Methods and compositions for inducing oral tolerance in mammals

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and pharmaceutical formulations for orally delivering an antigen to induce tolerance. The antigen is combined with derivatized amino acids or salts thereof. The induction of oral tolerance may be applied clinically for the prevention or treatment of auto-immune diseases and clinical allergic hypersensitivities, and for the prevention of allograft rejection.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of inducing oral tolerance in a mammal, comprising orally administering to said mammal a pharmaceutical formulation comprising an antigen and a delivery agent comprising at least one derivatized amino acid or a salt thereof in an amount sufficient to induce oral tolerance.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the derivatized amino acid is an acylated amino acid compound of the formula  
       Ar—C—(R)—OH  (I)  wherein:    Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl,    R is NH(R 1 )—CR—   R 1  is C 1  to C 10  alkyl, C 1  to C 10  alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkyl) phenyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkenyl) phenyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkyl) naphthyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkenyl) naphthyl;    R 1  is optionally substituted with C 1  to C 4  alkyl, C 1  to C 4  alkenyl, C 1  to C 4  alkoxy, —OH, —SH and —CO 2 R 2 , cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkyl, alkaryl, heteroaryl, heteroalkaryl, or any combination thereof, and    R 2  is hydrogen, C 1  to C 4  alkyl or C 1  to C 4  alkenyl.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the derivatized amino acid is a sulphonated amino acid compound of the formula  
       Ar—SO 2 —(R)—OH  (II)  wherein:    Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl,    R is NH(R 1 )—CR—   R 1  is C 1  to C 10  alkyl, C 1  to C 10  alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkyl) phenyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkenyl) phenyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkyl) naphthyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkenyl) naplithyl;    R 1  is optionally substituted with C 1  to C 4  alkyl, C 1  to C 4  alkenyl, C 1  to C 4  alkoxy, —OH, —SH and —CO 2 R 2 , cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkyl, alkaryl, heteroaryl, heteroalkaryl, or any combination thereof and    R 2  is hydrogen, C 1  to C 4  alkyl or C 1  to C 4  alkenyl.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is selected from the group consisting of synthetic proteins, naturally produced proteins, synthetic peptides, naturally produced peptides, carbohydrates and lipopolysaccharides.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is associated with the induction of auto-immune diseases, clinical (allergic) hypersensitivities or allograft rejection, and subunits or extracts therefrom.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation incorporates the derivatized amino acid at a dose of 100-1000 mg per kg of body weight.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the formulation incorporates the derivatized amino acid at a dose of 250-750 mg per kg of body weight.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation additionally incorporates an enzyme inhibitor.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation additionally incorporates an adjuvant.  
     
     
         10 . A pharmaceutical formulation for inducing oral tolerance in a mammal, comprising an antigen and a delivery agent comprising at least one derivatized amino acid or a salt thereof in an amount sufficient to induce oral tolerance.  
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 10 , wherein the derivatized amino acid is an acylated amino acid compound of the formula  
       Ar—C—(R 4 )—OH  I  wherein:    Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl,    R is NH(R 1 )—CR—   R 1  is C 1  to C 10  alkyl, C 1  to C 10  alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkyl) phenyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkenyl) phenyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkyl) naphthyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkenyl) naphthyl;    R 1  is optionally substituted with C 1  to C 4  alkyl, C 1  to C 4  alkenyl, C 1  to C 4  alkoxy, —OH, —SH and —CO 2 R 2 , cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkyl, alkaryl, heteroaryl, heteroalkaryl, or any combination thereof; and    R 2  is hydrogen, C 1  to C 4  alkyl or C 1  to C 4  alkenyl.    
     
     
         12 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 10 , wherein the derivatized amino acid is a sulphonated amino acid compound of the formula  
       Ar—SO 2 —(R 4 )—OH  II  wherein:    Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl,    R is NH(R 1 )—CR—   R 1  is C 1  to C 10  alkyl, C 1  to C 10  alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkyl) phenyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkenyl) phenyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkyl) naphthyl, (C 1  to C 10  alkenyl) naphthyl;    R 1  is optionally substituted with C 1  to C 4  alkyl, C 1  to C 4  alkenyl, C 1  to C 4  alkoxy, —OH, —SH and —CO 2 R 2 , cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkyl, alkaryl, heteroaryl, heteroalkaryl, or any combination thereof, and    R 2  is hydrogen, C 1  to C 4  alkyl or C 1  to C 4  alkenyl.    
     
     
         13 . The pharmaceutical formulation  claim 10 , wherein the derivatized amino acid is administered at a dose of about 100-1000 mg per kg of body weight.  
     
     
         14 . The pharmaceutical formulation  claim 10 , wherein the derivatized amino acid is administered at a dose of about 250-750 mg per kg of body weight.  
     
     
         15 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 10 , wherein the antigen is selected from the group consisting of synthetic proteins, naturally produced proteins, synthetic peptides, naturally produced peptides, carbohydrates and lipopolysaccharides.  
     
     
         16 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 10 , wherein the antigen is associated with the induction of auto-immune diseases, clinical (allergic) hypersensitivities or allograft rejection, and subunits or extracts therefrom.  
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 10 , wherein the formulation additionally incorporates an adjuvant.  
     
     
         18 . The pharmaceutical formulation of claim  10 ; wherein the formulation additionally incorporates an enzyme inhibitor.