TNF-derived peptides for use in treating oedema

Abstract

The present invention relates to the finding that peptides derived from a specific domain of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) can efficiently be used to treat oedema. More specifically, the present invention relates to the usage of peptides derived from the region of human TNF-α from Ser 100 to Glu 116 to treat pulmonary oedema. Moreover, the present invention concerns a circularized peptide having amino acid sequence CGQRETPEGAEAKPWYC which is very efficient in inducing oedema resorption.

1 . Use of a peptide comprising a chain of 7 to 17 contiguous amino acids derived from the region of human TNF-α from Ser 100  to Glu 116  or from the region of mouse TNF-α from Ser 99  to Glu 115  for the manufacture of a medicament for treating oedema.  
     
     
         2 . Use of a peptide according to  claim 1 , wherein said peptide comprises a chain of 11 to 16 contiguous amino acids.  
     
     
         3 . Use of a peptide according to  claim 1 , wherein said peptide comprises a chain of 13 to 15 contiguous amino acids.  
     
     
         4 . Use of a peptide according to  claim 1 , wherein said peptide comprises a chain of 14 contiguous amino acids.  
     
     
         5 . Use of a peptide according to  claim 4 , wherein said chain of 14 contiguous amino acids are chosen from the group consisting, of the contiguous amino acid sequences QRETPEGAEAKPWY and PKDTPEGAELKPWY.  
     
     
         6 . Use of a peptide according to any of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein said peptide is circularized.  
     
     
         7 . Use of a peptide according to  claim 6 , wherein said peptide is circularized by replacing the NH 2 — and COOH-terminal amino acids by cysteine so that a disulfide bridge is formed between the latter cysteines.  
     
     
         8 . Use of a peptide according to  claim 7 , wherein said circularized peptides are chosen from the group consisting of the circularized peptides CGQRETPEGAEAKPWYC and CGPKDTPEGAELKPWYC.  
     
     
         9 . Use of a peptide according to any of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein said oedema is pulmonary oedema  
     
     
         10 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating oedema comprising a peptide according to any of  claims 1  to  9 .