Peptide composition

Abstract

Provided is use of a peptide, or a derivative of a peptide, in the manufacture of a medicament effective in stimulating fibroblasts to produce fibrillin, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence present in an α-S2 casein precursor, said sequence comprising 3 or more amino acids, and not comprising at its N-terminal amino acid of the full α-S2 casein precursor. Further provided is use of a peptide, or a derivative of a peptide, in the manufacture of a medicament effective in stimulating fibroblasts to produce fibrillin, wherein the peptide has an α-S2 casein fragment activity.

1 . Use of a peptide, or a derivative of a peptide, in the manufacture of a medicament effective in stimulating fibroblasts to produce fibrillin, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence present in an α-S2 casein precursor, said sequence comprising 3 or more amino acids, and not comprising at its n-terminus the N-terminal amino acid of the full α-S2 casein precursor.  
     
     
         2 . Use of a peptide, or a derivative of a peptide, in the manufacture of a medicament effective in stimulating fibroblasts to produce fibrillin, wherein the peptide has an α-S2 casein fragment activity.  
     
     
         3 . Use according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the medicament is effective in alleviating or preventing periodontal disease.  
     
     
         4 . Use according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the medicament is effective in alleviating or preventing an effect of aging in skin.  
     
     
         5 . Use according to any preceding claim, wherein the peptide comprises 9 or more amino acids.  
     
     
         6 . Use according to any preceding claim, wherein the peptide comprises from 9-31 amino acids.  
     
     
         7 . Use according to any preceding claim, wherein the peptide comprises the C-terminus of the full α-S2 casein precursor.  
     
     
         8 . Use according to any preceding claim, wherein the peptide is derived from bovine, goat, sheep, rabbit or pig α-S2 casein or is a synthesized equivalent or homologue thereof.  
     
     
         9 . Use according to any preceding claim, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the following sequences: 
 LysValIleProTyrValArgTyrLeu (SEQ. ID NO. 2);    ThrLysValIleProTyrValArgTyrLeu (SEQ. ID NO. 3);    LysThrLysValIleProTyrValArgTyrLeu (SEQ. ID NO. 4);    ProLysThrLysValIleProTyrValArgTyrLeu (SEQ. ID NO. 5):    GlnProLysThrLysValIleProTyrValArgTyrLeu (SEQ. ID NO. 6:    AlaMetLysProTrpIleGlnProLysThrLysValIleProTyrValArgTyrLeu (SEQ. ID NO. 7);    ThrValTyrGlnHisGlnLysAlaMetLysProTrplleGinProLysThrLysValIleProTyrValArgTyr Leu (SEQ. ID NO. 8); and    ProGlnTyrLeuLysThrValTyrGlnHisGlnLysAlaMetLysProTrpIleGlnProLysThrLysValIle ProTyrValArgTyrLeu (SEQ. ID NO. 9).    
     
     
         10 . Use according to any of claims  1 - 9 , wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the following sequences: 
 LysValIleProTyr (SEQ. ID NO. 16);    ThrLysValIleProTyr (SEQ. ID NO. 17);    LysThrLysValIleProTyr (SEQ. ID NO. 18);    ProLysThrLysValIleProTyr (SEQ. ID NO. 19);    GlnProLysThrLysValIleProTyr (SEQ. ID NO. 20);    AlaMetLysProTrpIleGlnProLysThrLysValIleProTyr (SEQ. ID NO. 21);    ThrValTyrGlnHisGInLysAlaMetLysProTrpIleGlnProLysThrLysValIleProTyr (SEQ. ID NO.  22 ); and    ProGlnTyrLeuLysThrValTyrGlnHisGlnLysAlaMetLysProTrpIleGlnProLysThrLysValIle ProTyr (SEQ. ID NO. 23).    
     
     
         11 . Use according to any preceding claim, wherein the peptide comprises a peptide homologue in which: 
 (a) one or more of the amino acids Leu, Ile and Val are replaced by one another; and/or    (b) one or more of the amino acids Tyr and Phe are replaced by one another; and/or    (c) one or more of the amino acids Arg and Lys are replaced by one another.    
     
     
         12 . Use according to any of claims  4 - 1 , wherein the effect of aging is wrinkling of the skin.  
     
     
         13 . Use according to any preceding claim, wherein the peptide is capable of stimulating the growth of fibroblasts.  
     
     
         14 . Use according to any preceding claim, wherein the peptide is capable of stimulating fibroblasts to produce collagen.  
     
     
         15 . Use according to any preceding claim, wherein the peptide is capable of stimulating the growth of keratinocytes.  
     
     
         16 . Use of a peptide, or a derivative of a peptide, in the manufacture of a medicament effective in repairing and/or maintaining the basement membrane zone of mammalian skin, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence present in an α-S2 casein precursor, said sequence comprising 3 or more amino acids, and not comprising at its N-terminus the N-terminal amino acid of the full α-S2 casein precursor.  
     
     
         17 . Use of a peptide, or a derivative of a peptide, in the manufacture of a medicament effective in repairing and/or maintaining the basement membrane zone of mammalian skin, wherein the peptide has an α-S2 casein fragment activity.  
     
     
         18 . Use according to  claim 16  or  claim 17 , wherein the medicament is effective in alleviating or preventing periodontal disease.  
     
     
         19 . Use according to  claim 16  or  claim 17 , wherein the medicament is effective in alleviating or preventing an effect of aging in skin.  
     
     
         20 . Use according to any of claims  16 - 19 , wherein the mammal is a human.