Use of creatine kinase and derived peptides thereof to relieve pain

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to the use of creatine kinase or fragments thereof which induce analgesia, and also to the use of pharmaceutical compositions including the same, to relieve pain.

Claims

1. A method of providing analgesic treatment comprising: administrating to a patient in need thereof a drug including a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: a sequence at least 85% identical to the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 and retaining an analgesic activity; a sequence at least 85% identical to the sequence SEQ ID NO: 3 and retaining an analgesic activity; the sequence SEQ ID NO: 4; and the sequence SEQ ID NO: 5.

2. The method of claim 1, further including administering the drug centrally, subcutaneously, transcutaneously, systemically, orally or via the respiratory route.

3. A method of preventing or treating pain, comprising: administrating to a patient in need thereof a drug including a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: a sequence at least 85% identical to the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 and retaining an analgesic activity; a sequence at least 85% identical to the sequence SEQ ID NO: 3 and retaining an analgesic activity; the sequence SEQ ID NO: 4; and the sequence SEQ ID NO: 5.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said peptide consists of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 5.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said drug further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the peptide consists of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 3.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said drug further comprises at least one additional analgesic compound.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more additional analgesic compounds includes morphine.

9. A method of providing analgesic treatment comprising: administrating to a patient in need thereof a drug comprising a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: a sequence at least 85% identical to the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 and retaining an analgesic activity; a sequence at least 85% identical to the sequence SEQ ID NO: 3 and retaining an analgesic activity; the sequence SEQ ID NO: 4; and the sequence SEQ ID NO: 5.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said peptide consists of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 5.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said drug further comprises at least one additional analgesic compound.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 represents the enzymatic reaction catalyzed by creatine kinase.

(2) FIG. 2 represents the inhibitory effect of morphine of the ATP formation by CK-M (ratio 3n/1n).

(3) FIG. 3 represents ELISA tests showing affinity for morphine of (A) peptide P1 (amino acids 1-75 of mouse CK-B) for morphine, and (B) peptide P4 (amino acids 184-258 of mouse CK-B).

(4) FIG. 4 represent effect of saline solution (SAL-right), morphine (MOR-right), peptides P1 (P1(20 nmoles)-right) and P4 (P4(10 nmoles)-right) on mechanical nociceptive thresholds of mice using von Frey filaments. n=6 for each group, statistical analysis: two-ways ANOVA, Holm-Sidak **p<0.01, ****p<0.0001.

(5) FIG. 5 represents effect of morphine (10 nmoles) on analgesic activity of (A) peptide P1 (20 nmoles) and (B) peptide P4 (10 nmoles).

(6) FIG. 6 represents effect of intrathecal (IT) injection of peptide P4 (10 nmoles) on mechanical threshold of rats using the calibrated forceps test (A), and mechanical thresholds of the ipsilateral (=neuropathic paw) (B) or of the contralateral (=non neuropathic paw) (C) of cuffed rats before and after injection of the peptide P4.

(7) FIG. 7 represents effect of intraperitoneal injection of peptide P4 (C) vs saline solution (A) and morphine (B) on mechanical thresholds of neuropathic mice using von Frey filaments. Comparison to baseline (BL), Tukey multiple comparison posthoc, # #=p<0.01, ###=p<0.001, n=10 for each groups.

(8) FIG. 8 represents effect of intrathecal (IT) injection of peptide AI-25 (10 nmoles) on mechanical nociceptive threshold of mice using calibrated forceps test (A), and mechanical thresholds of the ipsilateral paw (8), or of the contralateral paw (C) of cuffed mice before and after injection of the peptide AI-25.

(9) FIG. 9 represents the effect of intrathecal (IT) injection of peptide KN-50 (33 nmoles) on mechanical nociceptive threshold of the ipsilateral or contralateral paw of cuffed mice, before and after injection of the peptide KN-50, in comparison of saline solution (control).

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Identification of Peptides from Creatine Kinase Containing Binding Sites for Morphine Only

(10) In order to characterize the fragment of CK that can bind morphine/morphine metabolites, six overlapping mouse CK-B-derived peptides (73 to 96 residues) have been synthesized (Proteogenix, Schiltigheim, France): CK-B1-75, CK-B65-140, CK-B127-199, CK-B184-258, CK-B248-343, CK-B286-381.

(11) Determination of the affinity and specificity for alkaloids was done on a 96-well plate (NUNC, Roskilde, Denmark) coated 90 min at 37 C. with 100 l of a 10 g/ml of the corresponding peptide solution in carbonate-bicarbonate buffer (CA buffer, 15 mM Na.sub.2CO.sub.3, 35 mM NaHCO.sub.3, pH9.6). After three washes with 0.1 M NaCl/Pi-0.05% Tween 20 buffer (PT; 10 min), wells were incubated for 30 min with 200 l of bovine serum albumin (BSA) diluted in NaCl/Pi buffer (5%, w/v) in order to saturate nonspecific sites. After saturation, wells were incubated for 1 h at 37 C. with 100 l of NaCl/Pi-BSA (3%, w/v) containing from 300 M to 0.1 M of the following potential CK-ligands: morphine (Sigma-Aldrich), M6G (Sigma-Aldrich), M3G (Sigma-Aldrich), codeine (Sigma-Aldrich). Then, the plate was washed three times with PT buffer, and 100 l of the primary antibody (6D6, 1: 2,000, v/v; Aviva Systems Biology, ref. AMM00043) were added in each well. After three more washes with PT buffer, 100 l of the secondary antibody (HRP-conjugated donkey anti-mouse IgG, P.A.R.I.S.; dilution 1:2,000) were added and left in the wells for 30 min at room temperature (RT). After two washes with PT buffer followed by two washes with a pH 7.5 phosphate-citrate-0.05% Tween 20 buffer (CT buffer, 10 min), revelation was performed with 200 l of a fresh solution of ortho-phenylene diamine (Sigma Aldrich) at 1.5 mg/ml in CT buffer containing 0.075% hydrogen peroxide. After 20 min of incubation at RT, optical density was determined at 410 nm with a Multiskan EX plate reader (Thermo Life Sciences, Cergy Pontoise, France).

(12) Two peptides containing binding sites for morphine only were identified: peptide P1 consisting of amino acids 1-75 (SEQ ID NO: 2) from the mouse CK-B sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, and peptide P4 consisting of amino acids 184-258 (SEQ ID NO: 3) of the mouse CK-B sequence SEQ ID NO: 1.

(13) The results are shown in FIG. 3.

(14) Peptides P1 and P4 showed an affinity for morphine but not for metabolites thereof (M3G and M6G) and codeine, thereby indicating that peptides P1 and P4 only contain binding sites for morphine.

Example 2

Effect of Intrathecal Injections of Morphine, Peptides P1 and P4 on Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds of Healthy Mice

(15) Experiments were performed on adult male C57Bl/6J mice (6 weeks old, Charles River, L'Arbresle, France). Animals were housed in groups of 3, under standard conditions (room temperature: 22 C.; 12/12-hour light-dark cycle) with ad libitum access to food and water. All experiments were conducted according to the recommendations of the European Committee Council Direction of Sep. 22, 2010 (2010/63/EU).

(16) The functional properties of peptides P1 (20 nmoles) and P4 (10 nmoles) were evaluated through injections in the spinal cord of 4 groups of 6 mice C57B16/J (intrathecal injection, volume of 5 l). The aim was to study the consequences of these injections on nociceptive thresholds in comparison of low concentrations of morphine (MOR, 10 nmoles) and saline solution (SAL, control), using the von Frey filaments test. Mice were previously placed under gaseous anesthesia with isoflurane (volatile anesthetic agent) with a minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of 1.34%. A 27-gauge needle connected to a syringe was inserted between the vertebrae L5 and L6, in the subarachnoid space. Isoflurane induced a general anesthesia with respiratory depression in mice.

(17) The mechanical threshold for hind paw withdrawal was determined using Von Frey hairs. Mice were placed in clear plexiglass boxes on an elevated mesh screen. Von Frey filaments (Bioseb, Chaville, France) were applied to the plantar surface of each hind paw in a series of ascending forces (0.4 g-15 g). Filaments were tested 5 times per paw, and the mechanical threshold was defined as 3 or more withdrawals out of the 5 trials. Lithium chloride and naloxone (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, U.S.A.) were diluted in NaCl 0.9% (w/v).

(18) When using the von Frey filaments test, naive mice showed basic mechanical nociceptive thresholds around 6 g for both hind legs (=pre-test).

(19) The results regarding right hind paw are shown in FIG. 4.

(20) Compared to the pre-test before injection, injection of saline solution 0.9% did not affect the nociceptive thresholds (control). Unlike the observed threshold for the control, injections of morphine (10 nmoles), peptides P1 (20 nmoles) and P4 (10 nmoles) induced a significant analgesia (two-ways ANOVA for repeated measures, interaction time against treatment for right leg, F(44,220)=6.243, p<0.0001). At a low dose of 10 nmoles and 4 hours after injection, morphine induced a significant analgesia on right leg (multiple comparison test of Holm-Sidak, p<0.01). Analgesia was even stronger for peptides P1 and P4 (Holm-Sidak, p<0.0001). For both peptides, the values of von Frey were close or equal to cut-off, namely a value allowing to conclude to an almost complete insensitivity of mice towards mechanical stimulation.

(21) Furthermore, when injections were carried out in presence of morphine (FIG. 5), it was significant to note occlusion of analgesic activity of peptide P1 (20 nmoles) by 10 nmoles of morphine while this property was not observed for peptide P4 injected at 10 nmoles.

Example 3

Effect of Intrathecal Injections of Peptides P1 and P4 on Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds of Neuropathic Rats Model

(22) Experiments were performed on adult male Wistar at (6 weeks old, Charles River, L'Arbresle, France). Animals were housed in groups of 3, under standard conditions (room temperature: 22 C.; 12/12-hour light-dark cycle) with ad libitum access to food and water. All experiments were conducted according to the recommendations of the European Committee Council Direction of Sep. 22, 2010 (2010/63/EU). Procedures were positively evaluated by the regional ethical committee, and experiments were conducted with an official authorization for animal experimentation from the French Department of Agriculture (license 67-116 to P.P.).

(23) All surgeries were done under aseptic conditions and ketamine/xylazine anaesthesia (ketamine: 17 mg/ml, xylazine: 2.5 mg/ml, i.p., 4 ml/kg, i.p.; Centravet, Taden, France). The right sciatic nerve was cuffed with a section of polyethylene tubing (cuff group) as previously described [Mosconi et Kruger, Pain, 64(1): 37-57, 1996] [7]. Sham-operated mice underwent the same surgical procedure as cuffed animals without implantation of the cuff (sham group).

(24) The functional property of peptide P4 (10 nmoles) was evaluated through injections in the spinal cord of 1 groups of 3 rats (intrathecal injection, volume of 5 l). The aim was to study the consequences of these injections on mechanic nociceptive threshold of cuffed animals in comparison of the sham group (control), using the calibrated forceps test. Rats were previously placed under gaseous anesthesia with isoflurane (volatile anesthetic agent) with a minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of 1.34%. A 27-gauge needle connected to a syringe was inserted between the vertebrae L5 and L6, in the subarachnoid space.

(25) The mechanical response was evaluated using digital calibrated forceps (Bioseb, Chaville, France) according to company's recommendations, before and 1 to 6 hours after intrathecal injections.

(26) The results at T.sub.+4h are shown in FIG. 6.

(27) The intrathecal injection of 10 nmoles of the peptide 4 revealed that the peptide reversed the neuropathic pain (ipsilateral paw) at the mechanical level. However peptide 4 did not affect both the non-cuffed contralateral paw mechanical threshold and the sham group. This analgesia lasted for at least 6 h.

Example 4

Effect of Intraperitoneal Injections of Morphine, Peptides P1 and P4 on Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds of Neuropathic Mice

(28) Experiments were performed on adult male C57Bl/6J mice (6 weeks old, Charles River, L'Arbresle, France). Animals were housed in groups of 5, under standard conditions (room temperature: 22 C.; 12/12-hour light-dark cycle) with ad libitum access to food and water. All experiments were conducted according to the recommendations of the European Committee Council Direction of Sep. 22, 2010 (2010/63/EU).

(29) All surgeries were done under aseptic conditions and ketamine/xylazine anaesthesia (ketamine: 17 mg/ml, xylazine: 2.5 mg/ml, i.p., 4 ml/kg, i.p.; Centravet, Taden, France). The right sciatic nerve was cuffed with a section of polyethylene tubing (cuff group) as previously described [Mosconi et Kruger, Pain, 64(1): 37-57, 1996] [7].

(30) The functional properties of peptide P4 (10 nmoles), NaCl 0.9% and morphine (10 nmoles) were evaluated through intraperitoneal injection to C57B16/J neuropathic mice (10 nmole in a volume of 300 l). The aim was to study the consequences of P4 injections on nociceptive thresholds in comparison of low concentrations of morphine (MOR, 10 nmoles) and NaCl solution (control). The mechanical threshold for hind paw withdrawal was determined using Von Frey hairs. Mice were placed in clear plexiglass boxes on an elevated mesh screen. Von Frey filaments (Bioseb, Chaville, France) were applied to the plantar surface of each hind paw in a series of ascending forces (0.4 g-15 g). Filaments were tested 5 times per paw, and the mechanical threshold was defined as 3 or more withdrawals out of the 5 trials.

(31) The results are shown in FIG. 7.

(32) When using the von Frey filaments test, NaCl injected mice showed basic mechanical nociceptive thresholds around 6 g for contralateral hind legs (BL=pre-test), whereas the ipsilateral paw always show a nociceptive thresholds around 1-2 g (FIG. 7A). No effect was observed for Sham animals.

(33) Morphine (10 nmoles) injections to mice do not modify basic mechanical nociceptive thresholds of the contralateral hind legs (BL=pre-test), whereas a significant analgesic effect is observed at 3 h for the ipsilateral paw (comparison to baseline (BL), Tukey multiple comparison posthoc, # #=p<0.01) (FIG. 7B). No significant effect was observed for the Sham group.

(34) P4 (10 nmoles) injections to mice do not modify basic mechanical nociceptive thresholds of the contralateral hind legs (BL=pre-test), whereas a significant analgesic effect is observed at 3 h and 4 h post injection for the ipsilateral paw (comparison to baseline (BL), Tukey multiple comparison posthoc, # #=p<0.01, ###=p<0.001) (FIG. 7C). No significant effect was observed for Sham animals.

Example 5

Effect of Intrathecal Injections of a Peptide AI-25 on Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds of Neuropathic Mice

(35) A peptide derived from the peptide P4 has been synthesized (Proteogenix, Schiltigheim, France): AI-25 corresponding to amino acids 214-238 (SEQ ID NO: 4) of the full-length amino sequence of the mouse creatine kinase B.

(36) Experiments and surgeries were performed as previously described.

(37) The functional property of peptide AI-25 (10 nmoles) was evaluated through injections in the spinal cord of 8 mice C57B16/J (intrathecal injection, volume 5 l). The aim was to study the consequences of these injections on mechanical nociceptive threshold of cuffed mice using the calibrated forceps test.

(38) The mechanical threshold for hind paw withdrawal was determined using Von Frey filaments as previously described.

(39) The results are shown in FIG. 8.

(40) The intrathecal injection of 10 nmoles of the peptide AI-25 revealed that the peptide reversed the neuropathic pain (ipsilateral paw) at the mechanical level. However the peptide AI-25 did not significantly affect the non-cuffed contralateral paw mechanical threshold.

Example 6

Effect of Intrathecal Injections of a Peptide KN-50 on Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds of Neuropathic Mice

(41) A peptide derived from the peptide P4 has been synthesized (Proteogenix, Schiltigheim, France): KN-50 corresponding to amino acids 196-246 (SEQ ID NO: 5) of the full-length amino sequence of the mouse creatine kinase B.

(42) Experiments and surgeries were performed as previously described.

(43) The functional property of peptide KN-50 (33 nmoles) and NaCl 0.9% was evaluated through injections in the spinal cord of 8 mice C57B16/J (intrathecal injection, volume 5 l). The aim was to study the consequences of these injections on mechanical nociceptive threshold of cuffed mice, in comparison of saline solution.

(44) The mechanical threshold for hind paw withdrawal was determined using Von Frey filaments as previously described.

(45) The results are shown in FIG. 9.

(46) The intrathecal injection of 33 nmoles of the peptide KN-50 revealed that the peptide reversed the neuropathic pain (ipsilateral paw) at the mechanical level. However the KN-50 did not affect the non cuffed contralateral paw mechanical threshold.

LIST OF REFERENCES

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