Corticotropin release inhibiting factor and methods of using same

Abstract

The invention includes a substantially pure preparation of a corticotropin release inhibiting factor (CRIF) peptide having from three to twenty one or to twenty five contiguous amino acids contained within the amino acid sequence positioned between the fourth and fifth TRH sequence on a prepro-TRH protein.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A substantially pure preparation of a CRIF peptide consisting of from three to twenty one contiguous amino acids contained within the amino acid sequence positioned between the fourth and fifth TRH sequence on a prepro-TRH protein.  
     
     
         2 . The peptide of  claim 1  consisting of a contiguous length of amino acids selected from the group consisting of three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty and twenty one amino acids.  
     
     
         3 . The peptide of  claim 2  consisting of four contiguous amino acids.  
     
     
         4 . The peptide of  claim 3 , having the sequence Leu-Met-Pro-Glu [SEQ ID NO:12].  
     
     
         5 . The peptide of  claim 2  consisting of nine contiguous amino acids.  
     
     
         6 . The peptide of  claim 5 , having the sequence Glu-Gly-Glu-Gly-Val-Leu-Met-Pro-Glu [SEQ ID NO: 11].  
     
     
         7 . The peptide of  claim 1 , wherein said CRIF is rat CRIF.  
     
     
         8 . The peptide of  claim 7 , wherein said peptide consists of from three to twenty one contiguous amino acids of the sequence Phe-Ile-Asp-Pro-Glu-Leu-Gln-Arg-Ser-Trp-Glu-Glu-Lys-Glu-Gly-Glu-Gly-Val-Leu-Met-Pro-Glu [SEQ ID NO: 1].  
     
     
         9 . The peptide of  claim 1 , wherein said CRIF is mouse CRIF.  
     
     
         10 . The peptide of  claim 9 , wherein said peptide consists of from three to twenty one contiguous amino acids of the sequence Phe-Ile-Asp-Pro-Glu-Leu-Gln-Arg-Ser-Trp-Glu-Glu-Thr-Glu-Gly-Glu-Glu-Gly-Gly-Leu-Met-Pro-Glu [SEQ ID NO:3].  
     
     
         11 . The peptide of  claim 1  in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.  
     
     
         12 . The peptide of  claim 1 , wherein said peptide further comprises the sequence pGlu-His-Pro-Gly-Arg-Arg [SEQ ID NO:4] at the amino terminal portion of the peptide.  
     
     
         13 . A therapeutically effective amount of the peptide of  claim 1  suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         14 . A kit comprising the peptide of  claim 1  and instructions for using said peptide.  
     
     
         15 . A substantially pure preparation of a CRIF peptide consisting of from three to twenty five contiguous amino acids contained within the amino acid sequence positioned between the fourth and fifth TRH sequence on a prepro-TRH protein.  
     
     
         16 . The peptide of  claim 15 , consisting of a contiguous length of amino acids selected from the group consisting of three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty one, twenty two, twenty three, twenty four, and twenty five amino acids.  
     
     
         17 . The peptide of  claim 15 , wherein said CRIF is human CRIF.  
     
     
         18 . The peptide of  claim 17 , wherein said peptide consists of from three to twenty five contiguous amino acids of the sequence Leu-Ala-Asp-Pro Lys-Ala-Giln-Arg-Ser-Trp-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Arg-Glu-Glu-Asp-Leu-Met-Pro-Glu [SEQ ID NO:2].  
     
     
         19 . A therapeutically effective amount of the peptide of  claim 15  suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         20 . A kit comprising the peptide of  claim 15  and instructions for using said peptide.