Methods of enhancing functioning of the large intestine

Abstract

The invention relates to glucagon-related peptides and their use for the prevention or treatment of disorders involving the large intestine. In particular, it has now been demonstrated that GLP-2 and peptidic agonists of GLP-2 can cause proliferation of the tissue of large intestine. Thus, the invention provides methods of proliferating the large intestine in a subject in need thereof. Further, the methods of the invention are useful to treat or prevent inflammatory conditions of the large intestine, including inflammatory bowel diseases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a subject to enhance functioning of the large intestine, comprising the step of delivering to the large intestine of the subject a GLP-2 receptor agonist in an amount effective to enhance functioning of the large intestine. 
     
     
         2 . A method of treating a subject to proliferate the tissue of the large intestine, comprising the step of delivering to the large intestine of the subject GLP-2 or a peptidic analog of GLP-2, in an amount effective to proliferate the tissue of the large intestine. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the subject is suffering from an inflammatory condition involving the large intestine. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the inflammatory condition involving the large intestine is selected from the group comprising Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, infectious colitis, drug or chemical-induced colitis, diverticulitis, and ischemic colitis. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the subject has undergone partial or subtotal resection of the large intestine. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the analog of GLP-2 has enhanced large intestine cell proliferating activity relative to native rat GLP-2. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the analog of GLP-2 is resistant to cleavage by DPP-IV. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the analog of GLP-2 is selected from the group consisting of [D-Ala 2 ]rGLP-2, [Gly 2 ]rGLP-2, [Val 2 ]rGLP-2, and [Gly 2 ]hGLP-2. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the analog of GLP-2 is [Gly 2 ]hGLP-2. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the analog of GLP-2 is delivered to the large intestine by oral, subcutaneous, or rectal administration. 
     
     
         12 . A method to identify peptides useful to treat inflammatory conditions involving the large intestine, comprising the steps of:
 a) obtaining an analog of a vertebrate GLP-2 peptide, the analog having at least one amino acid substitution, deletion, addition, or an amino acid with a blocking group;   b) inducing an inflammatory condition of the intestine involving the large intestine in a test animal;   c) treating the test animal having an induced inflammatory condition of the large intestine, with the analog using a regimen capable of eliciting an amelioration of the inflammatory condition of the large intestine when utilized for native GLP-2; and   d) determining the effect of the analog on the health status or mortality of the test animal compared with control animals not receiving the peptide or determining the effect of the analog on the weight of the large intestine of test animals compared to control animals not receiving peptide.   
     
     
         13 . A method useful to identify peptides capable of proliferating tissue of the large intestine, comprising the steps of
 a) obtaining an analog of a vertebrate GLP-2 peptide, the analog having at least one amino acid substitution, deletion, addition, or an amino acid with a blocking group;   b) delivering the analog to the large intestine of the test animal using a regimen capable of eliciting proliferation of the large intestine when utilized for native GLP-2; and   c) assessing the increase in the mass or length of the large intestine after completion of the treatment regimen.   
     
     
         14 . A method of prophylactically treating a subject at risk of developing an inflammatory condition of the intestine involving inflammation of the large intestine, the method comprising:
 a) identifying a subject at risk of developing an inflammatory bowel condition involving the large intestine;   b) administering to the subject an amount of GLP-2 or a GLP-2 analog demonstrates to inhibit onset of the inflammatory condition.