Peptides for the Treatment of Hearing

Abstract

Peptides for the treatment of inflammation, and therapeutic uses and methods of using the same are disclosed. Peptides including a transducing sequence are effective for inhibiting cytokine activity and TNF-α secretion through interaction with toll-like receptor signaling pathways. Experiments are described illustrating the efficacy of the compounds in treating otitis media, noise-induced hearing loss, age-related hearing loss, and improvement of ordinary hearing.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of improving hearing, the method comprising administering to a subject in need or want thereof a therapeutically-effective amount of a peptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 369, wherein the side chain of each amino acid residue of the peptide is independently uncapped or capped with a capping group, or a stereoisomer or pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of the peptide. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the peptide further comprises a transducing sequence at the C-terminus of the peptide. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the transducing sequence is a poly-arginine sequence. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the transducing sequence is nine consecutive arginine residues. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administration increases the subject's ability to hear by at least 5 decibels. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administration increases the subject's ability to hear by at least 20 decibels. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administration increases the subject's ability to hear by at least 40 decibels. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the therapeutically-effective amount is from about 100 ng per kg of subject body mass to about 10 mg per kg of subject body mass. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administration is topical. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administration is to a tympanic membrane of the subject. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administration is in the form of a drop. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administration is in the form of an aerosol, vapor, spray, or mist. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administration is in the form of an ointment, cream, liquid, gel, or salve. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the peptide is SEQ ID NO: 369. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the peptide is SEQ ID NO: 378. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the peptide is SEQ ID NO: 183. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the peptide is SEQ ID NO: 184. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the peptide is SEQ ID NO: 185. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the peptide is SEQ ID NO: 186. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the subject is a human.