Molecules that home to various selected organs or tissues

Patent Number: 6933281

This patent teaches the use of peptides that have the ability to home to specific tissues. Such homing peptides may be used to deliver drugs or therapeutic agents, as well as (conceptually) to administer activators of stem cells.

The patent has 4 independent claims:
- A lymph node homing peptide which is PTCAYGWCA (SEQ ID NO: 336).

- A conjugate, comprising the peptide which is PTCAYGWCA (SEQ ID NO: 336) linked to a moiety.

- A method of identifying lymph node, comprising the steps of: a) contacting a tissue or organ with a peptide which is PTCAYGWCA (SEQ ID NO: 336); and b) detecting binding of said peptide to said organ or tissue, thereby identifying the organ or tissue as lymph node.

- A method of treating a lymph node pathology in a subject, comprising administering a peptide which is PTCAYGWCA (SEQ ID NO: 336) linked to a therapeutic agent to the subject, wherein said peptide selectively homes to lymph node, thereby treating the lymph node pathology.

The concept in this patent is confirmed by the publication of Trepel M et al (Modulation of the Immune Response by Systemic Targeting of Antigens to Lymph Nodes, CANCER RESEARCH 61, 8110–8112, November 15, 2001)

Despite the fact that the claims are restricted to lymph node homing, the specification provides peptides that home to other parts of the body

For example, the invention provides lung homing peptides such as those containing a GFE motif, including the peptides CGFECVRQCPERC (SEQ ID NO: 1) and CGFELETC (SEQ ID NO: 2); skin homing peptides such as CVALCREACGEGC (SEQ ID NO: 3); pancreas homing peptides such as the peptide SWCEPGWCR (SEQ ID NO: 4); and retina homing peptides such as those containing an RDV motif, including the peptides CSCFRDVCC (SEQ ID NO: 5) and CRDVVSVIC (SEQ ID NO: 6).

US patent # 6,610,651 which shares priority with this patent covers molecules that cause homing to the lung.

US patent # 6,232,287 which shares priority with this patent covers molecules that cause homing to the prostate, and specifically prostate vasculature.

In one possible use of this patent, exogenously administered stem cells, that naturally go into the lung due to circulation, are targeted with stem cell stimulators carried by the peptides disclosed, into the lung.

View this patent on the USPTO website.