Peptides with wound healing activity

Abstract

A number of peptides of from 28 to 44 amino acids, including therein a sequence of L-K-E-K-K (SEQ ID NO: 1) have a physiological activity that can be wound healing activity, immunostimulant activity, or growth factor activity. The peptides can be linear or circular, and if linear, the amino terminus can be optionally acetylated. The invention also includes nucleic acids encoding these peptides, vectors incorporating these nucleic acid sequences, and host cells transfected with these vectors, as well as methods for producing these peptides by culturing these host cells and purifying these peptides. The invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions and methods for using these peptides.

1 . A substantially purified peptide having immunostimulant activity, the peptide comprising a sequence of 38 amino acids that is Ac-A-D-K-P-M-G-E-I-A-S-F-D-K-A-G-L-K-E-K-K-E-T-L-P-T-K-E-T-I-E-E-E-K-R-S-E-I-S (SEQ ID NO: 6), the peptide being linear.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the peptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . The nucleic acid molecule of  claim 2  that is DNA.  
     
     
         4 . A vector comprising the DNA of  claim 3  operably linked to at least one control element that influences the expression of the DNA.  
     
     
         5 . A host cell transfected with the vector of  claim 4  such that the cell expresses the peptide encoded by the vector of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         6 . A method of producing a substantially purified peptide having a physiological activity comprising the steps of: 
 (a) culturing the host cell of  claim 5;  and    (b) isolating the peptide produced by the host cell to produce the substantially purified peptide.    
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising: 
 (a) the peptide of  claim 1  in a physiologically effective quantity; and    (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.    
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 7  wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises an extract of Hawaiian sea plants that acts as an emollient and moisturizer and includes chlorphenesin, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol, and sodium dehydroacetate as preservatives, water, a polymer selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose, and at least one preservative selected from the group consisting of methylparaben and propylparaben.  
     
     
         9 . A method for promoting immunostimulation in a mammal in need thereof comprising administering an effective quantity of the peptide of  claim 1  to the mammal.