Cyclic NTCP-targeting peptides and their uses as entry inhibitors

Abstract

The present invention relates to cyclic NTCP targeting peptides which are preS-derived peptides of hepatitis B virus (HBV). The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one cyclic peptide. The present invention further relates to medical uses of said cyclic peptides and the pharmaceutical compositions, such as in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of a liver disease or condition, and/or in the inhibition of HBV and/or HDV infection. The present invention further relates to methods of diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of a liver disease or condition and/or the inhibition of HBV and/or HDV infection.

Claims

1. A peptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from TABLE-US-00032 (SEQ. ID NO: 9) cyclo[PNPLGFFPDH] (SEQ. ID NO: 12) cyclo[NPLGFFPDH] (SEQ. ID NO: 15) cyclo[PNPLGFFPDH] (SEQ. ID NO: 28) cyclo[PNPLGFLPD] (SEQ. ID NO: 29) cyclo[NPLGFLPDH] (SEQ. ID NO: 30) cyclo[PNPLGFLPDH] (SEQ. ID NO: 31) cyclo[GTNLSVPNPLGFLPDHQLDP], wherein the peptide carries at least one hydrophobic modification, which an acylation with a C8 to C22 fatty acid and/or addition of hydrophobic moieties, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide is cyclized (a) via thiol oxidation of two cysteines in the peptide, (b) amide condensation of two amino acid side chains, (c) via head-to-tail cyclization, (d) via backbone cyclization, (e) via thioether formation, and/or (f) via hydrogen bond formation and/or bond-forming derivatives of amino acids.

3. The peptide of claim 1, further comprising an accessory domain, which is part of the cyclic peptide or is acyclic.

4. The peptide of claim 1, wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid sequence selected from: TABLE-US-00033 HBVpreS9-16 NPLGFFPD (SEQ ID NO: 6) HBVpreS8-16 PNPLGFFPD (SEQ ID NO: 9) HBVpreS9-1 NPLGFFPDH (SEQ ID NO: 12) HBVpreS8-17 PNPLGFFPDH (SEQ ID NO: 15).

5. The peptide of claim 1, comprising one or more further moieties, selected from drugs and their respective prodrugs; tags; labels; recombinant viruses and derivatives thereof; carrier or depots for drugs, prodrugs or labels; immunogenic epitopes; hormones; inhibitors; and toxins.

6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising: (i) at least one peptide of claim 1, and (ii) optionally, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or excipient.

7. The peptide, according to claim 1, wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid sequence selected from TABLE-US-00034 (SEQ. ID NO: 9) Myr-cyclo (myr-cyclo[PNPLGFFPD]) (SEQ. ID NO: 12) Myr-cyclo (myr-cyclo[NPLGFFPDH]) and (SEQ. ID NO: 15) Myr-cyclo (myr-cyclo[PNPLGFFPDH]).

8. The peptide, according to claim 1, wherein the peptide consists of the amino acid sequence selected from TABLE-US-00035 (SEQ. ID NO: 9) cyclo[PNPLGFFPD] (SEQ. ID NO: 12) cyclo[NPLGFFPDH] (SEQ. ID NO: 15) cyclo[PNPLGFFPDH] (SEQ ID NO. 28) cyclo[PNPLGFLPD] (SEQ ID NO. 29) cyclo[NPLGFLPDH] (SEQ ID NO. 30) cyclo[PNPLGFLPDH] and (SEQ ID NO. 31) cyclo[GTNLSVPNPLGFLPDHQLDP].

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 Myrcludex B and derivatives

(2) FIG. 2 A covalently bridged cyclic derivative of Myrcludex B shows inhibitory potential.

(3) A, The sequence and structure of the covalently bridged cyclic derivative of Myrcludex B (Myr-2-48 Cyc).

(4) B, The inhibitory activity of Myr-2-48 Cyc is comparable to other Myrcludex B derivatives, such as a linear Myrcludex B derivative with myristoyl group within the peptide sequence (2-Myr-48) and a linear preS-derives peptide 2-21 with a C-terminal myristoyl group (2-21-Myr).

(5) FIG. 3 Further cyclic Myrcludex B derivates

(6) FIG. 4 Further cyclic Myrcludex B derivates

(7) A, Overview of synthesized cysteine cyclized peptides and control peptides

(8) B, Experimental setup for testing of peptides:

(9) HepG2 NTCP cells were seeded in 24 well plates. When cells reached 60-70% confluency, they were subjected to HBV infection or TC uptake assay. Cell supernatant was collected from day 5 to 7 for HBeAg measurement and cells were fixed with 4% PFA at day 7 for immunofluorescence with an anti-HBc antibody.

(10) FIG. 5 Coronary PET images 40-60 minutes post injection of .sup.68Gallium labeled peptides.

(11) A,

(12) TABLE-US-00030 myr-CNPLGFFPDCK(DOTA[.sup.68Ga])

(13) B, Liver blocked with cold Myrcludex B 1 μg/g bodyweight 30 minutes prior to injection with myr-CNPLGFFPDCK(DOTA[.sup.68Ga])

(14) C, Myr-K(DOTA[.sup.68Ga])HBVpres3-48y (WT peptide)

(15) D, Myr-K(DOTA[.sup.68Ga])HBVpres3-48y Ala11-15 (Binding incompetent control peptide) See also Slijepcevic et al., 2015.

(16) FIG. 6 .sup.3H-Taurocholate uptake in HepG3 NTCP cells comparison of different cyclic peptides with Myrcludex B

(17) FIG. 7 .sup.3H-Taurocholate uptake in HepG3 NTCP cells: IC 50 values and curves of different cyclic peptides with Myrcludex B

(18) FIG. 8 HBV infection inhibition assay on HepG2 NTCP cells.

(19) with Myrcludex B (GMP grade), Myrcludex B-y (selfmade) and (+H) cyclic peptide.

(20) A, IC 50 curves and values.

(21) B, Absolute values of HBeAg measurement of supernatants diluted 1:2

EXAMPLES

Example 1 Materials & Methods

Abbreviations

(22) COMU (1-Cyano-2-ethoxy-2-oxoethylidenaminooxy)dimethylamino-morpholino-carbenium-hexafluorophosphate DCM Dichloromethane DIPEA N,N-diisopropylethylamine DMF Dimethylformamide DOTA 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid Fmoc Fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl chloride Ga Gallium HATU 1-[Bis(dimethylamino)methylene]-1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridinium 3-oxid hexafluorophosphate HBeAg Hepatitis B Virus Early Antigen HBcAg Hepatitis B Core Antigen HBTU 2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate HBV Hepatitis B Virus HPLC High performance liquid chromatography LC/MS Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry NHS N-Hydroxysuccinimide NMP N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone NTCP Sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide PBS Phosphate buffered saline PET Positron emission tomography PFA Paraformaldehyde TC Taurocholate TFA Trifluoro acetic acid TIS Triisopropylsilane
1. Peptide Synthesis
1.1 Disulfide Bridge Peptide
Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis

(23) Peptides were synthesized on solid phase (Tentagel R RAM resin, capacity 0.22 mmol/g, Rapp Polymere, Tibingen, Germany) using Fmoc/tBu chemistry in peptide synthesizer (Applied Biosystems 443A, Foster City, Calif., USA). Before beginning peptide synthesis the resin (0.05 mmol) was preswollen in DCM. Fmoc-protected amino acids were used in a 10-fold excess (0.5 mmol) and activated with HBTU/DIPEA in NMP.

(24) See also Schieck et al., 2010.

(25) Myristoylation

(26) Peptide on the solid support was swollen in DCM and washed with NMP. Myristic acid (4 eq.) and HATU or COMU (4 eq.) were dissolved in NMP and 10 eq. DIPEA were added. The mixture was added to the resin and was incubated for 30 min. Afterwards the resin was washed three times with NMP, three times with DCM and dried.

(27) Deprotection and Cleavage from Resin

(28) The peptide was cleaved and deprotected with TFA/TIS/H.sub.2O (95:2.5:2.5). The deprotected peptide was precipitated with diethyl ether, pelleted by centrifugation (3000 rpm, 5 min) and washed twice with fresh diethyl ether. The peptide was dried.

(29) MyrB:

(30) TABLE-US-00031 [SEQ ID NO. 24] Myr-GTNLSVPNPLGFFPDHQLDPAFGANSNNPDWDFNPNKDHWPEANK VG-amide
Disulfide Bridge Formation

(31) 5 mg of raw peptide were dissolved in 5 ml 80% acetic acid. 1 mg of iodine in glacial acetic acid was slowly dropped into the peptide solution. 10 μl of saturated ascorbic acid solution were added. The solvent was evaporated and the peptide redissolved in 1:1 acetonitril:H.sub.2O and purified with preparative HPLC. The success of the reaction was confirmed by LC/MS.

(32) Coupling of Fluorescent Dye/Compounds

(33) Peptides were dissolved in DMF and reacted with NHS-ester-activated compounds (2 eq.) and DIPEA (10 eq.). The reaction was controlled with HPLC.

(34) 1.2 Aminoproline-Peptide

(35) 200 mg (0.32 mmol) 2-Chlorotrityl chloride resin was charged with 41 mg (0.1 mmol) Fmoc-Glu(OAll)-OH and 52 mg (68 μL; 0.4 mmol) DIPEA in 2 mL Dichloromethane. After capping with methanol the resin was subjected to automated peptide synthesis (ABI 433A). 109 mg (0.25 mmol) Fmoc-L-Pro(4-NH-Alloc)-OH (2S,4S) were coupled at the desired amino acid position by COMU-activation. Solid phase cyclization was achieved by 110 mg (86 mL; 0.4 mmol) DPPA and 77 mg (102 μL; 0.6 mmol) in 2 mL NMP after linear assembly as well as catalytic allyl-deprotection with 5 mg tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) and 30 mg borane dimethylamine complex. The cyclic peptide was cleaved and deprotected by 95:2.5:2.5 TFA/water/TIS and purified by HPLC; occasionally a portion of the raw peptide was modified with DOTA or fluorescent dye active esters prior to purification

(36) 2. .sup.68Ga-Labeling and PET Imaging

(37) Ca. 1 mL of [.sup.68Ga]Ga.sup.3+ eluate (ca. 600-800 MBq) was added to a mixture of 20 μL of a 1 mM solution of compound xy in DMSO and 10 μL of saturated solution of ascorbic acid in water. The pH of the resulting mixture was adjusted to 3.5-4.0 by careful addition of a 2.5 M sodium acetate solution in water. Complexation was achieved by heating to over 95° C. for 5-10 minutes under constant stirring. The product was isolated by solid phase extraction with ethanol followed by evaporation. The residue was taken up in 1% bovine serum albumin solution and an appropriate amount (ca. 20-50 MBq) was used for the individual experiment in a volume not exceeding 100 μl. Mice were anesthetized with 1% sevoflurane (Abbott, Wiesbaden, Germany) and images were recorded using an Inveon small animal positron emission tomographic (PET) scanner (Siemens, Knoxville, Tenn.) up to 60 minutes postinjection.

(38) 3. .sup.3H-Taurocholate Uptake Assay

(39) HepG2 NTCP cells seeded in a 24 well format were preincubated with the indicated peptide for 30 min at 37° C. in culture medium. 150 μM taurocholate (containing 450 cpm/fmol .sup.3H taurocholate) were added to each well and the cells were incubated an additional 15 minutes at 37° C. Uptake was stopped by removal of the cell culture medium and addition of ice cold PBS. The cells were washed three times with cold PBS and lysed (0.2 M NaOH, 0.05% SDS). Cell lysates were mixed with Ultima Gold liquid scintillation solution (Perkin Elmer, Rodgau, Germany) and the radioactivity measured in a liquid scintillation counter (Packard Instruments, Frankfurt, Germany).

(40) 4. HBV Infection Inhibition Assay

(41) HepG2 NTCP cells seeded in a 24 well format were preincubated with the indicated peptide at indicated concentrations for 30 min at 37° C. in culture medium. The cells were subsequently infected with HBV (GE 1.8×10.sup.8) overnight in cell culture medium containing 4% PEG for 16 h at 37° C. in the presence of the peptides followed by a washing step with PBS. The medium was changed every two days and supernatant collected from day 5 to 7 post infection for HBeAg measurement.

(42) The features disclosed in the foregoing description, in the claims and/or in the accompanying drawings may, both separately and in any combination thereof, be material for realizing the invention in diverse forms thereof.

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