).
  • This demonstrated that FOL-005 and FOL-014 interacted with β-cells and induced proliferation.
    • Example 3: FOL-005 Protected n-Cells from Glucotoxicity
  • Since glucotoxicity in pancreatic β-cells is a well-established process in type 2 diabetes we next investigated the protective effects of FOL-005 on β-cells during glucotoxic conditions. First we confirmed that 20 mM glucose induced cell apoptosis in INS cells after 48 h of exposure. High glucose (20 mM) containing RPMI medium induced more Annexin V positive cells and more caspase-3 activity in INS cells compared to cells incubated with medium containing 5 mM glucose (FIG. 2A-B). Exposure of INS-1 cells to 20 mM of glucose at the same time as FOL-005 decreased cell apoptosis as detected both by Annexin V staining and by caspase-3 activity (FIG. 2 A-B). The rate of apoptosis in INS-1 cells was measured with either Caspase-3 Assay Kit or stained with Annexin V Apoptosis Detection Kit with 7-AAD. Caspase-3 activity was measured with fluorescence at an excitation wavelength of 380 nm and an emission wavelength of 440 nm. Caspase-3 activity was then normalized to protein concentration in each well. Measurements of Annexin V stained cells were performed using a CyAn ADP flow cytometer and analyzed with Summit V4.3 software.
  • In conclusion, it is well known that glucotoxicity induces β-cell apoptosis, however in the presence of FOL-005 glucotoxicity-induced apoptosis was diminished.
    • Example 4: FOL-005 Induced Insulin Secretion from INS-1 Cells
  • To investigate the stimulatory effect of FOL-005 on insulin secretion, INS-1 β-cells were used in the following experiments. Cells were seeded overnight in cRPMI and then washed with PBS before pre-incubation for 60 min at 37° C. in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (KRB), pH 7.4, supplemented with 10 mM HEPES, 0.1% bovine serum albumin. After pre-incubation, the buffer was changed and the INS-1 cells were incubated at different test conditions (0 mM, 5 mM or 20 mM glucose) and stimulated with peptide FOL-005 or FOL-015 (SEQ ID NO: 158) or left untreated during 60 min at 37° C. Immediately after incubation, an aliquot of the buffer was removed and frozen for subsequent assay of insulin with an insulin radioimmunoassay kit.
  • The results demonstrated that β-cells stimulated with FOL-005 peptide secreted more insulin compared to unstimulated control cells or to cells stimulated with the FOL-015 control peptide (FIG. 3A) under conditions without glucose. INS-1 β-cells subjected to glucose (5 mM or 20 mM) responded with insulin secretion after FOL-005 peptide (6 μM) stimulation (FIG. 3B). INS-1 cells stimulated with 6 μM FOL-005 peptide in the presence of 20 mM glucose responded with more insulin secretion compared to FOL-005 stimulated cells incubated with 5 mM glucose (FIG. 3B).
    • Example 5: FOL-005 Induced Insulin Secretion from Mouse Pancreatic Islets
  • Mouse pancreatic islets were isolated from 8-week old C57BL/6J male mice (Taconic). Mice were sacrificed by an overdose of isoflurane and cervical dislocation. 3 ml of 0.9 U/ml collagenase P was injected into the pancreatic duct to inflate the pancreas. The pancreas was then removed and collagen digested for 19 min at 37° C. The samples were vigorously shaken to disrupt the tissue. The digest was transferred into ice cold Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) with Ca2+ and Mg2+. The suspension was allowed to sit for 10 min to allow the islet to sink, and the islets were washed in fresh HBSS four times. The islets were then hand-picked and sorted according to size. Islets (n=3 per well in a 96 well plate) were pre-incubated in KRB buffer during 10 min 37° C., pH 7.4, supplemented with 10 mM HEPES, 0.1%) bovine serum albumin. After pre-incubation, the buffer was changed and islets were incubated at different test conditions in new KRB buffer with 0.1%) bovine serum albumin (non-treated ctrl, FOL-005 peptide, or GLP-1) for 60 min at 37° C. Immediately after incubation, an aliquot of the buffer was removed and frozen for subsequent assay of insulin.
  • The results demonstrated that isolated mouse pancreatic islets stimulated with GLP-1 (100 nM) or FOL-005 (6 μM) secreted more insulin compared to unstimulated control islets (FIG. 3C).
    • Example 6: FOL-014 Induced Insulin Secretion from INS-1 Cells
  • INS-1 β-cells were used to investigate the stimulatory effect of FOL-014 on insulin secretion. Cells were seeded overnight and then washed with PBS before pre-incubation for 60 min at 37° C. in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (KRB), pH 7.4, supplemented with 10 mM HEPES, 0.1% bovine serum albumin. After pre-incubation, the buffer was changed and the INS-1 cells were incubated in new KRB buffer supplemented with 10 mM HEPES, 0.1% bovine serum albumin and stimulated with peptide FOL-014 or left untreated during 60 min at 37° C. Immediately after incubation, an aliquot of the buffer was removed and frozen for subsequent assay of insulin.
  • The results demonstrated that β-cells stimulated with FOL-014 peptide secreted more insulin compared to unstimulated control cells (FIG. 4A).
    • Example 7: FOL-014 Induced Insulin Secretion from Mouse Pancreatic Islets
  • Mouse pancreatic islets were isolated from 8-week old C57BL/6J male mice as described under example 5. The islets were then hand-picked and sorted according to size. Islets (n=5 per well in a 96 well plate) were pre-incubated in 200 μl KRB buffer during 10 min 37° C., pH 7.4, supplemented with 10 mM HEPES, 0.1% bovine serum albumin. Following pre-incubation, the buffer was changed and islets were incubated in different test conditions in new KRB buffer with 0.1% bovine serum albumin (non-treated ctrl, FOL-014 peptide, and GLP-1) for 60 min at 37° C. Immediately after incubation, an aliquot of the buffer was removed and frozen for subsequent assay of insulin. The result show that mouse pancreatic islets stimulated with FOL-014 (6 μM) secreted more insulin compared to unstimulated control islets (FIG. 4B). GLP-1 (100 nM) or FOL-014 (0.6 μM) did not affect insulin secretion (FIG. 4B).
    • Example 8-11: Stimulation of Insulin Secretion from INS-1 Cell Lines by FOL-014, FOL-005 and Related Peptides
  • Materials and methods: Rat INS-1 β-cells (passages 60-70) were cultured at 37° C. and 5% CO2 in cRPMI media (RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 50 IU/mL penicillin, 50 mg/L streptomycin, 10 mM HEPES, 2 mM L-glutamine, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, and 50 μM beta-mercaptoethanol) unless otherwise stated. INS-1 cells were seeded in 96-well plates (2×103 cells/well) in cRPMI medium and following overnight incubation, the cells were washed in PBS before pre-incubation for 120 min at 37° C. in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer, pH 7.4, supplemented with 10 mM HEPES, 0.1% bovine serum albumin and 2.8 mM glucose. Following pre-incubation, the buffer was exchanged with fresh Krebs-Ringer buffer as described above and supplemented with specific glucose concentrations and peptides for the individual experiments as described below. Immediately after 60 minutes incubation at 37° C., an aliquot of the buffer was removed and frozen for subsequent insulin ELIZA assay.
    • Example 8. FOL-014 Induced Insulin Secretion is Dose-Dependent in a Non-Linear Manner
  • Insulin release from INS-1 cells were measured following exposure to increasing concentrations of FOL-014 and compared with the stimulatory effect of GLP-1 and untreated control during high glucose concentration (16.7 mM). All concentrations of FOL-014 tested elicited significantly higher insulin release as compared with the untreated control. At 6 nM or higher, FOL-014 triggered insulin release within the same range as 100 mM GLP-1. At concentrations ranging from 0.6-60 nM, insulin secretion increased in a linear fashion in relation to increasing FOL-014 concentrations. Exposure to FOL-014 concentrations 600 nM did not increase the insulin secretion (FIG. 5).
  • The results demonstrated that FOL-014 significantly increased insulin secretion from INS-1 β-cells in vitro in a non-linear dose dependent fashion.
    • Example 9. The Capacity of FOL-014 to Induce Insulin Secretion is Glucose Dependent
  • Insulin release from INS-1 cells was measured following exposure to 60 nM FOL-014 at increasing concentrations of glucose. In untreated control samples, elevated glucose concentrations increased the insulin secretion at 11.1 mM glucose or higher. In the presence of FOL-014, insulin secretion increased significantly in a glucose dependent fashion already from 5.5 mM glucose. (FIG. 6).
  • The results demonstrated that the presence of FOL-014 significantly increased insulin secretion from INS-1 β-cells in vitro in a glucose concentration dependent fashion and that FOL-014 was effective also at marginally elevated glucose levels.
    • Example 10. FOL-014 or FOL-005 in Combination with GLP-1 Increased Insulin Secretion as Compared with Either Peptide Alone
  • Insulin secretion from INS-1 cells was measured following exposure to FOL-005, FOL-014, GLP-1 or combinations of those, expressed as percentage of untreated control. The combined effect of GLP-1 and FOL-014 resulted in a significantly higher insulin release than GLP-1 or FOL-014 alone. The additive effect of the combination of FOL-005 and GLP-1 was less pronounced, but did however increase the insulin secretion as compared with GLP-1 alone. The experiments were performed in the presence of 16.7 mM glucose (FIG. 7).
  • The results demonstrated that the combination of GLP-1 and FOL-014 could further potentiate the insulin secretion from INS-1 cells in vitro as compared with each peptide alone. Furthermore, the combination of FOL-005 and GLP-1 tendentially increased insulin secretion.
    • Example 11. The Ability of Novel Peptide Analogues to Induce Insulin Secretion in Pancreatic β-Cell-Lines was Investigated
  • Novel peptide analogues, derived from either FOL-005 or FOL-014 were tested concerning their ability to induce insulin secretion in two separate INS-1 cell lines in the presence of 16.7 mM glucose. FOL-005, FOL-014 and GLP-1 as well as a high glucose (16.7 mM) and a low glucose (2.8 mM) control (not shown) was included in each experiment and the peptide concentration was 100 nM. In order to correct for the variance between experiments, all values were normalized to, and expressed as percentage of the average value of the high glucose control in the individual experiments. The analogues were subsequently ranked according to performance (FIGS. 11A and 11B). Peptide analogues eliciting an insulin response below the high glucose control average value were considered non-functional and were hence excluded (not shown).
  • The results demonstrated the capacity of several novel peptide analogues to enhance insulin secretion from INS-1 β-cells in vitro.
    • Example 12. FOL-014 Increase Insulin Secretion from Mouse-Derived Pancreatic Islets
  • Twelve-week-old male C57/bl6 mice were euthanized with isoflurane and cervical dislocation. After clamping the hepatic ducts, 3 ml of 0.9 U/ml collagenase P was injected into the bile duct to inflate the pancreas. The pancreas was then removed and digested for 19 min at 37° C. The samples were vigorously shaken to disrupt the tissue. The digest was quickly transferred into ice cold Hank's Balanced Salts Solution with Ca2+ and Mg2+. The suspension was allowed to sit for 8 min to allow the islet to sink, and the islets were washed in the same manner our times. The islets were then handpicked and sorted according to size.
  • Freshly isolated islets were seeded in groups of 5 in a 96-well plate and preincubated for 1 h at 37° C. in a Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.4). The islets were incubated for 1 h at 37° C. in Krebs-Ringer buffered solution supplemented with 0.6 or 6 μM FOL-014 or 100 nM GLP-1 or left unsupplemented for control. Immediately after incubation, the medium was removed for assays of insulin and glucagon using Mercodia's ELISA kits. The effect of FOL-014 on insulin (FIGS. 8A and B) and glucagon (FIGS. 8C and D) secretion from isolated mouse islets was measured in the presence of low glucose (2.8 mM; FIGS. 8A and C) or high glucose (16.7 mM; FIGS. 8B and D) concentrations. A significant effect of FOL-014 was observed in the presence of high glucose for insulin and in the presence of both high and low glucose for glucagon. The effect of FOL-014 differed from that of GLP-1, which enhanced insulin secretion also in low glucose samples but failed to inhibit glucagon secretion in low glucose conditions.
  • The results demonstrated that FOL-014 enhanced insulin secretion and inhibited glucagon secretion in pancreatic islets.
    • Example 13. FOL-014 Reduced Plasma Glucose Levels in an Intraperitoneal Glucose Tolerance Test (IPGTT) in Mice
  • Whole blood was collected for glucose and insulin measurements from 10-week-old wild type male C57bl/6 mice. After a 4 hour fast, the mice were divided into three groups and given an intraperitoneal injection (ip) of either saline, 30 nmol/kg peptide (FIG. 9A) or 200 nmol/kg peptide (FIG. 9B). 15 min after the FOL-014 or saline (control) injections, the mice were administered 2 g of glucose/kg ip. Blood glucose concentrations were measured at 5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the glucose injection. Statistical calculations were performed using student's t-test. FOL-014 dosed at 200 nmol/kg significantly lowered the plasma glucose levels as compared to the control when measured as area under the curve. In addition, the difference was significant at 15, 30 and 45 minutes. At the 30 nmol/kg dose, FOL-014 lowered the plasma glucose levels with a significant effect at 45 minutes after the glucose injection.
  • The results demonstrated that FOL-014 could lower plasma glucose levels in a glucose tolerance test performed on healthy wild type mice.
    • Example 14. FOL-014 Delayed Onset of Type 1 Diabetes in BB Lyp/Lyp Rats
  • BB lyp/lyp rats were randomized for placebo (sodium chloride, 9 mg/ml) or FOL-014 treatment 3 times/week from day 40 until onset of type 1 diabetes, defined as plasma glucose levels 11.1 mM. The dose of 100 nmol/kg FOL-014 peptide in saline or placebo (saline) was administered subcutaneously and the animals were terminated immediately upon exceeding critical plasma glucose levels. The difference between FOL-014 treated animals and animals receiving placebo treatment was significant both when expressed as average age for onset of type 1 diabetes (FIG. 10A) and when described as percentage of animals developing type 1 diabetes per day (FIG. 10B).
  • The results demonstrated that FOL-014 treatment significantly delayed the onset of type-1 diabetes in BB lyp/lyp rats.
    • Example 15. FOL-005 and FOL-014 Displayed Organ Specific Distribution Patterns in Mice
  • 057BI/6 mice were injected subcutaneously with H3 labelled FOL-005 and euthanized at 1 h (FIG. 12A) or 2 h (FIG. 12B) after injection. Following whole body sectioning the distribution of the labelled peptide was visualised. Strong binding was evident in pancreas and at the site of injection. Using Pearl Trilogy Small Animal Imaging System, in vivo bio-distribution and tissue localization of two Cy7.5 labelled peptides, FOL-005 (FIG. 12C) and FOL-014 (FIG. 12D) in NMRI nude mice via subcutaneous injection was investigated. High accumulation of the peptide was evident in the pancreatic tissue area. The same distribution pattern was found after i.v. administrations (not shown). The dose of each peptide was 10 nmol per mouse. The mice were imaged before injection, at 5 min, 20 min, 50 min, 60 min, 2 hrs, 4 hrs, 6 hrs, 24 hrs and 48 hrs post administration of labelled peptide.
    • Example 16. Tissue Specific Imaging for Diagnostic Use
  • Agents prepared as defined herein above are labelled by conjugation to suitable imaging probe or moiety, using methods known by those of skill in the art. The conjugated peptide-probe agents are subsequently administered to a subject and biodistribution is subsequently monitored e.g. up to 48 h after administration. The conjugated agent is thus used as a diagnostic or prognostic tool for investigation of pancreatic status. As such, the conjugated agents are suitable for detecting, diagnosing, or monitoring disease, disease processes and progression, susceptibility, as well as to determine efficacy of a treatment. The agents are particularly suited for monitoring the diabetic status of a subject. The conjugated agents are also used for monitoring and/or predicting risk of developing a disease, specifically diabetes. The test is used alone or in combination with other tests known by those of skill in the art, such as blood tests, genetic testing, urine test, and biopsies.
  • Example 17 Sequence overview
    SEQ
    ID
    NO Sequence Notes
    1 VDTYDGDISVVYGLR FOL-005
    2 VDTYDGDISVVYGLS
    3 VDTYDGDISVVYGL FOL-025
    4 DTYDGDISVVYGLR
    5 TYDGDISVVYGLRS
    6 VDTYDGDISVVYG FOL-024
    7 DTYDGDISVVYGL
    8 TYDGDISVVYGLR
    9 YDGDISVVYGLRS
    10 VDTYDGDISVVY
    11 DTYDGDISVVYG
    12 TYDGDISVVYGL
    13 YDGDISVVYGLR
    14 DGDISVVYGLRS
    15 VDTYDGDISVV
    16 DTYDGDISVVY
    17 TYDGDISVVYG
    18 YDGDISVVYGL
    19 DGDISVVYGLR
    20 GDISVVYGLRS
    21 VDTYDGDISV
    22 DTYDGDISVV
    23 TYDGDISVVY
    24 YDGDISVVYG
    25 DGDISVVYGL
    26 GDISVVYGLR FOL-009h
    27 DISVVYGLRS
    28 VDTYDGDIS FOL-019h
    29 DTYDGDISV
    30 TYDGDISVV
    31 YDGDISVVY
    32 DGDISVVYG
    33 GDISVVYGL
    34 DISVVYGLR
    35 ISVVYGLRS
    36 VDTYDGDI
    37 DTYDGDIS
    38 TYDGDISV
    39 YDGDISVV
    40 DGDISVVY
    41 GDISVVYG
    42 DISVVYGL
    43 ISVVYGLR
    44 VDTYDGD
    45 DTYDGDI
    46 TYDGDIS
    47 YDGDISV
    48 DGDISVV
    49 GDISVVY
    50 DISVVYG
    51 ISVVYGL
    52 DTYDGD
    53 TYDGDI
    54 YDGDIS
    55 DGDISV
    56 GDISVV
    57 DISVVY
    58 ISVVYG
    59 TYDGD
    60 YDGDI
    61 DGDIS
    62 GDISV
    63 DISVV
    64 ISVVY
    65 SVVYG
    66 MRIAVICFCLLGITCA Wildtype human
    IPVKQADSGSSEEKQL osteopontin, i.e.
    YNKYPDAVATWLNPDP Gen Bank:
    SQKQNLLAPQTLPSKS AAA59974.1
    NESHDHMDDMDDEDDD
    DHVDSQDSIDSNDSDD
    VDDTDDSHQSDESHHS
    DESDELVTDFPTDLPA
    TEVFTPVVPT VDTYDG
    RGDSVVYGL RSKSKKF
    RRPDIQYPDATDEDIT
    SHMESEELNGAYKAIP
    VAQDLNAPSDWDSRGK
    DSYETSQLDDQSAETH
    SHKQSRLYKRKANDES
    NEHSDVIDSQELSKVS
    REFHSHEFHSHEDMLV
    VDPKSKEEDKHLKFRI
    SHELDSASSEVN
    67 VDTYDGRGDSVVYGLR FOL-002
    68 VDZ3Z4Z5GZ7Z8S Z3 is T or V;
    Z10Z11YGLR Z4 is Y or P;
    Z5 is D or N;
    Z7 is D or G;
    Z8 is I or G;
    Z10 is V or L;
    Z11 is V or A
    69 VDVPNGDISLAYGLR FOL-004
    70 DVPNGDISLAYGLRS
    71 VDVPNGDISLAYGL FOL-016
    72 DVPNGDISLAYGLR FOL-007
    73 VPNGDISLAYGLRS
    74 VDVPNGDISLAYG FOL-017
    75 DVPNGDISLAYGL
    76 VPNGDISLAYGLR
    77 PNGDISLAYGLRS
    78 VDVPNGDISLAY
    79 DVPNGDISLAYG
    80 VPNGDISLAYGL
    81 PNGDISLAYGLR FOL-008
    82 NGDISLAYGLRS
    83 VDVPNGDISLA FOL-018
    84 DVPNGDISLAY
    85 VPNGDISLAYG
    86 PNGDISLAYGL
    87 NGDISLAYGLR
    88 GDISLAYGLRS
    89 VDVPNGDISL
    90 DVPNGDISLA
    91 VPNGDISLAY
    92 PNGDISLAYG
    93 NGDISLAYGL
    94 GDISLAYGLR FOL-009
    95 DISLAYGLRS
    96 VDVPNGDIS FOL-019
    97 DVPNGDISL
    98 VPNGDISLA
    99 PNGDISLAY
    100 NGDISLAYG
    101 GDISLAYGL
    102 DISLAYGLR
    103 ISLAYGLRS
    104 VDVPNGDI
    105 DVPNGDIS
    106 VPNGDISL
    107 PNGDISLA
    108 NGDISLAY
    109 GDISLAYG
    110 DISLAYGL
    111 ISLAYGLR
    112 VDVPNGD
    113 DVPNGDI
    114 VPNGDIS
    115 PNGDISL
    116 NGDISLA
    117 GDISLAY
    118 DISLAYG
    119 ISLAYGL
    120 DVPNGD
    121 VPNGDI
    122 PNGDIS
    123 NGDISL
    124 GDISLA
    125 DISLAY
    126 ISLAYG
    127 VPNGD
    128 PNGDI
    129 NGDIS
    130 GDISL
    131 DISLA
    132 ISLAY
    133 SLAYG
    134 MRLAVICFCLFGIASS Wildtype murine
    LPVKVTDSGSSEEKLY osteopontin, i.e.
    SLHPDPIATWLVPDPS NCBI Reference
    QKQNLLAPQNAVSSEE Sequence:
    KDDFKQETLPSNSNES NP_001191162.1
    HDHMDDDDDDDDDDGD
    HAESEDSVDSDESDES
    HHSDESDETVTASTQA
    DTFTPIVPT VDVPNGR
    GDSLAYGLR SKSRSFQ
    VSDEQYPDATDEDLTS
    HMKSGESKESLDVIPV
    AQLLSMPSDQDNNGKG
    SHESSQLDEPSLETHR
    LEHSKESQESADQSDV
    IDSQASSKASLEHQSH
    KFHSHKDKLVLDPKSK
    EDDRYLKFRISHELES
    SSSEVN
    135 VDVPNGRGDSLAYGLR FOL-001
    136 KPLAEIDSIELSYGIK FOL-014
    137 GDPNDGRGDSVVYGLR FOL-003
    138 VDTYDGGISVVYGLR FOL-026
    139 VDTYDGDGSVVYGLR FOL-027
    140 KX2LAX5X6X7X8IX10 X2 is C, P or G;
    LX12YGIK X5 is E or G;
    X6 is C, D or I;
    X7 is D, I, S or G;
    X8 is S, D or G;
    X10 is E or G;
    X12 i S S or T;
    141 KCLAECDSIELSYGIK  FOL-032
    (Cyclic)
    142 CLAEIDSC  FOL-033
    (Cyclic)
    143 CFKPLAEIDSIECSYG FOL-036
    IK (Cyclic)
    144 KPLAEDISIELSYGIK FOL-037
    145 KPLAEISDIELSYGIK FOL-038
    146 KPLAEIGDIELSYGIK FOL-039
    147 KPLAEGDIELSYGIK FOL-040
    148 KPLAEIELSYGIK FOL-041
    149 KPLAEIDSIELTYGIK FOL-042
    150 KPLAEIDGIELSYGIK FOL-043
    151 KPLAEIDGIELTYGIK FOL-044
    152 KPLAEIGSIELSYGIK FOL-045
    153 KGLAEIDSIELSYGIK FOL-046
    154 KPLAGIDSIGLSYGIK FOL-047
    155 Cyclic  FOL-034
    KCLAEIDSCELSYGIK
    156 Cyclic  FOL-035
    CFKPLAEIDSIEC
    157 VDVPEGDISLAYGLR FOL-010
    158 LDGLVRAYDNISPVG FOL-015
    159 GDPNGDISVVYGLR FOL-006
    160 VDVPNGDISLAYRLR FOL-011
    161 VDVPEGDISLAYRLR FOL-012
    162 KX2LAX5X6X7X8IX10 X2 is C, P or G;
    LSYGIK X5 is E or G;
    X6 is C, I or absent;
    X7 is D, G or absent;
    X8 is S, G or absent;
    X10 is E or G;
    163 KX2LAX5IX10LSYGIK X2 iS C, P or G;
    X5 is E or G;
    X10 is E or G.
    164 VDVPZ5GDISLAYZ13 Z5 is E or N;
    LR Z13 is R or G.
    165 VDTYDGZ7Z8SVVYGLR Z7 is D or G;
    Z8 is I or G.
    166 GDPNZ5Z6Z7Z8Z9SV Z5 is D or G;
    VYGLR Z6 is D or G
    Z7 is I or R;
    Z8 is G or absent;
    Z9 is D or absent.
    167 VZ2TYDGDISVVYGLR Z2 is beta D
    FOL-005 (2betaAsp)
    168 VDTY  Z5 is beta D
    Z5GDISVVYGLR FOL-005 (5betaAsp)
    169 VDTYDG  FOL-005 (7betaAsp)
    Z7ISVVYGLR Z7 is beta D

Claims (29)

1. An agent comprising:
a) a peptide or peptide analog comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence KPLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 136), KCLAECDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 141), KPLAEDISIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 145), KPLAEIGDIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 146), KPLAEIDSIELTYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 149), KPLAEIDGIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 150), KPLAEIDGIELTYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 151), KPLAEIGSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 152), KGLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 153) and KPLAGIDSIGLSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 154); CLAEIDSC (SEQ ID NO: 142), CFKPLAEIDSIECSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 143), KPLAEGDIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 147), KPLAEIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 148), KCLAEIDSCELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 155), or CFKPLAEIDSIEC (SEQ ID NO: 156);
b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); or
d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
2. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
(SEQ ID NO: 162) KX2LAX5X6X7X8IX10LSYGIK
wherein:
X2 is C, P or G;
X5 is E or G;
X5 is C, I or absent;
X7 is D, G or absent;
X8 is S, G or absent;
X10 is E or G.
3. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the agent comprises no more than 85, such as no more than 80, such as no more than 75, such as no more than 70, such as no more than 65, such as no more than 60, such as nor more than 55, such as no more than 50, such as no more than 55, such as no more than 40 amino acids, such as no more than 35, such as no more than 30, such as no more than 28, such as no more than 26, such as no more than 24, such as no more than 22, such as no more than 20, such as no more than 19, such as no more than 18, such as no more than 17, such as no more than 16, such as no more than 15, such as no more than 14, such as no more than 13, such as no more than 12, such as no more than 11, such as no more than 10 amino acids.
4. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the agent comprises at least 2 additional amino acids, such as at least 3, such as at least 4, such as at least 5, such as at least 6, such as at least 7, such as at least 8, such as at least 9, such as at least 10, such as at least 15 or such as at least 20 amino acids conjugated to the N- or C-terminus of the peptide.
5. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the agent is non-naturally occurring.
6. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the agent is conjugated to a moiety.
7. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the agent is further modified such as being glycosylated or by PEGylation, amidation, esterification, acylation, acetylation and/or alkylation.
8. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the agent comprises or consists of tandem repeats.
9. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the agent is fused to another polypeptide.
10. The agent according to claim 9, wherein the said polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and protein A.
11. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the agent is fused to a tag.
12. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the agent is cyclic.
13. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence KPLAEIDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 136), or a variant or fragment thereof.
14. The agent according to claim 1, wherein one or more amino acids are conservatively substituted.
15. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises or consists of one or more additional amino acids, inserted at the N- and/or C-terminus and/or internally within the sequence.
16. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the agent further comprises a detectable moiety.
17. An agent comprising:
c) a peptide or peptide analog comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence GDPNDGRGDSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 137), VDTYDGGISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 138), and VDTYDGDGSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 139). VDVPEGDISLAYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 157), LDGLVRAYDNISPVG (SEQ ID NO: 158), GDPNGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 159), VDVPNGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 160) VDVPEGDISLAYRLR (SEQ ID NO: 161), V(beta-D)TYDGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO:167), VDTY(beta-D)GDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 168), or VDTYDG(beta-D)ISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO:169);
b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); or
d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
18. The agent according to claim 17, wherein the peptide or peptide analog comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence VDTYDGGISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 138), or a variant or fragment thereof.
19. A method of treating an endocrine disease and/or a metabolic disease, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an agent comprising:
a) a peptide or a peptide analog selected from the group consisting of:
(i) a peptide comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
(SEQ ID NO: 140) KX2LAX5X6X7X8IX10LX12YGIK
wherein:
X2 is C, P or G;
X5 is E or G;
X6 is C, D or I;
X7 is D, I, S or G;
X8 is S, D or G;
X10 is E or G;
X12 is S or T;
with the proviso that if X12 is T, the peptide comprises no more than 25 amino acid residues;
(ii) a peptide comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence of the general formula:
(SEQ ID NO: 68) VDZ3Z4Z5GZ7Z8SZ10Z11YGLR
wherein:
Z3 is T or V;
Z4 is Y or P;
Z5 is D or N;
Z7 is D or G;
Z8 is I or G;
Z10 is V or L;
Z11 is V or A;
wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of VDTYDGDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 1), VDTYDGDISVVYGL (SEQ ID NO: 3), VDTYDGDISVVYG (SEQ ID NO: 6), GDISVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 26), VDTYDGDIS (SEQ ID NO: 28), VDTYDGRGDSVVYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 67), VDVPNGDISLAYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 69), VDVPNGDISLAYGL (SEQ ID NO: 71) DVPNGDISLAYGLR(SEQ ID NO: 72), VDVPNGDISLAYG (SEQ ID NO: 74), PNGDISLAYGLR (SEQ ID NO: 81), VDVPNGDISLA (SEQ ID NO: 83), GDISLAYGLR(
(iii) a peptide comprising or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of KCLAECDSIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 141), CLAEIDSC (SEQ ID NO: 142), CFKPLAEIDSIECSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 143), KPLAEGDIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 147), KPLAEIELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 148), KCLAEIDSCELSYGIK (SEQ ID NO: 155) or CFKPLAEIDSIEC (SEQ ID NO: 156);
b) a polynucleotide encoding upon expression, the peptide of a);
c) a vector comprising the polynucleotide of b); or
d) a cell comprising the polynucleotide of b), or the vector of c).
20. The method according claim 19, wherein said agent comprises a second or further active ingredient.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the second or further active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), sulfonylurea, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, a thiazolidinedione, a meglitidine and a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor.
22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the endocrine disease and/or metabolic disease are selected from the group consisting of diabetes mellitus, type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus, disorders of glucose regulation and pancreatic internal secretion, insulin resistance syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and any combinations thereof.
23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the endocrine disease and/or metabolic disease are selected from the group consisting of diabetes mellitus, disorders of the thyroid gland, disorders of glucose regulation and pancreatic internal secretion, disorders of endocrine glands, malnutrition, nutritional deficiencies, obesity, hyperalimentation, and metabolic disorders.
24. The method according to claim 19, wherein the endocrine disease and/or a metabolic disease is diabetes mellitus selected from the group consisting of type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus, specified diabetes mellitus, and unspecified diabetes mellitus.
25. The method according to claim 19, wherein the endocrine disease and/or a metabolic disease is a disorder of glucose regulation and pancreatic internal secretion selected from the group consisting of nondiabetic hypoglycaemic coma and disorders of pancreatic internal secretion.
26. The method according to claim 19, wherein the endocrine disease and/or a metabolic disease is a disorder of obesity and hyperalimentation selected from the group consisting of localized adiposity, hyperalimentation, and sequelae of hyperalimentation.
27. A method for delaying onset of diabetes and/or a diabetes associated disorder or disease, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent according to claim 1, to an individual in need thereof.
28. The method according to claim 27, wherein insulin secretion is increased.
29. The method according to claim 27, wherein cellular uptake of glucose is increased.
US17/022,526 2017-05-04 2020-09-16 Peptides for treatment of diabetes Abandoned US20210009648A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US17/022,526 US20210009648A1 (en) 2017-05-04 2020-09-16 Peptides for treatment of diabetes

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP17169500.0 2017-05-04
EP17169500 2017-05-04
PCT/EP2018/061547 WO2018202870A1 (en) 2017-05-04 2018-05-04 Peptides for treatment of diabetes
US16/666,960 US10815283B2 (en) 2017-05-04 2019-10-29 Peptides for treatment of diabetes
US17/022,526 US20210009648A1 (en) 2017-05-04 2020-09-16 Peptides for treatment of diabetes

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US16/666,960 Continuation US10815283B2 (en) 2017-05-04 2019-10-29 Peptides for treatment of diabetes

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20210009648A1 true US20210009648A1 (en) 2021-01-14

Family

ID=58671461

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US16/666,960 Active US10815283B2 (en) 2017-05-04 2019-10-29 Peptides for treatment of diabetes
US17/022,526 Abandoned US20210009648A1 (en) 2017-05-04 2020-09-16 Peptides for treatment of diabetes

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US16/666,960 Active US10815283B2 (en) 2017-05-04 2019-10-29 Peptides for treatment of diabetes

Country Status (17)

Country Link
US (2) US10815283B2 (en)
EP (1) EP3618845B1 (en)
JP (3) JP2020518556A (en)
KR (1) KR102700014B1 (en)
CN (1) CN110545834B (en)
AU (1) AU2018262805B2 (en)
BR (1) BR112019021886A2 (en)
CA (1) CA3061935A1 (en)
DK (1) DK3618845T3 (en)
EA (1) EA201992562A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2857749T3 (en)
IL (1) IL270199B2 (en)
MX (1) MX2019013096A (en)
PL (1) PL3618845T3 (en)
SG (1) SG11201908513RA (en)
WO (1) WO2018202870A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA201905891B (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA3116612A1 (en) * 2018-11-07 2020-05-14 Follicum Ab Peptide fragments for treatment of diabetes
JP2022530036A (en) * 2019-04-24 2022-06-27 フォリクム エービー Topical preparation
KR102816261B1 (en) * 2022-03-24 2025-06-05 (주)케어젠 Peptide Complex Having Activity of Anti-Diabetes and Uses Thereof
KR20250010632A (en) * 2022-05-13 2025-01-21 코에긴 파르마 아베 Angiogenesis-inducing agent
WO2023218095A1 (en) * 2022-05-13 2023-11-16 Coegin Pharma Ab Agents for stimulating tissue regeneration

Family Cites Families (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996008513A1 (en) * 1994-09-16 1996-03-21 The Scripps Research Institute Cytotactin derivatives that stimulate attachment and neurite outgrowth, and methods of making and using same
AU9510498A (en) 1997-09-26 1999-04-12 University Of Washington Methods and compositions for diagnosing renal pathologies
US6551990B2 (en) 1998-12-07 2003-04-22 University Of Washington Methods of inhibiting ectopic calcification
EP1269196B1 (en) 2000-03-23 2007-11-21 Glaxo Group Limited Method of screening for inhibitors of osteopontin
EP1294756A2 (en) 2000-06-13 2003-03-26 Children's Medical Center Corporation Biosynthetic oncolytic molecules and uses therefor
WO2002092122A2 (en) 2001-05-17 2002-11-21 Applied Research Systems Ars Holding N.V. Use of osteopontin for the treatment and/or prevention of neurologic diseases
AU2002312566A1 (en) 2001-07-09 2003-01-29 Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Methods of inhibiting amyloid toxicity
WO2003100007A2 (en) 2002-05-24 2003-12-04 Schering-Plough Ltd. Eta-1 gene and methods for use
EP1637159A4 (en) * 2003-05-23 2009-01-21 Immuno Biological Lab Co Ltd IMMUNOMETIMENT CELL ACTIVATION INHIBITOR AND ITS USE
WO2008086449A2 (en) 2007-01-09 2008-07-17 Oregon Health & Science University Synthetic osteopontin peptides and methods of use
EP2114422A1 (en) * 2007-03-02 2009-11-11 National University of Ireland, Galway Osteopontin for the prediction and treatment of cardiovascular diseases
CA2684254A1 (en) 2007-04-17 2008-10-30 Pfizer Inc. Method for controlling glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity
CN101293916A (en) 2007-04-24 2008-10-29 上海国健生物技术研究院 Monoclone antibody with combined function epiposition, specificity of osteopontin and uses thereof
ES2533874T3 (en) * 2007-10-31 2015-04-15 Medimmune, Llc Protein frame
CN101215324B (en) * 2007-12-26 2010-11-24 吉林大学 Exenatide Short Peptidomimetic Peptide and Its Application in Preparation of Drugs for Treating Diabetes
WO2011058182A1 (en) * 2009-11-13 2011-05-19 National University Of Ireland, Galway Osteopontin-conditioned medium for the treatment of vascular diseases
GB2493540A (en) 2011-08-10 2013-02-13 Follicum Ab Agents for stimulating hair growth in mammals
CN104640989A (en) 2012-07-20 2015-05-20 阿拉食品公司 Osteopontin peptide fragments for inhibiting or preventing tumor growth
GB201406989D0 (en) * 2014-04-17 2014-06-04 Follicum Ab Novel treatments
KR20190003740A (en) 2016-05-06 2019-01-09 아이오니스 파마수티컬즈, 인코포레이티드 GLP-1 receptor ligand moiety conjugated oligonucleotides and uses thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR20200003369A (en) 2020-01-09
US10815283B2 (en) 2020-10-27
DK3618845T3 (en) 2021-04-19
EP3618845B1 (en) 2021-01-13
JP2020518556A (en) 2020-06-25
AU2018262805A1 (en) 2019-11-21
CN110545834B (en) 2024-02-20
EA201992562A1 (en) 2020-07-01
CA3061935A1 (en) 2018-11-08
AU2018262805B2 (en) 2022-02-17
IL270199B1 (en) 2024-03-01
EP3618845A1 (en) 2020-03-11
KR102700014B1 (en) 2024-08-29
MX2019013096A (en) 2019-12-16
PL3618845T3 (en) 2021-08-02
WO2018202870A1 (en) 2018-11-08
SG11201908513RA (en) 2019-11-28
IL270199A (en) 2019-12-31
CN110545834A (en) 2019-12-06
US20200095297A1 (en) 2020-03-26
ZA201905891B (en) 2022-03-30
IL270199B2 (en) 2024-07-01
ES2857749T3 (en) 2021-09-29
BR112019021886A2 (en) 2020-06-02
JP2025090703A (en) 2025-06-17
JP2023082076A (en) 2023-06-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10815283B2 (en) Peptides for treatment of diabetes
US20240327459A1 (en) Peptide fragments for treatment of diabetes
ES2334864T5 (en) Glucagon-like peptide-2 and its therapeutic use
CA2058443C (en) Treating disorders by application of insulin-like growth factors and analogs
JPH05506427A (en) GLP-1 analog useful for diabetes treatment
Granata et al. Des-acyl ghrelin fragments and analogues promote survival of pancreatic β-cells and human pancreatic islets and prevent diabetes in streptozotocin-treated rats
JP2010503710A5 (en)
Bhargava et al. A complete substitutional analysis of VIP for better tumor imaging properties
US20100221240A1 (en) Chemically Modified Peptide Analogs
KR20200003889A (en) C-terminal CDNF and MANF fragments, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same and uses thereof
CN108367018A (en) method and composition for treating amyloidosis
PT2212349E (en) Synthetic analogues of neural regeneration peptides
US20160002310A1 (en) Modified ingap peptides for treating diabetes
CN102369015A (en) Peptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same and uses thereof
WO2011002673A1 (en) Leptin agonist and methods of use
HK40017988B (en) Peptides for treatment of diabetes
HK40017988A (en) Peptides for treatment of diabetes
CN118955675A (en) IAPP peptide, pharmaceutical composition containing the same and use thereof

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: FOLLICUM AB, SWEDEN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:ALENFALL, JAN;DUNER, PONTUS;NILSSON, ANNA HULTGARDH;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20180507 TO 20180530;REEL/FRAME:054046/0944

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: APPLICATION DISPATCHED FROM PREEXAM, NOT YET DOCKETED

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: RESPONSE TO NON-FINAL OFFICE ACTION ENTERED AND FORWARDED TO EXAMINER

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION