Therapeutic Agent for Psoriasis

Abstract

The present inventors discovered that an HMGB1 fragment peptide having a specific amino acid sequence exhibits an effect of suppressing erythema, scaling (desquamation), and thickening (infiltration) of the skin in an animal model of psoriasis. Based on these findings, pharmaceutical compositions for the prevention and/or treatment of psoriasis, which comprise the HMGB1 fragment peptide having the specific amino acid sequence are provided.

1 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A method of preventing and/or treating psoriasis, comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of a substance described in any of the following (a) to (c):
 (a) an HMGB1 fragment peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 1;   (b) a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted, or added in the amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 1; and   (c) a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence having about 80% or more sequence identity with the amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 1.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the psoriasis is plaque psoriasis. 
     
     
         6 . A method of suppressing a skin symptom selected from the group consisting of erythema, thickening, and scaling or desquamation in a patient with psoriasis, comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a substance described in any of the following (a) to (c):
 (a) an HMGB1 fragment peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 1;   (b) a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted, or added in the amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 1; and   (c) a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence having about 80% or more sequence identity with the amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 1.