Isolated peptides capable of reducing the amount of dexamethasone-induced spleen and/or thymus weight loss in a mouse are disclosed. Uses thereof for treating inflammatory or degenerative diseases are also disclosed.

Isolated peptides capable of reducing the amount of dexamethasone-induced spleen and/or thymus weight loss in a mouse are disclosed. Uses thereof for treating inflammatory or degenerative diseases are also disclosed.

Described are peptides and peptide conjugates comprising CN binding motifs (CNBM) which inhibit the CN-NFAT interaction. In some embodiments, the peptides comprise: (i) CNBM; (ii) a hydrophobic, non-peptidic moiety (RH) which interacts with the hydrophobic pocket on a CN protein; (iii) a sequence -AAU1-AAU2-AAU3-AAU4-AAU5-AAU6-, wherein each of AAU2, AAU3, AAU4, AAU5, and AAU6, is, independently, optional, and each of AAU1, AAU2, AAU3, AAU4, AAU5, and AAU6 when present is independently an amino acid as defined herein; or (iv) combinations thereof. In some embodiments, RH is conjugated to the N- or C-terminus of the CNBM. In some embodiments, the sequence -AAU1-AAU2-AAU3-AAU4-AAU5-AAU6- is conjugated to the N- or C terminus of the CNBM. In some embodiments, the peptides comprise: CNBM and RH. In some embodiments. In some embodiments, the peptides comprise: CNBM and AAU1-AAU2-AAU3-AAU4-AAU5-AAU6-. In some embodiments, the peptides of the disclosure CNBM and RH.

Described are peptides and peptide conjugates comprising CN binding motifs (CNBM) which inhibit the CN-NFAT interaction. In some embodiments, the peptides comprise: (i) CNBM; (ii) a hydrophobic, non-peptidic moiety (RH) which interacts with the hydrophobic pocket on a CN protein; (iii) a sequence -AAU1-AAU2-AAU3-AAU4-AAU5-AAU6-, wherein each of AAU2, AAU3, AAU4, AAU5, and AAU6, is, independently, optional, and each of AAU1, AAU2, AAU3, AAU4, AAU5, and AAU6 when present is independently an amino acid as defined herein; or (iv) combinations thereof. In some embodiments, RH is conjugated to the N- or C-terminus of the CNBM. In some embodiments, the sequence -AAU1-AAU2-AAU3-AAU4-AAU5-AAU6- is conjugated to the N- or C terminus of the CNBM. In some embodiments, the peptides comprise: CNBM and RH. In some embodiments. In some embodiments, the peptides comprise: CNBM and AAU1-AAU2-AAU3-AAU4-AAU5-AAU6-. In some embodiments, the peptides of the disclosure CNBM and RH.

This invention relates to a method of selecting a collection of frame-shift peptides (CFSPs) to produce a universal cancer vaccine peptide collection (CVP) for prophylaxis and treatment of patients with hereditary and sporadic micro-satellite instability (MSI) tumors. This invention relates as well to a method of producing a CVP by selecting a subset of frame-shift peptides (FSPs) from the CFSP and optionally modifying the FSP's amino acid (aa) sequence to generate modified FSPs (mFSPs). The invention further relates to nucleic acid collections encoding a CVP of FSPs and/or mFSPs in one or more vaccine vectors that can be used also simultaneously. These CVPs, nucleic acids and vectors are used for the prophylaxis or treatment of MSI cancers.

This invention relates to a method of selecting a collection of frame-shift peptides (CFSPs) to produce a universal cancer vaccine peptide collection (CVP) for prophylaxis and treatment of patients with hereditary and sporadic micro-satellite instability (MSI) tumors. This invention relates as well to a method of producing a CVP by selecting a subset of frame-shift peptides (FSPs) from the CFSP and optionally modifying the FSP's amino acid (aa) sequence to generate modified FSPs (mFSPs). The invention further relates to nucleic acid collections encoding a CVP of FSPs and/or mFSPs in one or more vaccine vectors that can be used also simultaneously. These CVPs, nucleic acids and vectors are used for the prophylaxis or treatment of MSI cancers.

The invention provides compositions, kits and methods to treat a hyperproliferative disorder with an agent that increases expression of MCR1 and an MCR1 ligand. The invention also provides a method of treating drug-resistant melanoma, comprising administering an MCR1 ligand to a patient in need thereof. The present invention also provides in certain embodiments a melanoma-targeting conjugate comprising Formula I:
T-L-X
wherein T is a MCR1 ligand, L is a linker, and X an anti-cancer composition, for the therapeutic treatment of a hyperproliferative disorder. The present invention also provides methods, kits and uses of the conjugate of Formula I.

The invention provides compositions, kits and methods to treat a hyperproliferative disorder with an agent that increases expression of MCR1 and an MCR1 ligand. The invention also provides a method of treating drug-resistant melanoma, comprising administering an MCR1 ligand to a patient in need thereof. The present invention also provides in certain embodiments a melanoma-targeting conjugate comprising Formula I:
T-L-X
wherein T is a MCR1 ligand, L is a linker, and X an anti-cancer composition, for the therapeutic treatment of a hyperproliferative disorder. The present invention also provides methods, kits and uses of the conjugate of Formula I.

A method for producing ACE Inhibitor peptides from a protein source or plasma is disclosed. The method utilizes proteolysis by intestinal, blood-circulating, or membrane-bound proteases. The initial synthesis step could require obtaining a protein source either from a human or animal. A protease is added to either a given plasma protein or plasma and incubated. Following incubation, the protease activity must be quenched using a protease inhibitor to inactivate the protease. After incubation with protease inhibitor, the solution will contain a mixture of bioactive ACE inhibitory peptides and inert peptides. This mixture may be purified to select for the ACE inhibitory peptides through centrifugation. The mixture may also be sterilized to remove any microbial contaminants. The ACE inhibitory peptides can be mixed with protein powders, incorporated into baked good and put into other food products to provide food products with the added benefit of lowering blood pressure.

The present invention relates to novel peptides, composition comprising such peptides including nutritional supplements and methods for inducing satiation and satiety, for weight management and preventing or reducing the incidence of obesity, or for preventing or reducing cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, hypertension, hepatosteatosis, cancer and/or diabetes.