Methods for Enhanced Somatostatin Immunogenicity in the Treatment of Obesity

Abstract

Compositions and methods are provided for treatment growth hormone and/or insulin-like growth factor 1 deficiency in a patient in need of such treatment. Compositions and methods include novel vaccines that provide immunogenicity for somatostatin and result in the increased release of endogenously produced growth hormone and/or insulin-like growth factor 1.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a growth hormone deficiency in a patient, the method comprising: administering an immunogenic amount of a vaccine to the patient, the vaccine comprising (a) a chimeric polypeptide of somatostatin-14 attached to an inactivated chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) enzyme and (b) an adjuvant, wherein the administered vaccine results in an increase in growth hormone levels in the patient having the growth hormone deficiency. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the vaccine comprises a chimeric polypeptide of somatostatin-14 functionally attached to a substantially inactivated CAT enzyme. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the adjuvant comprises an effective amount of Carbopol 974P. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the adjuvant further comprises squalene and non-animal origin Tween 80. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the patient is an adult having growth deficiency. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the patient is a child having growth deficiency. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the patient being treated for a growth hormone deficiency has a mucosal disease. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the patient being treated for a growth hormone deficiency has a cardiac disease. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the patient being treated for a growth hormone deficiency is obese. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the patient is an obese dog. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the patient is an obese cat. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the patient is a horse in need of cartilage repair. 
     
     
         13 . A method for treating an insulin-like growth factor 1 deficiency in a patient, the method comprising:
 administering an immunogenic amount of a vaccine to the patient, the vaccine comprising a somatostatin-based antigen and an adjuvant, wherein the administered vaccine results in an increase in insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in the patient having the insulin-like growth factor 1 deficiency.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the patient being treated for insulin-like growth factor 1 deficiency has type 1 or type 2 diabetes. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the patient being treated for insulin-like growth factor 1 deficiency has a stress disorder. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the patient being treated for insulin-like growth factor 1 deficiency has cardiac disease. 
     
     
         17 . An adjuvant for use in a vaccine for treating a vertebrate, the adjuvant comprising:
 a Carbopol 974P base;   a squalene base; and   an arabinogalactan solution;   wherein the adjuvant acts as a carrier for a somatostatin-based antigen for treatment of human growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor 1 deficiency in the vertebrate.   
     
     
         18 . The adjuvant of  claim 17  wherein the squalene base is a combination of squalene, non-animal origin Tween 80 and Span 85. 
     
     
         19 . The adjuvant of  claim 17  wherein the somatostatin-based antigen is somatostatin-14 linked to a substantially inactivated CAT enzyme. 
     
     
         20 . The adjuvant of  claim 17  wherein the inactivated CAT enzyme has one or more wild type histidine residues replaced with alanine, glycine or other like amino acid. 
     
     
         21 . A vaccine for treatment of a patient having a growth hormone and/or insulin-like growth factor 1 deficiency, the vaccine comprising:
 an immunogenic amount of somatostatin-based antigen; and   an adjuvant comprising at least Carbopol 974P, squalene and arabinogalactan.   
     
     
         22 . The vaccine of  claim 21  wherein the somatostatin-based antigen is somatostatin-14 attached to an inactivated CAT enzyme. 
     
     
         23 . The vaccine of  claim 22  wherein the inactivated CAT enzyme has one or more wild type histidine residues replaced with alanine, glycine or other like amino acid.