METHOD FOR INHIBITING INFLAMMATION and PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE/CHEMOKINE EXPRESSION USING A GHRELIN ANALOGUE

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of ameliorating inflammation, inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine and/or chemokine expression and treating various diseases and/or conditions incidental to the onset of inflammation, in a subject in need of treatment for such conditions, by administering select analogues of native hGhrelin.

1 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . A method of treating inflammation associated with an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract in a subject in need thereof which comprises administering to said subject an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of:
 H-Inp-D-Bal-D-Trp-Phe-Apc-NH 2  (SEQ ID: 2);   H-Inp-D-Bal-D-Trp-Phe-Lys-NH 2  (SEQ ID: 144);   H-Inp-D-2-Nal-D-Trp-Phe-Apc-NH 2  (SEQ ID: 2);   H-Inp-D-Bal-D-Trp-Taz-Apc-NH 2  (SEQ ID: 163);   H-Inp-D-Bal-D-Trp-2-Thi-Apc-NH 2  (SEQ ID: 208);   H-Apc-D-1-Nal-D-Trp-2-Thi-Apc-NH 2  (SEQ ID: 209);   H-Apc-D-1-Nal-D-Trp-2-Thi-NH 2  (SEQ ID: 159);   (Ac-Gly 1 , Aib 2 , Glu 3 (NH-hexyl)hGhrelin(1-28)-NH 2 (SEQ ID: 92); and   pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract is selected from Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract is Crohn's disease. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract is inflammatory bowel disease. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract is ulcerative colitis. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract is celiac disease.