CA2156735A1 - Pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of inflammatory or immunological diseases and a method for the treatment of said diseases - Google Patents
Pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of inflammatory or immunological diseases and a method for the treatment of said diseasesInfo
- Publication number
- CA2156735A1 CA2156735A1 CA 2156735 CA2156735A CA2156735A1 CA 2156735 A1 CA2156735 A1 CA 2156735A1 CA 2156735 CA2156735 CA 2156735 CA 2156735 A CA2156735 A CA 2156735A CA 2156735 A1 CA2156735 A1 CA 2156735A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- treatment
- fragmin
- pharmaceutical
- heparins
- cells
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
- A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
- A61K31/70—Carbohydrates; Sugars; Derivatives thereof
- A61K31/715—Polysaccharides, i.e. having more than five saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic linkages; Derivatives thereof, e.g. ethers, esters
Abstract
A pharmaceutical for the treatment of inflammatory or immunological diseases and a method of treatment of these diseases. The invention is characterized in that the pharmaceutical comprises heparins, heparinoids, proteoglycans or low-molecular-weight heparins or a mixture thereof or a combination of low-molecular-weight heparins and Prostavasin.
Description
2~6~3~
WO94/18988 PCT~4/00506 USE OF HEPARINS FOR THE TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATORY
OR IMMUNOLOGICAL DISEASES
.
Bac~ground of the invention Field of the invention The invention is related to a pharmaceutical composition for Ihe trea~ment of inflammatory and/or imml~nological diseases and a method for the treatment of said diseases.
These diseases can be multiple sclerosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, rheumatism, lupus erythematosus (LE), post-infarct-syndrome, Ghost versus Host reaction (GvH), auto-agressive neuritides (german: Neuritiden), mi~raine, hyper-IgE-syndro...e, Cr~hr,'s disease (german: Morbus Crohn), systemic carcinoma diseases and the like.
Sys~emic carcinoma diseases can be melanoma, Burkitt lymphom~, leukaemia, Non-Hotrhk; n lymph~mA and the like.
.
DescriPtion of the prior art Heparin and heparan sulfate which are known as an-ticoagulant substances found in the liver and lungs and Whi ~h C~n ~1 C~ ~ p~ ~ ~_ti f~ ~ rc-.m..~
for the treatment and prophylaxis of thrombosis. The ab-ove-mentioned pharmaceuticals are known at least since 1930. ~hey are especially used for the treatmen~ of hyperlipidaemia, arteriosclerosis and are used during biood transfusion and after operations. The interaction of heparins with lymphocyte adhesion patterns was studied by Ekre et al. (Ekre H.P., F~ellner B. and Hagermark O.
(1986) Inhibition of complement dependant experimental inflammation in human skin by different heparin fractions.
Int. J. Tmmllnophramacol. 8 (3):277-286; in the following WO94/18988 ~ 6 7 3 5 PCT~4/00506 .
Ekre et al.1986) concerning the activity of heparin which suppresses the ;mmllnoresponse in the human skin permantently at concentrations between 2 and 5 i.U. per kg and day with a dose limitation of 300 i.U. per day.
However, it is not known to use these pharmaceuticals for treating inflammatory or lmmllnological diseases.
One of the most known adhesion molecule is the fibrinogen in the tissue-pl~sm;nogen-activator-system (TPA). There are also other important systems. These are e.g.
fibronectin and lactoferrin which exist in large amounts if the patient has tumors and which are a sign for the decreasing cellular contact inhibition. These proteins are also detectable for chronic inflammations which do not have a tumoric origin and are called acute-phase-proteins (ge_man: ~utphaser.proteine). Our own results show that the acute-phase-proteins are increased corresponding to the C-reactive protein and are directly correlated to the erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) has become a major health problem in industrialized countries. It affects between 50 and 100 individuals out of 100.000. A review of the literature gave evidence that up to now there is no convincing clue what the main cause of this disease could be (Reinherz E.L., Kung P.C., Goldstein G. and Schlossmann S.F. (1979) Separation of functional subsets of human T-cells by monoclonal antibody. Proc.Nat.Acad.Sci.USA 76:4061; in the following: Re;nherz et al. ;979). Until recently no causai therapy was avalaible.
Other inflammatory and/or lmml~nological diseases are also a major health problem not only in industrialized but also in countries at the stage of economic take-off and also ~5673~
those of the third world. These diseases are e.g. primary biliary cirrhosis, rheumatism, lupus erythematosus (LE), post-infarct syndrome, ghost-versus-host reaction (GvH), systemic carcinoma diseases and others.
Various pharmaceuticals are used to treat the above mentioned diseases. However, there does not exist any pharmaceutical which allows a healing of the patients without any side effects. Moreover, the probability of a compiete recovery of the patients is low. It is thus an object of the invention to find a pharmaceutical and a method of treatment to cure patients from the above mentioned diseases with few or even no side effects at all.
The high endothelial cells (XEC), oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients carry a hypervariable activated cellular DNA, a so called inter-cellular adhesion molecule cellular DNA (pICAMhec cDNA) which encoaes a hypervariabie lC~vlhec. Actlvated lymphocytes of the type Tal and T113 adhere strongly to cells expressing this ICAMhec and from the studies of Ford (Ford W.L. (1978) Possible clues to the mechanism underlying selective migration of lymphocvtes from ~he blood. Symp. Soc. Exp. Biol. 32:359; in the following:
Ford 1978) and Woodruff et al. (Woodruff J.J. and Kuttr.er B.J. ~1980) Adherence of lymphocytes to ~E~ of lymph nodes in vitro Excerpta Medica: Blood cells and vessels wails: functional interactions (Cibal Foundation Symposium) 243-263; in the following Woodruff et. al.1980) we know that adherent lymphocytes migrate into the surrounding tissue. A possible role of cell surface molecules involved in this adhesive interaction has been postulated already for some time by Stoolman et al.
2~7~5 WO94118988 PCT~4/00506 (Stoolman L.M. and Rosen S.D. (1983) Possible role for cell surface carbohydrate b; n~; ng molecules in lymphocyte recirculation. J. Cell Biol.96:722; in the ~ollowing:
Stoolman et. al.1983). In a routinely performed adhesion assay we observed that lymphocytes preincubated with MS
patient serum adhere on HEC.
However, it was not known which type of lymphocytes adhere on HEC and secondly which molecules regulate this adhesion. From the litera~ure pubiisnea by Reinherz et al.1979, Bach et al. (Bach M.A., Tournier E. et al.(1980) Deficit of suppressor T-cells in active multiple sclerosis. Lancet 2:1221; in the following Bach et al.1980), Traugott et al.(Traugott U., Re;nherz E.L. and Raine C.S. (1983) Multiple Sclerosis: distribution of T-cells s~sets wit~.in active relapsir.g and chronic pro-gressive diseases. Ann. Neurol 14:445; in the following:
Traugott et al.1983) and Weiner et ai. (Weiner n.~ han A.K. and Burks J. (1984) Tm~llnohistochemical analysis of ~he cellular infil~ra~e in multiple sclerosis lesions.
Neurology (NY) 34: Suppl 1:112; in the following Weiner et al.1984) it is known that the adherent lymphocytes could be Ta1 and T113 cells.
Objects and SummarY of the Invention It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved ~hAr~ceutical compositior, for the treatment of inflammatory and immllnological diseases and a method of treatment of said diseases.
In accordance with these objects the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising heparins, heparinoids, proteoglycans or low-molecular-weight heparins or mixtures therof to be used for the treatment WO 94/18988 215 6 7 ~ 5 PCT/EP94100506 of the above-mentioned diseases. The present invention furthermore provides a method of treatment of such diseases involving the use of said pharmaceutical compositions.
The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention and the method of treatment make it possible to cure patients from the above-mentioned diseases with only few side effects or even no side effects at ail.
The pharmaceuticals according to the invention generally comprise heparins of various molecular weights.
Preferably, low-molecular-weight heparin is used.
However, heparins of high molecular weight, heparinoids, heparan sulfate as well as proteoglycans can also be used.
The pharmaceutical can be applied directly to the mucosa _r ~ ca., ~e ~jected subcutaneously or intravenous'y. It should be noted that the pharmaceuticals should not be applied to the eye because there a toxic rezct~cn could occur. For a usage of the pharmaceutical nasally a spray seems to be suitable so that the patient is able to treat himself easily with the pharmaceutical. Swallowing pills is another possibility for an easy treatment of the pati-ent himself because the dosage can be controlled very accurately. However, an injection is also suitable.
The dos2ges for the treat~..ent depends on the disease itself and its strength and the pharmaceutical which is used. However, it turned out that dosages of up to 40 i.U
per kg and day are suitable to effect MS-patients and also not more than 40 i.U. per kg and day should be suitable to - effect patients with the other mentioned diseases. It is WO94/18988 21~ ~ 7 3 5 PCT~4/00506 .
most suitable to use dosages between 1 and 5 i.U. for all mentioned diseases.
If the patient will be treated with one of the mentioned pharmaceuticals it is important to mention that the inter-national units are not always defined the same manner. One should always calculate the correct e~uivalent molar concentration to e.g. Fragmin-D. If e.g. heparin is used a factor of ca. 30 has to be taken to receive the correct amount of this pharmaceutical. If other heparinoids or heparan sulfate are used the correct equivalent molar concentration must also be calculated. The used dosage depends on the concentration of the pharmaceutical in the plasma (german: Plasmaspiegel) which should be more than 0,5 i.U./ml for LWHM's.
Most suitable for diseases like MS, rheumatism, primary biliary cirrhosis, migraine, hyper-IgE-syndrome and neu-ritides are pharmaceuticals as Fragmin and Fragmin-D.
It turned out that for diseases like GvH and systemic carcinoma e.g. leukaemia or lymphoma Reviparin is a preferred pharmaceutical.
If Fragmin is used a dosage between 1-40 i.U. antifactor Xa per kg and day which means an amount of more than 0,5 i.U./ml in the plasma (german: Plasmaspiegel) should be achieved.
The present invention is based on observations obtained in in vitro studies on the influence of heparin on the adhesive interaction between HEC cells and peripheral blood lymphocyte subtypes.
SUB~TIME SHEET (RULE 26) ~ WO94/18988 21~ ~ 7 3 ~ PCT~4/00506 Between 1985 and 1991 we took blood samples from 1216 patients and we conducted adhesion assays on cultivated high endothelial cells (HEC). We observed reproducible pathognomonic lymphocyte adhesion of two types of peripheral blood lymphocytes, one bearing the T-cell-specific activation antigen Ta1 and the other activation antigen is the so called T113 lymphocytes to HECs.
Therefore, we started analyzing the Intercellular Adhesion Molecule (ICAM) on HEC, oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells and lymphocytes as well as the Lymphocyte Function Antigen (LFA) on Ta1 and T113 lymphocytes of MS patients by means of protein structure analysis. Furthermore, in situ hybridization to the ICAM's and LFA genes in lymphocytes and high endothelial cells of MS patients was carried out.
It was found that MS patients express a pathognomonic hypervariable cellular DNA which encodes a hypervariable ICAMhec on HEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwanncells in 95%
of the cases. The metabolized degradation products of this ICAMhec product leads to the activation of T-cells, i.e. the expression of Ta1 and T113 antigens on lymphocytes. The molecular structure of this ICAMhec shows a 75% homology to heparansulfateproteoglycane. Adding heparin to Ta1- and T113-positive lymphocytes inhibited the pathognomonic adhesion patterns of MS patients lymphocytes. The evaluation of these in vitro studies led to the concept of the pharmaceutical compositions and the method of treatment of the present invention.
The results of extensive studies show that the effect of inhibition of coagulation of the pharmaceutical is caused by a blocking or modelling of adhesion molecules including those expressed on thrombocytes. This effect prevents the SUB~TITUTE SI~EET (RULE 26~
WO94/18988 ~ 6 7 ~ ~ PCT~4/00506 thrombocytes or other blood cells from aggregating or ~rom adhering to an injured vascular wall.
Moreover, the viscosity of the blood cells is altered by medication with the pharmaceutical in such a manner that they can increase their length up to 7 times over their physiological length.
The results show that the pharmaceutical has a direct effect on the LFA-receptors and the ICAM-system because it has the function of a modulating receptor or ligand for both systems. Fibronectin, lactoferrin, fibrinogen and the whole TPA and others belong also to this system. Moreover, the suppression of transplantation and GvH reactions can be explained by the effect on the LFA and the ICAM.
The diseases to he treated can be mu'ti~la s~lerosis, GvH, primary biliary cirrhosis, post-infarct-syndrome, LE, rheumatism or systemic carcinoma. The dosage of this pharmaceutical should be up to 40 i.U. (international units) per kg and day.-However, a dosage between l and 5 i.U. per kg and day is preferred.
The NMR controlled reduction of sclerotic patches with TM~ f~^ eY~ Q ~ n-n ~ C ~ gn~ ficant and thP nl mhe~
of negative side effects compared to other st~nA~rd drugs such as dexamethason or azathioprine is negligible. The only ob~erved ~ide effects were a diSt~nct sleepi~ess, nausea, and ophth~ c migraine. The sleepiness persisted usually during tne whoie treatment period. Therefore, most patients received their ~edication in the evening. Nausea and migraine disappeared within a fortnight. A combination of Prostavasin with LWXM leads to an improved biological availability. Thus, Prostavasin is used to improve local blood flow. This is another new therapeutic regime with 21~3~
WO 94/18988 ^ PCT/EP94/00506 rather encouraging results. Prostavasin is a pro-staglandin. The substance is Alprostadil. However, it has to be proven which other possible indications for this drug are.
We found that low-molecular-weight heparins in vitro as well as in vivo have significant better antiflammatory and antiactivation potentials in MS than the medication tested in this study (p = ~,002; n = 1216j. There was iess posi-tive ir,f~uer.ce by dex&,.ethasor. or a~ath~opr ne co~ ared to heparin (LMWH).
Other objects and advantages of the present invention and some more results of the extensive studies will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawinqs Fig. 1: The results of the analysis G peripheral blood mo~onuclear cells with anti-Ta1, anti-T113 and control ascites in a patient with progressive MS
and a healthy control are shown. The flowcytometric analysis was performed with a linear scale of fluorescence intensitiy.
Fig. 2: The Tmmlmoprecipitation of ICAM from 125J-labelled cells was demonstrated by the use of the monoclon~l antibody 84-H10.
a: Regulation of ICAM synthesis in HEC by cytokines;
b: Regulation of ICAM synthesis in oligodendro-cytes by cytokines;
21~673~
WO94/18988 ~ PCT~4/00506 Fig. 3: One can observe the expression and structure of the pICAMhec gene shown by method a: RNA blot hybridization and b: genomic DNA blot hybridization.
Fig. 4: Reduction of sclerotic patches and symptom improvement after longterm treatment of MS-patients with Fragmin-D, dexamethasone, azathioprine or a control substance.
Fig. 5: Significant therapeutic improvement in 73 acute MS
cases after treatment with LMWH compared to treatment with dexamethasone or azathioprine (p = 0,002; n = 73).
Fig. 6: Nucleotide sequence of the cellular DNA clone pICAMhec (a), and the associated protein se~uence (b). The nucleotide numbering goes from left to right, the aminoacid sequence from right to left.
Fig. 7: Typical alteration of the adhesion rate in a case of MS. The last attack was 15 years ago.
Fig. 8: Typical picture of an acute MS attack. Upon serial dilution more than 10.000 adherent lymphocytes per HEC were observed in the adhesion assay.
HEC were cultivated according to v. Arnim (1987, German Patent No. DE 3536955). 5x10 HEC per ml were cultivated on PRIMARIA-multiwell plates (Becton & Dickinson, Heidel-berg) with culture medium RPMI-1640 (Gibco, Karlsruhe) cont~;n;ng 16% Hyclone defined Fetal Calf Serum, 200mM
L-glutamine, 20 ~g/ml Endothelial Cell Growth Supplement (ECGS; Sigma), 20 ~g/ml Multiple Stimulating Activity SUBStITUrE SHEET (RULE ~6) 2~5~
oWO 94/18988 - PCT/EP94/00506 (MSA; Sigma), 10 ,ug/ml Heparin (H-3125, Sigma) and 15 ~g/ml Insulin (Sigma). After a 10 day cultivation period the HEC-monolayer was confluent and therefore the cells were fixed for 10 min at 4C in 0,2Mol L-lysine (Gibco, Karlsruhe) and deepfrozen in liquid nitrogen.
..
The blood samples were collected by iv puncture. The lymphocytes and the serum of each sample were extracted by centrifugation in Lymphoprep-tubes (Becton & Dickinson, Heidelberg). Thereafter ser-~m and lymphocytes were deepfrozen in liquid nitrogen.
Anti-Tal immunoprecipates a single major 105 kd band.
Unlike antibodies to the interleukine-2 receptor, anti-Ta1 does not inhibit T cell proliferative responses to antigen or interleukine containing medium. Anti-T113 reacts with a uni~ue epitope that becomes expressed on T cells after activation. The weight of the pICAMhec cDNA encoded prote-in varies between 100 and 125 kd. Concerning also the 105 kd band immllnoprecipita~ed by ant -Tal and LFA-1 being a glycoprotein of a weight also varying between 100 and 125 kd this leaves no other conclusion then ICAM being the ligand of LFA-1-carrying Ta1-cells (Stoolman L.M. (1989) Adhesion molecules controlling lymphocyte migration; Cell 56:907-910; in the following: Stoolman 1989). Taking all this into account ICAM expressing cells play a major role in the induction of the pathophysiologic response in MS.
Gesner et al. (Gesner B.M. and Ginsburg V. (1964) Effect of glycosidases on the fate of transfused lymphocytes.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 52:750; in the following:
Gesner et al.1964) , Ford 1978, Curtis (Curtis A.S.G.
(1974) The specific control of cell positioning. Arch.
Biol. 32:105; in the following: Curtis 1974) and Aklyama (Aklyama S.K. (1981) The structure of fibronectin and W094/18988 21 5 ~ 7 3 ~ PCT~4/00506 its role in cellular adhesion. J. Supramolecular structure and cellular Biochem. 16:345; in the following Aklyama 1981) postulated that cells involved in lymphocyte adhesion and migration must (1) produce, release and transport recognition signal; (2) receive signals;
WO94/18988 PCT~4/00506 USE OF HEPARINS FOR THE TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATORY
OR IMMUNOLOGICAL DISEASES
.
Bac~ground of the invention Field of the invention The invention is related to a pharmaceutical composition for Ihe trea~ment of inflammatory and/or imml~nological diseases and a method for the treatment of said diseases.
These diseases can be multiple sclerosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, rheumatism, lupus erythematosus (LE), post-infarct-syndrome, Ghost versus Host reaction (GvH), auto-agressive neuritides (german: Neuritiden), mi~raine, hyper-IgE-syndro...e, Cr~hr,'s disease (german: Morbus Crohn), systemic carcinoma diseases and the like.
Sys~emic carcinoma diseases can be melanoma, Burkitt lymphom~, leukaemia, Non-Hotrhk; n lymph~mA and the like.
.
DescriPtion of the prior art Heparin and heparan sulfate which are known as an-ticoagulant substances found in the liver and lungs and Whi ~h C~n ~1 C~ ~ p~ ~ ~_ti f~ ~ rc-.m..~
for the treatment and prophylaxis of thrombosis. The ab-ove-mentioned pharmaceuticals are known at least since 1930. ~hey are especially used for the treatmen~ of hyperlipidaemia, arteriosclerosis and are used during biood transfusion and after operations. The interaction of heparins with lymphocyte adhesion patterns was studied by Ekre et al. (Ekre H.P., F~ellner B. and Hagermark O.
(1986) Inhibition of complement dependant experimental inflammation in human skin by different heparin fractions.
Int. J. Tmmllnophramacol. 8 (3):277-286; in the following WO94/18988 ~ 6 7 3 5 PCT~4/00506 .
Ekre et al.1986) concerning the activity of heparin which suppresses the ;mmllnoresponse in the human skin permantently at concentrations between 2 and 5 i.U. per kg and day with a dose limitation of 300 i.U. per day.
However, it is not known to use these pharmaceuticals for treating inflammatory or lmmllnological diseases.
One of the most known adhesion molecule is the fibrinogen in the tissue-pl~sm;nogen-activator-system (TPA). There are also other important systems. These are e.g.
fibronectin and lactoferrin which exist in large amounts if the patient has tumors and which are a sign for the decreasing cellular contact inhibition. These proteins are also detectable for chronic inflammations which do not have a tumoric origin and are called acute-phase-proteins (ge_man: ~utphaser.proteine). Our own results show that the acute-phase-proteins are increased corresponding to the C-reactive protein and are directly correlated to the erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) has become a major health problem in industrialized countries. It affects between 50 and 100 individuals out of 100.000. A review of the literature gave evidence that up to now there is no convincing clue what the main cause of this disease could be (Reinherz E.L., Kung P.C., Goldstein G. and Schlossmann S.F. (1979) Separation of functional subsets of human T-cells by monoclonal antibody. Proc.Nat.Acad.Sci.USA 76:4061; in the following: Re;nherz et al. ;979). Until recently no causai therapy was avalaible.
Other inflammatory and/or lmml~nological diseases are also a major health problem not only in industrialized but also in countries at the stage of economic take-off and also ~5673~
those of the third world. These diseases are e.g. primary biliary cirrhosis, rheumatism, lupus erythematosus (LE), post-infarct syndrome, ghost-versus-host reaction (GvH), systemic carcinoma diseases and others.
Various pharmaceuticals are used to treat the above mentioned diseases. However, there does not exist any pharmaceutical which allows a healing of the patients without any side effects. Moreover, the probability of a compiete recovery of the patients is low. It is thus an object of the invention to find a pharmaceutical and a method of treatment to cure patients from the above mentioned diseases with few or even no side effects at all.
The high endothelial cells (XEC), oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients carry a hypervariable activated cellular DNA, a so called inter-cellular adhesion molecule cellular DNA (pICAMhec cDNA) which encoaes a hypervariabie lC~vlhec. Actlvated lymphocytes of the type Tal and T113 adhere strongly to cells expressing this ICAMhec and from the studies of Ford (Ford W.L. (1978) Possible clues to the mechanism underlying selective migration of lymphocvtes from ~he blood. Symp. Soc. Exp. Biol. 32:359; in the following:
Ford 1978) and Woodruff et al. (Woodruff J.J. and Kuttr.er B.J. ~1980) Adherence of lymphocytes to ~E~ of lymph nodes in vitro Excerpta Medica: Blood cells and vessels wails: functional interactions (Cibal Foundation Symposium) 243-263; in the following Woodruff et. al.1980) we know that adherent lymphocytes migrate into the surrounding tissue. A possible role of cell surface molecules involved in this adhesive interaction has been postulated already for some time by Stoolman et al.
2~7~5 WO94118988 PCT~4/00506 (Stoolman L.M. and Rosen S.D. (1983) Possible role for cell surface carbohydrate b; n~; ng molecules in lymphocyte recirculation. J. Cell Biol.96:722; in the ~ollowing:
Stoolman et. al.1983). In a routinely performed adhesion assay we observed that lymphocytes preincubated with MS
patient serum adhere on HEC.
However, it was not known which type of lymphocytes adhere on HEC and secondly which molecules regulate this adhesion. From the litera~ure pubiisnea by Reinherz et al.1979, Bach et al. (Bach M.A., Tournier E. et al.(1980) Deficit of suppressor T-cells in active multiple sclerosis. Lancet 2:1221; in the following Bach et al.1980), Traugott et al.(Traugott U., Re;nherz E.L. and Raine C.S. (1983) Multiple Sclerosis: distribution of T-cells s~sets wit~.in active relapsir.g and chronic pro-gressive diseases. Ann. Neurol 14:445; in the following:
Traugott et al.1983) and Weiner et ai. (Weiner n.~ han A.K. and Burks J. (1984) Tm~llnohistochemical analysis of ~he cellular infil~ra~e in multiple sclerosis lesions.
Neurology (NY) 34: Suppl 1:112; in the following Weiner et al.1984) it is known that the adherent lymphocytes could be Ta1 and T113 cells.
Objects and SummarY of the Invention It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved ~hAr~ceutical compositior, for the treatment of inflammatory and immllnological diseases and a method of treatment of said diseases.
In accordance with these objects the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising heparins, heparinoids, proteoglycans or low-molecular-weight heparins or mixtures therof to be used for the treatment WO 94/18988 215 6 7 ~ 5 PCT/EP94100506 of the above-mentioned diseases. The present invention furthermore provides a method of treatment of such diseases involving the use of said pharmaceutical compositions.
The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention and the method of treatment make it possible to cure patients from the above-mentioned diseases with only few side effects or even no side effects at ail.
The pharmaceuticals according to the invention generally comprise heparins of various molecular weights.
Preferably, low-molecular-weight heparin is used.
However, heparins of high molecular weight, heparinoids, heparan sulfate as well as proteoglycans can also be used.
The pharmaceutical can be applied directly to the mucosa _r ~ ca., ~e ~jected subcutaneously or intravenous'y. It should be noted that the pharmaceuticals should not be applied to the eye because there a toxic rezct~cn could occur. For a usage of the pharmaceutical nasally a spray seems to be suitable so that the patient is able to treat himself easily with the pharmaceutical. Swallowing pills is another possibility for an easy treatment of the pati-ent himself because the dosage can be controlled very accurately. However, an injection is also suitable.
The dos2ges for the treat~..ent depends on the disease itself and its strength and the pharmaceutical which is used. However, it turned out that dosages of up to 40 i.U
per kg and day are suitable to effect MS-patients and also not more than 40 i.U. per kg and day should be suitable to - effect patients with the other mentioned diseases. It is WO94/18988 21~ ~ 7 3 5 PCT~4/00506 .
most suitable to use dosages between 1 and 5 i.U. for all mentioned diseases.
If the patient will be treated with one of the mentioned pharmaceuticals it is important to mention that the inter-national units are not always defined the same manner. One should always calculate the correct e~uivalent molar concentration to e.g. Fragmin-D. If e.g. heparin is used a factor of ca. 30 has to be taken to receive the correct amount of this pharmaceutical. If other heparinoids or heparan sulfate are used the correct equivalent molar concentration must also be calculated. The used dosage depends on the concentration of the pharmaceutical in the plasma (german: Plasmaspiegel) which should be more than 0,5 i.U./ml for LWHM's.
Most suitable for diseases like MS, rheumatism, primary biliary cirrhosis, migraine, hyper-IgE-syndrome and neu-ritides are pharmaceuticals as Fragmin and Fragmin-D.
It turned out that for diseases like GvH and systemic carcinoma e.g. leukaemia or lymphoma Reviparin is a preferred pharmaceutical.
If Fragmin is used a dosage between 1-40 i.U. antifactor Xa per kg and day which means an amount of more than 0,5 i.U./ml in the plasma (german: Plasmaspiegel) should be achieved.
The present invention is based on observations obtained in in vitro studies on the influence of heparin on the adhesive interaction between HEC cells and peripheral blood lymphocyte subtypes.
SUB~TIME SHEET (RULE 26) ~ WO94/18988 21~ ~ 7 3 ~ PCT~4/00506 Between 1985 and 1991 we took blood samples from 1216 patients and we conducted adhesion assays on cultivated high endothelial cells (HEC). We observed reproducible pathognomonic lymphocyte adhesion of two types of peripheral blood lymphocytes, one bearing the T-cell-specific activation antigen Ta1 and the other activation antigen is the so called T113 lymphocytes to HECs.
Therefore, we started analyzing the Intercellular Adhesion Molecule (ICAM) on HEC, oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells and lymphocytes as well as the Lymphocyte Function Antigen (LFA) on Ta1 and T113 lymphocytes of MS patients by means of protein structure analysis. Furthermore, in situ hybridization to the ICAM's and LFA genes in lymphocytes and high endothelial cells of MS patients was carried out.
It was found that MS patients express a pathognomonic hypervariable cellular DNA which encodes a hypervariable ICAMhec on HEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwanncells in 95%
of the cases. The metabolized degradation products of this ICAMhec product leads to the activation of T-cells, i.e. the expression of Ta1 and T113 antigens on lymphocytes. The molecular structure of this ICAMhec shows a 75% homology to heparansulfateproteoglycane. Adding heparin to Ta1- and T113-positive lymphocytes inhibited the pathognomonic adhesion patterns of MS patients lymphocytes. The evaluation of these in vitro studies led to the concept of the pharmaceutical compositions and the method of treatment of the present invention.
The results of extensive studies show that the effect of inhibition of coagulation of the pharmaceutical is caused by a blocking or modelling of adhesion molecules including those expressed on thrombocytes. This effect prevents the SUB~TITUTE SI~EET (RULE 26~
WO94/18988 ~ 6 7 ~ ~ PCT~4/00506 thrombocytes or other blood cells from aggregating or ~rom adhering to an injured vascular wall.
Moreover, the viscosity of the blood cells is altered by medication with the pharmaceutical in such a manner that they can increase their length up to 7 times over their physiological length.
The results show that the pharmaceutical has a direct effect on the LFA-receptors and the ICAM-system because it has the function of a modulating receptor or ligand for both systems. Fibronectin, lactoferrin, fibrinogen and the whole TPA and others belong also to this system. Moreover, the suppression of transplantation and GvH reactions can be explained by the effect on the LFA and the ICAM.
The diseases to he treated can be mu'ti~la s~lerosis, GvH, primary biliary cirrhosis, post-infarct-syndrome, LE, rheumatism or systemic carcinoma. The dosage of this pharmaceutical should be up to 40 i.U. (international units) per kg and day.-However, a dosage between l and 5 i.U. per kg and day is preferred.
The NMR controlled reduction of sclerotic patches with TM~ f~^ eY~ Q ~ n-n ~ C ~ gn~ ficant and thP nl mhe~
of negative side effects compared to other st~nA~rd drugs such as dexamethason or azathioprine is negligible. The only ob~erved ~ide effects were a diSt~nct sleepi~ess, nausea, and ophth~ c migraine. The sleepiness persisted usually during tne whoie treatment period. Therefore, most patients received their ~edication in the evening. Nausea and migraine disappeared within a fortnight. A combination of Prostavasin with LWXM leads to an improved biological availability. Thus, Prostavasin is used to improve local blood flow. This is another new therapeutic regime with 21~3~
WO 94/18988 ^ PCT/EP94/00506 rather encouraging results. Prostavasin is a pro-staglandin. The substance is Alprostadil. However, it has to be proven which other possible indications for this drug are.
We found that low-molecular-weight heparins in vitro as well as in vivo have significant better antiflammatory and antiactivation potentials in MS than the medication tested in this study (p = ~,002; n = 1216j. There was iess posi-tive ir,f~uer.ce by dex&,.ethasor. or a~ath~opr ne co~ ared to heparin (LMWH).
Other objects and advantages of the present invention and some more results of the extensive studies will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawinqs Fig. 1: The results of the analysis G peripheral blood mo~onuclear cells with anti-Ta1, anti-T113 and control ascites in a patient with progressive MS
and a healthy control are shown. The flowcytometric analysis was performed with a linear scale of fluorescence intensitiy.
Fig. 2: The Tmmlmoprecipitation of ICAM from 125J-labelled cells was demonstrated by the use of the monoclon~l antibody 84-H10.
a: Regulation of ICAM synthesis in HEC by cytokines;
b: Regulation of ICAM synthesis in oligodendro-cytes by cytokines;
21~673~
WO94/18988 ~ PCT~4/00506 Fig. 3: One can observe the expression and structure of the pICAMhec gene shown by method a: RNA blot hybridization and b: genomic DNA blot hybridization.
Fig. 4: Reduction of sclerotic patches and symptom improvement after longterm treatment of MS-patients with Fragmin-D, dexamethasone, azathioprine or a control substance.
Fig. 5: Significant therapeutic improvement in 73 acute MS
cases after treatment with LMWH compared to treatment with dexamethasone or azathioprine (p = 0,002; n = 73).
Fig. 6: Nucleotide sequence of the cellular DNA clone pICAMhec (a), and the associated protein se~uence (b). The nucleotide numbering goes from left to right, the aminoacid sequence from right to left.
Fig. 7: Typical alteration of the adhesion rate in a case of MS. The last attack was 15 years ago.
Fig. 8: Typical picture of an acute MS attack. Upon serial dilution more than 10.000 adherent lymphocytes per HEC were observed in the adhesion assay.
HEC were cultivated according to v. Arnim (1987, German Patent No. DE 3536955). 5x10 HEC per ml were cultivated on PRIMARIA-multiwell plates (Becton & Dickinson, Heidel-berg) with culture medium RPMI-1640 (Gibco, Karlsruhe) cont~;n;ng 16% Hyclone defined Fetal Calf Serum, 200mM
L-glutamine, 20 ~g/ml Endothelial Cell Growth Supplement (ECGS; Sigma), 20 ~g/ml Multiple Stimulating Activity SUBStITUrE SHEET (RULE ~6) 2~5~
oWO 94/18988 - PCT/EP94/00506 (MSA; Sigma), 10 ,ug/ml Heparin (H-3125, Sigma) and 15 ~g/ml Insulin (Sigma). After a 10 day cultivation period the HEC-monolayer was confluent and therefore the cells were fixed for 10 min at 4C in 0,2Mol L-lysine (Gibco, Karlsruhe) and deepfrozen in liquid nitrogen.
..
The blood samples were collected by iv puncture. The lymphocytes and the serum of each sample were extracted by centrifugation in Lymphoprep-tubes (Becton & Dickinson, Heidelberg). Thereafter ser-~m and lymphocytes were deepfrozen in liquid nitrogen.
Anti-Tal immunoprecipates a single major 105 kd band.
Unlike antibodies to the interleukine-2 receptor, anti-Ta1 does not inhibit T cell proliferative responses to antigen or interleukine containing medium. Anti-T113 reacts with a uni~ue epitope that becomes expressed on T cells after activation. The weight of the pICAMhec cDNA encoded prote-in varies between 100 and 125 kd. Concerning also the 105 kd band immllnoprecipita~ed by ant -Tal and LFA-1 being a glycoprotein of a weight also varying between 100 and 125 kd this leaves no other conclusion then ICAM being the ligand of LFA-1-carrying Ta1-cells (Stoolman L.M. (1989) Adhesion molecules controlling lymphocyte migration; Cell 56:907-910; in the following: Stoolman 1989). Taking all this into account ICAM expressing cells play a major role in the induction of the pathophysiologic response in MS.
Gesner et al. (Gesner B.M. and Ginsburg V. (1964) Effect of glycosidases on the fate of transfused lymphocytes.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 52:750; in the following:
Gesner et al.1964) , Ford 1978, Curtis (Curtis A.S.G.
(1974) The specific control of cell positioning. Arch.
Biol. 32:105; in the following: Curtis 1974) and Aklyama (Aklyama S.K. (1981) The structure of fibronectin and W094/18988 21 5 ~ 7 3 ~ PCT~4/00506 its role in cellular adhesion. J. Supramolecular structure and cellular Biochem. 16:345; in the following Aklyama 1981) postulated that cells involved in lymphocyte adhesion and migration must (1) produce, release and transport recognition signal; (2) receive signals;
(3) activate an effector system in the receiving cell;
and (4) induce a specific answer in the receiving cell via the effector system. In case of the adhesion of Ta1 and T113 cells on ICAMhec expressing cells.
Stoolman et al.1983 and Holzmann et al. (1989) have demonstrated the specificity of adhesion, migration and cellular interaction and its physiologic versus patho-physiologic relevance. The LFA-1 is a member of the inte-grin family of cell surface receptors (Stoolmann 1989).
The tripeptide motif Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) is a common feature of the ligands for this family and is required for ligand receptor interaction.
But ICAM contains no RGD motifs bearing instead a single RGE sequence at position 152 (see Fig.4). Nevertheless there is a striking similarity between ICAMhec, NCAM and between heparansulfatproteoglykane and LFA-1. This similarity is particularly interesting as it brings together surface mucopolysaccharids, lymphoid and neuronal adhesion molecules.
According to Reinherz et al.1979, Bach et al.1980, Weiner et al.1984 and Traugott et al.1983 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients carry Ta1 and T113 lymphocytes. Traugotts laboratory gave us Anti-Ta1 and Anti-T113. All monoclonal antibodies were used in antibody excess at a dilution of 1:500 except for anti-T3, which was used at a dilution of 1:250. Cytofluorographic analysis of cell populations were performed by means of indirect SUB~TITUl E S~IE~T (RULE 26~
WO 94/18988 21~ ~ 7 ~ 5 PCT/EP94/00506 immunofluorescence with fluoresceinisothiocyanate-conjugated (FITC) goat antirat antibodies (Wellcome) on a flow cytometer using a linear scale. Bac~ground fluorescence activity was determined by control ascites fluid obtained from rats immtlnlzed with a nonsecreting hybridoma.
For the adhesion assays lymphocytes from healthy controls (no known immttnologic, allergic or lnfectious disease) were incubated in patient serum.. for 60m.in at 37C, centrifuged with 300g, washed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), centrifuged once more and resuspended in RPMI-1640 cont~i n; ng lOmM magnesium. Thereafter the fixed HEC-mono-layer was incubated with the resuspended lymphocytes for 60min at 37C. After 60min the incubated monolayer was washed three times with PBS, stained with acridine orange and observed under the microscope. The number of adherent lymphocytes per HEC was documented by photography (Film Agfachrome professional ISO 200).
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a patient with progressive MS and of a healthy control individual were analyzed with anti-Tal, anti-T113 and control ascites by flowcvtometric analvsis with a linear scale of fluorescence intensity (see Fig. 1). Tal lymphocytes in both T4 and T8 subsets from a patient with MS. Subsets were prepared by complement-mediated lysis of reciprocal populations and stained with anti-T3, anti-T4, anti-T8, anti-Tal and control ascites. Cytofluorographic analysis using a log scale was then performed. The T8 subset shows st~; n ' ng with anti-T3, anti-T8 and anti-Tal, and no St~ n i ng with anti-T4. The reciprocal T4 subset also stains with anti-Tal. Anti-T3 reacts with virtually all peripheral blood T cells. Anti-Tal lmmnnoprecipitates a WO94/18988 2 ~ ~ 6 7 ~ ~ PCT~4/00506 .
single major 105 kd band. Unlike antibodies to the inter-leukine-2 receptor, anti-Ta1 does not inhibit T cell pro-liferative responses to antigen or interleukine cont~; n; ng medium. Anti-T113 reacts with a uni~ue epitope that be-comes expressed on T cells after activation. The percentage of activated antigen positive T cells was calculated by dividing the number of activated antigen positive T cells by the total number of T3-positive cells.
The average percentage of T3-positive mononuclear cells was signi'icantly di''erer.t ir. the di~ferent sroups.
To ;mmllnoprecipitate the Inter Cellular Adhesion Molecule (ICAM) on 125J-labelled HEC, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells we used the commercially available monoclonal antibody 84-H10 (Becton & Dickinson, Heidel-berg). A transfection with plCAMhec was done according to the protocols of Berger et al. (Berger S.L.
and K;mmel A.R. (1987) Guide to .-"olecular Cloning techni~ues Academic Press Inc. Vol 152:1-812; in the following: Berger et al.1987) and Glover (Glover D.M.
(1987) DNA cloning a practical approach. IRL Press Vol 1-3; ed.: D.M. Glover; in the following: Glover 1987) episomal DNA was extracted from washed HEC. The HEC.
oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells were set to 5x105 cells per ml. Thereafter, the cells were incu~ated for 48h with the following test reagents; 50ng/ml 12/0/tetradekanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TDA, Sigma), 100~/ml gamma-interferon, 200~/ml TNF, 10~/ml interleukine-1-beta.
For the function analysis the XEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells were transfected with the control vector PE-H3M. We then conducted a lymphocyte adhesion assay.
Therefore HEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwann-cells were incubated for lh at 37C in PBS containing 12,5% defined fetal calf serum (Hyclone) and l~g/ml of the st~ rd ~ WO94/l8988 2 1 5 6 7 3 5 PCT~W4/00506 antibody 84-H10. Once in each preparation the antibody was washed of to avoid lymphocyte binding by the antibody excess. In all the other cases the antibody excess was necessary to avoid lymphocyte migration through the cells.
The imm-lnoprecipitation of ICAM from 125J-labelled cells was demonstrated by the use of the monoclonal antibody 84-H10 (Fig. 2) a: Regulation of ICAM synthesis in HEC by cytokines;
gam.ma-interferon-induced without antibody (lane 1), with antibody (lane 2); tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced without antibody (lane 3) with antibody (lane 4) b: Regulation of ICAM synthesis in oligodendrocytes by cytokines; gam.ma-interferon-induced without antibody (lane 1), with antibody (lane 2); TNF-induced without antibody (lane 3), with antibody (lane 4); interleukine-l~-induced without antibody (lane 5), with antibody (lane 6).
In Fig. 3 one can observe the expression and structure of tne pICAMhec gene shown by the method of a: RNA blot hybridization. Total RNA (24 ~g) was denatured in formaldehyde, electrophoresed, transfered to nylon mem.~branes and hybridized with ICAM-l cDNA.
Lane 1 uninduced HEC; lane 2 TDA induced; lane 3 gamma IFN
induced; lane 4 IL-l~ induced; lane 5 TNF induced; lane 6 glomerular endothellum; lane 7 oligodendrocytes from an MS
patient; lane 8 Tal; lane 9 T113; lane 10 lymphokine activated killer cells. The RNA blot analysis revealed a 3,2 kb and a 1,9 kb species in HEC stimulated with TDA, gam.ma-interferon, TNF, and interleukine-l~. It was not found in llnin~l)çed cells. The 1,9 kb band is blocked by 18S rRNA which is present as a cont~min~tion in poly-A
selected RNA and is therefore considered unspecific.
W094/18988 21~ ~ ~ 3 ~ PCT~4/00506 The results lead to the conclusion that the expression of ICAM is regulated by inflammatory cytokines on the transcription level.
b: genomic DNA blot hybridization (pICAMhec cDNA from high endothelial cells from MS patients): lane 1: EcoRI;
lane 2: BamHI; lane 3: HindIII endonuclease from Hemophilus influenza; lane 4: DraI endonuclease.
For the DNA-hybridization human chromosomai piacenta DNA
(24~ug) was digested with restriction enzymes, separated electrophoretically and transfered to a nylon membrane.
Then it was hybridized with the cellular pICAMhec-cDNA
clone. For the RNA blot hybridization we used the protocol from Berger et al.(1987) and Glover (1987); 24,ug cellular RNA was denatured in formaldehyde, separated electrophoretically and transferred to a nylone membrane.
Thereafter the RNA was hybridized with ceiluiar DNA of the clone plCAMhec-cDNA. A cellular DNA library was constructed by extracting RNA stimulated with 12/0/tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TDA; Sigma) from MS
patients' lymphocytes, HEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. This library was transfected into HEC. HEC
expressina the pICAMhec were identified bv the antibodv 84-H10. From these cells the episomal DNA was extracted to isolate the clone pICAMhec-cDNA. The se~uencing was conducted via the dideoxy-chain-termination using a combination of subclones and specific oligonucleotides and the align program of the Protein Identification Ressours.
The T cells for the tests werde obtained by culture of peripheral blood lymphoyctes with phytohemagglutinin for 48h.
WO94/18988 21~ 6 ~ 3 ~ PCT~W4/00506 Synthesis of a cDNA library:
RNase H from Escherichia coli is used to nick the RNA in the hybrids, leaving only small RNA primers with free 3'-OH groups attached to the cDNA. These 3'-OH groups can subsequently be used by DNA polymerase I to synthesize efficiently a second strand all along the length of the first strand (original cDNA). Double stranded oligonucleotides called BamHI-linkers are used to add complementary ends to blunt-ended double helical DNA. The linkers are first ligated to both ends of the given DNA.
Then the product is treated with BamHI-endonuclease.
HindIII endonuclease is from Hemophilus influenzae. The rest of the synthesis of the cDNA library is in accordance to Kimmel et al. (K~mm~l, A.R. and Berger, S.L.:
Preparation of cDNA and Generation of cDNA Libraries:
Overview, Methods in Enzymology, 1987, 152:307).
The here described transcript pICAMhec which encodes a protein of a relative molecular weight of 110 kd was discovered in T cells induced by MS. Therefore, we established the homogeneity of the pICAMhec transcript and the activated pICAMhec-cDNA. The blot-hybridization of the pICAMhec transcript with the placental genomic DNA re-vealed a pattern indicating a single copy gen. To establish the pathognomic role of the pICAMhec encoded protein HEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells expressing pICAMhec were studied according to their ability to bind Ta1 and T113 cells. Within 60 min Ta1 and T113 cells adhered strongly to HEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells expressing pICAMhec while the lymphocytes did not adhere to cells with a related transfection.
The sequencing of the cellular DNA clone pICAMhec and the associated protein sequence is shown in Fig. 6. The SUBSTITUrE SHEET (RULE 26) WO94/18988 ~1~ 6 7 3 ~ PCT~4/00506 '-nucleotide numbering goes from left to right, the aminoacid sequence from right to left. The RGD-motive at position 152 is underlined, the potential N-dependent point of glycosilation is marked by "-CHO-". The trans-membrane ~om~; n is stained by "-TM-". The aminoacid sequence is numbered from the projected separation point of the signal peptide. R~m~lnlng cysteine units are circled. The pICAMhec-cDNA clone is build out of 1846 i 185 nucleotides. The computer analysis of 40 different pICAMhec clones from HEC, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells compared to 40 clones isolated ~rom lymphocytes showed that under physiologic conditions the intercellular sequence variability is less than 10%. Under patho-physiological conditions the intercellular sequence variability is also less than 10% but the interpatient variability is more than 25%. As ICAM belongs to the ~am~ly of the ;mmllnoglobulins we established another com-puter analysis and found out that the pICAMhec-cDNA clone expresses a constant region with 1600 i 160 nucleotides and a hypervariable region with 246 + 25 nucleotides. The constant region has a sequence variability of less than 5%
while the hypervariable region has a variability of more than 60%.
The predicted protein sequence has the typical characteristics of a tr~nsm~mhrane protein, which includes a potential signal sequence, a possible separation point a glycine-25 and asparagine-26, and a singular 25 unit tr~n sm~mhrane dom~ ' n which terminates in a cytoplasmatic ~om~ i n of high potential. The extracellular ~m~ i n in-cludes 7 potentially N-linked glycosylation points. At least this could explain the weight difference between the deglycosylated precursor (60kd) and the endproduct (100-125kd). The specific use of these glycosylation points WO94/18988 ~ 3 5 PCT~4/00506 could also explain the heterogenic molecular mass of the plCAMhec product i.e. ICAMhec. A search of a laboratory database cont~inlng recently published surface proteins, however, did reveal a surprising and significant similarity between ICAMhec, the neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). The optimal alignment score obtained, using the National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF) Align Programm is eight standard deviation above the mean score obtained from 500 random permutations of the sequence. Using a database of known immtlnoglobulin related sequences it has been shown that ICAMhec may be divided into five ~om~;n~ (28-112, 115-206, 217-310, 312-391, and 399-477) each of which shows significant similarity with members of the immunoglobulin. For example ~om~;n I is similar to CD3, whereas ~omA;n III and IV align to ~om~l nS
of myelin associated glycoprotein (Holzmann B., McIntyre B.W. and Weissman I.L., Cell 1989 56:37-46) and a cinoembryonic antigen (Stoolman 1989). All five ~om~;n~ of ICAMhec align with NCAM.
Example 1:
Studies on MS patients were carried out with the assumption that heparins might be potentive immuno-suppressors in human at concentrations of 2-5 i.U. per kg and day. Therefore, a placebo controlled doubleblind crossover study with a Low-Molecular-Weight-Heparin (LMWH) (Fragmin-D, Kabi, Erlangen) was performed. Fragmin-D was chosen because the halflife time is 5 times longer than that of other heparins and the dilution row revealed that its an~; infl ammatory activity is 30 times higher than standard heparins.
The placebo controlled double blind crossover study was conducted according to the proposals of the EG-GCP-Note 21~73S
WO94/18988 PCT~4/00506 for Guidance. 1216 MS patien~s were divided into seven randomized groups with a male female ratio of 1:1,7 and a mean age of 29,7 $ 6,2 years.
Table 1: Population Characteristics Group sexratio mean age aisease Group dura~on S~Q
m/f years T 2S years T 2S n Whole popula~1 / 1.9 31.1 _ 6.22 6.6 _ 1.32 1216 tion T~H 1/ 1.7 23.4 ~ 4.68 6.8 _ 1.36 323 ~EXA 1/ 2.1 33.2 6.64 7.4 _ 1.48 287 METHASON
1.9 29.? ~ 5.94 5.9~ 302 T~OP~tIN
PLACEBO 1 / 2.0 38.1 ' 7.62 6.3 ' 1,26 304 Acute cases1 / 1.7 31.1 ~ 6.22 6.6 = 1.32 73 out of all groups L~V~ 1 / 1.~ 23.4 _ 4.68 6.8 _ 1.36 26 D~Ya- 1/ 2.1 33.2 - 6.64 7.4 - 1.48 23 meth~on Azathiop~in1/1.9 29.7 1 5.94 5.9 ~ 1.18 24 21~73~
WO94/18988 - 21 - PCT~ ~4/00506 The control group had a male female ratio of 1:2 and a mean age of 33,2 + 7,4 years. Each group was treated over six months by the same physician with 5 i.U. Fragmin per kg and day with a maximum dose of 300 i.U. Fragmin-D plus 31,2 i.U. Alprostadil per day, dexamethason plus 31,2 i.U.
Alprostadil, azathioprine 2,5 mg/kg per day plus 31,2 i.U.
Alprostadil or placebo (NaCl 9,9%) plus 31,2 i.U.
Alprostadil. The patients received one subcutaneous injec-tion once a day and three times a day the prostavasine intranasal. The maximum dose of 300 i.U. per day for LMWH's was chosen to ml n;m~ ze the risk of insufficient ;mmnnocompetent heparin treatment and to avoid high doses of heparin in patients with designated risk factors for bleeding and to reduce the rereptor desensitization effect of heparin doses exceeding 5 i.U. per kg and day.
Each patient had a neurologic evaluation done once a week and a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance scan (NMR-scan) once a month. This neurologic ex~minAtion consisted of a neurologic status (reflexes, visus, muscular tonus, coordination and a dyn~mnmetric evaluation of the grasp force (Dynacheque-test)). See table 4.
CoL,cern ns this status the cr~er a were: reduced (-1 point), ~lnch~nged (0 points) or improved (+1 point). These data were evaluated in a variance analysis.
2156~
WO94/18988 PCT~4/00506 .
Table 4: variance analysis o~ the variables: reflexes, visus, muscular tonus, coordination and Dynacheque-test during the di~ferent treatment periods. p stands ~or the significance niveau.
Vanables ~M~VH DEXA AZAPL4CEBO
n2 323 n-287 n-302 n-304 refl~Yes F:1,8S6 F:2,364 F:6,473F:2,751 (R) p:O,OOO p:O,069 p:O,OS 1p:O,141 ~sus F:47,99 F:20,69 ~:3,630~:47,08 (V) p:O,OOO p:O,701 p:O,865p:O,965 musn~ar t~ F:8,674 F:15,69 ~:0,029~:17,93 nus (~) p:O,OOO p:O,654 p:O,865p:O,913 coor~in~o~ F:3,681 F:91,65 ~:1,130~:11,27 (C) p:O,~12 p:Q,053 p:O,042p:O,756 Dyn~he~ue- F:74,23 F:1,266 ~:1.066~:0,399 test(D) p:O,OGO p:C,268 p:~,38 p:O.~.3 In the NMR-scans number and size of the plaques were documented. After six months the crossover took place so that within 24 months each patient received a six month treatment course of Fragmin-D, dexamethason, azathioprine and placebo. The physicians treating the patients and evaluatin~ their neurolcsical status did not know which therapy the patients received. The medication was prepared as an injectable solution with a volume of l ml in ampules carrying a code, the daily injected amount was lml. In addition we received blood samples once a week conducting adhesion assays. After the 24 month treatment period the initial LMWH group received a further continuous treatment for l8 months with Fragmin-D.
Results are snown in tabie 3.
2~6735 W094/18988 PCT~4/00506 Table 3: NMR-scans of the central nervous system.
Gr~up Numl~er of Plaques Size of Plaques MEAN 2S mm2 2S
WHOLEPOPULATIO~ 35.6 1 14.Z 65.9- 26.4 BEFORE TRE4.TMENT
n~ 1216 6 months tre~tmPnt 17.2 ' 6.9 31.4_ 13.2 with L~IWH
after2ysLMWH 4.3 ' 1.7 7.8 2.6 n- 323 DEXAMETH~ON 6 mor 26.7_ 10.7 49.4_ 19.8 n ~ 287 AZATHIOPRIN 6 mon 23.4_ 9.4 37.8_15.1 n~ 302 PLACEBO 6 mon 32.1 _ 12.8 59.4 _ ~,~
n - 304 Change of the number and the size of sclerotic plaques in the different groups which are found in the NMR-scans are shown. Comparing the dexamethason and azathioprine group to the LMWH group the NMR controlled reduction of sclerotic patches in the LMWH group (FRAGMIN-D) is signi~icant (p=0,002; n=1216). Compared to other st~nA~r~
drugs such as Dexamethason and Azathioprin the number of negative side effects is negligible. Figure 4 shows the mean therapeutic results graphically.
There were 73 acute cases of MS amongst the group of 1216 patients of example l; see table 1 and also Fig. 5. These patients had a breething failure and needed a mechanical breething support on admission. They were r~n~omized into three groups and treated either with a LMWH i.e. Fragmin-D, dexamethason or azathioprine. The only improvement 21~735 WO94/18988 PCT~4/00506 criteria was the possibility to reduce or turn off the mechanical breething support.
A signi~icant therapeutic improvement in the 73 acute cases could be ~emonstrated after treatment with LMWH as compared to treatment with dexamethason or azathioprine (p = O,002; n = 73). Patients treated with Fragmin-~ showed the highest amount of reduction of vitally impairing symptoms.
Example 2:
Adhesion assays were performed with blood samples ~rom MS
patients treated with low-molecular-weight heparin, dexamethason, azathioprine ana a controi substance.
Adhesion assays were carried out as described above. The results are shown in table 2.
Table 2: Pathologic adhesion patter,. cf lymphocytes/cell.
Group HEC Oligo~1Pnrirocytes Schwann' ce31s percent per 100 cells - 2S
L~rWH n ~ 323 1.2 + 0.2 0 0 DEXA 4S.6_ 19.2 52.8_ 21.2 34.7- 13.9 METHASON
n~ 287 AZAT~OPRIN 97.5 48.8 85,9_ 45.4 69.4, 27.8 n 5 302 PLACEBO 450,6 _ 246,2 2~4.6 - 117.5 237.1 + 118.6 n= 30~1 W~OLE 148.7_ 53.6 122.1- 61.1 96.4- 38.6 POPULATION n He~lthy 1.4_ 0.3 0 0 Control n - 200 21~3~
To determine the anti-inflammatory and anti-activation potential of heparins versus corticosteroids and azathioprine we preincubated Ta1 and T113 cells isolated from the MS patients for 60min at 37C with 0,004 i.U./ml LMWH, with 0,0014 mg/ml dexamethason or with 0,0025mg/ml azathioprine and performed an adhesion assay on pICAMhec expressing HEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells which showed no pathologically increased adhesion in case of LMWH-pretreatment while the pathologic adhesion patterns were not positivly influenced by dexamethason or azathioprine.
Refering to table 2 the in vitro adhesion assays showed pathognomonic patterns of lymphocyte adhesion on in vitro cultivated HEC. According to Woodruff et al. (1980) the physiologic adhesion rate is one lymphocyte per high endothelial cell. We observed similar rates. Putting pathophysiologic conditions into account such as MS the adhesion rate varies from 2 lymphocytes per HEC to 10.000 lymphocytes per HEC depending on the state of disease and activity.
Fig. 7 shows the typical alteration of the adhesion rate in a case of MS. The last attack is already 15 years ago.
Fig. 8 reveals the typical picture of an acute MS attack.
By dilution row we managed to observe more than 10.000 adherent lymphocytes per HEC.
The adhesion assay was routinely performed for all pati-ents and we observed that the assay is a highly specific and the most sensitive tool for diagnosis of MS compared to the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Scan which needs sclerotic patches of at least 5mm diameter in vivo to come SUBSTI~ SHEET (RULE 26) 215~7~5 W094/18g88 PCT~4/00506 .
up with a diagnosis. This is due to the fact that the adhesion assay shows changes of the adhesion pattern im~ediately even when the patient has not got any symptoms.
The results o~ table 2 show that the adhesion is more efficiently reduced with LMWH compared to dexamethason and azathioprine. Moreover, the rate o~ adhesion upon heparin treatment is similar to that o~ healthy control individuals.
Example 3:
There are also other diseases that have been treated with heparins, heparinoids, proteoglycans and LWHM in doubleblind crossover studies. In these studies 174 patients with Alzheimer's disease, 174 with GvH, 174 with leukaemia, 174 with lym~hom~, 174 with primary biliary cirrhosis, 173 with rheuma~ism and 173 patien.s with neuritides (german: Neuritiden) have been treated with the above-mentioned pharmaceuticfi~, corticosterolds and placebo.
It turned out that results similar to those obtained by treatment of MS patients with LWXM have been received by treatment of rheumatism, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), neuritides i~ autoagressi~e (this means if it has an immll~ological origin), GvH and systemic carcinoma e.g.
leukaemia and lymp~m~s with the same pharmaceuticals.
Most suitable ~or the treatment of rheumatism, PBC, neuritides and of course MS are pharm.aceuticals as Fragmin and Pragmin-D which are both LWHM's. Fragmin-D has 2.500 i.U./ml and Fragmin has 10.000 i.U./ml. Thus, Fragmin has a higher yield than Fragmin-D and can be cheaper in use.
215~735 WO94/18988 - 27 - PCT~4/00506 Fragmin-P is also suitable for the treatment of the above-mentioned diseases.
Most suitable for the treatment of GvH and systemic carcinoma e.g. leukaemia and lymphomas is Reviparin.
The bone marrow dif~usion of Reviparin is much better than that of Fragmin or Fragmin-D. There is a higher concentration of a factor 103 of this pharmaceutical in the bone marrow which is a result of the higher diffusion (also a factor of 103).
All other LWHM's which can be bought until now vary in concentration up to 20% . Thus, the usage for treatment is much more intensive in time because the correct concentration has to be determined before it can be used to treat the patients.
1~ turned out that Fragmin and Fragmin-D is also very suitable to treat patients with migraine and hyper-IgE-syndrome.
To treat Crohn's disease a special medication (application) has to be used. In this case pills with a galenic preparation that is soluble in the small intestine is used. Thus, it is possible to treat the disease where it occurs with very few side effects.
and (4) induce a specific answer in the receiving cell via the effector system. In case of the adhesion of Ta1 and T113 cells on ICAMhec expressing cells.
Stoolman et al.1983 and Holzmann et al. (1989) have demonstrated the specificity of adhesion, migration and cellular interaction and its physiologic versus patho-physiologic relevance. The LFA-1 is a member of the inte-grin family of cell surface receptors (Stoolmann 1989).
The tripeptide motif Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) is a common feature of the ligands for this family and is required for ligand receptor interaction.
But ICAM contains no RGD motifs bearing instead a single RGE sequence at position 152 (see Fig.4). Nevertheless there is a striking similarity between ICAMhec, NCAM and between heparansulfatproteoglykane and LFA-1. This similarity is particularly interesting as it brings together surface mucopolysaccharids, lymphoid and neuronal adhesion molecules.
According to Reinherz et al.1979, Bach et al.1980, Weiner et al.1984 and Traugott et al.1983 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients carry Ta1 and T113 lymphocytes. Traugotts laboratory gave us Anti-Ta1 and Anti-T113. All monoclonal antibodies were used in antibody excess at a dilution of 1:500 except for anti-T3, which was used at a dilution of 1:250. Cytofluorographic analysis of cell populations were performed by means of indirect SUB~TITUl E S~IE~T (RULE 26~
WO 94/18988 21~ ~ 7 ~ 5 PCT/EP94/00506 immunofluorescence with fluoresceinisothiocyanate-conjugated (FITC) goat antirat antibodies (Wellcome) on a flow cytometer using a linear scale. Bac~ground fluorescence activity was determined by control ascites fluid obtained from rats immtlnlzed with a nonsecreting hybridoma.
For the adhesion assays lymphocytes from healthy controls (no known immttnologic, allergic or lnfectious disease) were incubated in patient serum.. for 60m.in at 37C, centrifuged with 300g, washed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), centrifuged once more and resuspended in RPMI-1640 cont~i n; ng lOmM magnesium. Thereafter the fixed HEC-mono-layer was incubated with the resuspended lymphocytes for 60min at 37C. After 60min the incubated monolayer was washed three times with PBS, stained with acridine orange and observed under the microscope. The number of adherent lymphocytes per HEC was documented by photography (Film Agfachrome professional ISO 200).
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a patient with progressive MS and of a healthy control individual were analyzed with anti-Tal, anti-T113 and control ascites by flowcvtometric analvsis with a linear scale of fluorescence intensity (see Fig. 1). Tal lymphocytes in both T4 and T8 subsets from a patient with MS. Subsets were prepared by complement-mediated lysis of reciprocal populations and stained with anti-T3, anti-T4, anti-T8, anti-Tal and control ascites. Cytofluorographic analysis using a log scale was then performed. The T8 subset shows st~; n ' ng with anti-T3, anti-T8 and anti-Tal, and no St~ n i ng with anti-T4. The reciprocal T4 subset also stains with anti-Tal. Anti-T3 reacts with virtually all peripheral blood T cells. Anti-Tal lmmnnoprecipitates a WO94/18988 2 ~ ~ 6 7 ~ ~ PCT~4/00506 .
single major 105 kd band. Unlike antibodies to the inter-leukine-2 receptor, anti-Ta1 does not inhibit T cell pro-liferative responses to antigen or interleukine cont~; n; ng medium. Anti-T113 reacts with a uni~ue epitope that be-comes expressed on T cells after activation. The percentage of activated antigen positive T cells was calculated by dividing the number of activated antigen positive T cells by the total number of T3-positive cells.
The average percentage of T3-positive mononuclear cells was signi'icantly di''erer.t ir. the di~ferent sroups.
To ;mmllnoprecipitate the Inter Cellular Adhesion Molecule (ICAM) on 125J-labelled HEC, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells we used the commercially available monoclonal antibody 84-H10 (Becton & Dickinson, Heidel-berg). A transfection with plCAMhec was done according to the protocols of Berger et al. (Berger S.L.
and K;mmel A.R. (1987) Guide to .-"olecular Cloning techni~ues Academic Press Inc. Vol 152:1-812; in the following: Berger et al.1987) and Glover (Glover D.M.
(1987) DNA cloning a practical approach. IRL Press Vol 1-3; ed.: D.M. Glover; in the following: Glover 1987) episomal DNA was extracted from washed HEC. The HEC.
oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells were set to 5x105 cells per ml. Thereafter, the cells were incu~ated for 48h with the following test reagents; 50ng/ml 12/0/tetradekanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TDA, Sigma), 100~/ml gamma-interferon, 200~/ml TNF, 10~/ml interleukine-1-beta.
For the function analysis the XEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells were transfected with the control vector PE-H3M. We then conducted a lymphocyte adhesion assay.
Therefore HEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwann-cells were incubated for lh at 37C in PBS containing 12,5% defined fetal calf serum (Hyclone) and l~g/ml of the st~ rd ~ WO94/l8988 2 1 5 6 7 3 5 PCT~W4/00506 antibody 84-H10. Once in each preparation the antibody was washed of to avoid lymphocyte binding by the antibody excess. In all the other cases the antibody excess was necessary to avoid lymphocyte migration through the cells.
The imm-lnoprecipitation of ICAM from 125J-labelled cells was demonstrated by the use of the monoclonal antibody 84-H10 (Fig. 2) a: Regulation of ICAM synthesis in HEC by cytokines;
gam.ma-interferon-induced without antibody (lane 1), with antibody (lane 2); tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced without antibody (lane 3) with antibody (lane 4) b: Regulation of ICAM synthesis in oligodendrocytes by cytokines; gam.ma-interferon-induced without antibody (lane 1), with antibody (lane 2); TNF-induced without antibody (lane 3), with antibody (lane 4); interleukine-l~-induced without antibody (lane 5), with antibody (lane 6).
In Fig. 3 one can observe the expression and structure of tne pICAMhec gene shown by the method of a: RNA blot hybridization. Total RNA (24 ~g) was denatured in formaldehyde, electrophoresed, transfered to nylon mem.~branes and hybridized with ICAM-l cDNA.
Lane 1 uninduced HEC; lane 2 TDA induced; lane 3 gamma IFN
induced; lane 4 IL-l~ induced; lane 5 TNF induced; lane 6 glomerular endothellum; lane 7 oligodendrocytes from an MS
patient; lane 8 Tal; lane 9 T113; lane 10 lymphokine activated killer cells. The RNA blot analysis revealed a 3,2 kb and a 1,9 kb species in HEC stimulated with TDA, gam.ma-interferon, TNF, and interleukine-l~. It was not found in llnin~l)çed cells. The 1,9 kb band is blocked by 18S rRNA which is present as a cont~min~tion in poly-A
selected RNA and is therefore considered unspecific.
W094/18988 21~ ~ ~ 3 ~ PCT~4/00506 The results lead to the conclusion that the expression of ICAM is regulated by inflammatory cytokines on the transcription level.
b: genomic DNA blot hybridization (pICAMhec cDNA from high endothelial cells from MS patients): lane 1: EcoRI;
lane 2: BamHI; lane 3: HindIII endonuclease from Hemophilus influenza; lane 4: DraI endonuclease.
For the DNA-hybridization human chromosomai piacenta DNA
(24~ug) was digested with restriction enzymes, separated electrophoretically and transfered to a nylon membrane.
Then it was hybridized with the cellular pICAMhec-cDNA
clone. For the RNA blot hybridization we used the protocol from Berger et al.(1987) and Glover (1987); 24,ug cellular RNA was denatured in formaldehyde, separated electrophoretically and transferred to a nylone membrane.
Thereafter the RNA was hybridized with ceiluiar DNA of the clone plCAMhec-cDNA. A cellular DNA library was constructed by extracting RNA stimulated with 12/0/tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TDA; Sigma) from MS
patients' lymphocytes, HEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. This library was transfected into HEC. HEC
expressina the pICAMhec were identified bv the antibodv 84-H10. From these cells the episomal DNA was extracted to isolate the clone pICAMhec-cDNA. The se~uencing was conducted via the dideoxy-chain-termination using a combination of subclones and specific oligonucleotides and the align program of the Protein Identification Ressours.
The T cells for the tests werde obtained by culture of peripheral blood lymphoyctes with phytohemagglutinin for 48h.
WO94/18988 21~ 6 ~ 3 ~ PCT~W4/00506 Synthesis of a cDNA library:
RNase H from Escherichia coli is used to nick the RNA in the hybrids, leaving only small RNA primers with free 3'-OH groups attached to the cDNA. These 3'-OH groups can subsequently be used by DNA polymerase I to synthesize efficiently a second strand all along the length of the first strand (original cDNA). Double stranded oligonucleotides called BamHI-linkers are used to add complementary ends to blunt-ended double helical DNA. The linkers are first ligated to both ends of the given DNA.
Then the product is treated with BamHI-endonuclease.
HindIII endonuclease is from Hemophilus influenzae. The rest of the synthesis of the cDNA library is in accordance to Kimmel et al. (K~mm~l, A.R. and Berger, S.L.:
Preparation of cDNA and Generation of cDNA Libraries:
Overview, Methods in Enzymology, 1987, 152:307).
The here described transcript pICAMhec which encodes a protein of a relative molecular weight of 110 kd was discovered in T cells induced by MS. Therefore, we established the homogeneity of the pICAMhec transcript and the activated pICAMhec-cDNA. The blot-hybridization of the pICAMhec transcript with the placental genomic DNA re-vealed a pattern indicating a single copy gen. To establish the pathognomic role of the pICAMhec encoded protein HEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells expressing pICAMhec were studied according to their ability to bind Ta1 and T113 cells. Within 60 min Ta1 and T113 cells adhered strongly to HEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells expressing pICAMhec while the lymphocytes did not adhere to cells with a related transfection.
The sequencing of the cellular DNA clone pICAMhec and the associated protein sequence is shown in Fig. 6. The SUBSTITUrE SHEET (RULE 26) WO94/18988 ~1~ 6 7 3 ~ PCT~4/00506 '-nucleotide numbering goes from left to right, the aminoacid sequence from right to left. The RGD-motive at position 152 is underlined, the potential N-dependent point of glycosilation is marked by "-CHO-". The trans-membrane ~om~; n is stained by "-TM-". The aminoacid sequence is numbered from the projected separation point of the signal peptide. R~m~lnlng cysteine units are circled. The pICAMhec-cDNA clone is build out of 1846 i 185 nucleotides. The computer analysis of 40 different pICAMhec clones from HEC, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells compared to 40 clones isolated ~rom lymphocytes showed that under physiologic conditions the intercellular sequence variability is less than 10%. Under patho-physiological conditions the intercellular sequence variability is also less than 10% but the interpatient variability is more than 25%. As ICAM belongs to the ~am~ly of the ;mmllnoglobulins we established another com-puter analysis and found out that the pICAMhec-cDNA clone expresses a constant region with 1600 i 160 nucleotides and a hypervariable region with 246 + 25 nucleotides. The constant region has a sequence variability of less than 5%
while the hypervariable region has a variability of more than 60%.
The predicted protein sequence has the typical characteristics of a tr~nsm~mhrane protein, which includes a potential signal sequence, a possible separation point a glycine-25 and asparagine-26, and a singular 25 unit tr~n sm~mhrane dom~ ' n which terminates in a cytoplasmatic ~om~ i n of high potential. The extracellular ~m~ i n in-cludes 7 potentially N-linked glycosylation points. At least this could explain the weight difference between the deglycosylated precursor (60kd) and the endproduct (100-125kd). The specific use of these glycosylation points WO94/18988 ~ 3 5 PCT~4/00506 could also explain the heterogenic molecular mass of the plCAMhec product i.e. ICAMhec. A search of a laboratory database cont~inlng recently published surface proteins, however, did reveal a surprising and significant similarity between ICAMhec, the neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). The optimal alignment score obtained, using the National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF) Align Programm is eight standard deviation above the mean score obtained from 500 random permutations of the sequence. Using a database of known immtlnoglobulin related sequences it has been shown that ICAMhec may be divided into five ~om~;n~ (28-112, 115-206, 217-310, 312-391, and 399-477) each of which shows significant similarity with members of the immunoglobulin. For example ~om~;n I is similar to CD3, whereas ~omA;n III and IV align to ~om~l nS
of myelin associated glycoprotein (Holzmann B., McIntyre B.W. and Weissman I.L., Cell 1989 56:37-46) and a cinoembryonic antigen (Stoolman 1989). All five ~om~;n~ of ICAMhec align with NCAM.
Example 1:
Studies on MS patients were carried out with the assumption that heparins might be potentive immuno-suppressors in human at concentrations of 2-5 i.U. per kg and day. Therefore, a placebo controlled doubleblind crossover study with a Low-Molecular-Weight-Heparin (LMWH) (Fragmin-D, Kabi, Erlangen) was performed. Fragmin-D was chosen because the halflife time is 5 times longer than that of other heparins and the dilution row revealed that its an~; infl ammatory activity is 30 times higher than standard heparins.
The placebo controlled double blind crossover study was conducted according to the proposals of the EG-GCP-Note 21~73S
WO94/18988 PCT~4/00506 for Guidance. 1216 MS patien~s were divided into seven randomized groups with a male female ratio of 1:1,7 and a mean age of 29,7 $ 6,2 years.
Table 1: Population Characteristics Group sexratio mean age aisease Group dura~on S~Q
m/f years T 2S years T 2S n Whole popula~1 / 1.9 31.1 _ 6.22 6.6 _ 1.32 1216 tion T~H 1/ 1.7 23.4 ~ 4.68 6.8 _ 1.36 323 ~EXA 1/ 2.1 33.2 6.64 7.4 _ 1.48 287 METHASON
1.9 29.? ~ 5.94 5.9~ 302 T~OP~tIN
PLACEBO 1 / 2.0 38.1 ' 7.62 6.3 ' 1,26 304 Acute cases1 / 1.7 31.1 ~ 6.22 6.6 = 1.32 73 out of all groups L~V~ 1 / 1.~ 23.4 _ 4.68 6.8 _ 1.36 26 D~Ya- 1/ 2.1 33.2 - 6.64 7.4 - 1.48 23 meth~on Azathiop~in1/1.9 29.7 1 5.94 5.9 ~ 1.18 24 21~73~
WO94/18988 - 21 - PCT~ ~4/00506 The control group had a male female ratio of 1:2 and a mean age of 33,2 + 7,4 years. Each group was treated over six months by the same physician with 5 i.U. Fragmin per kg and day with a maximum dose of 300 i.U. Fragmin-D plus 31,2 i.U. Alprostadil per day, dexamethason plus 31,2 i.U.
Alprostadil, azathioprine 2,5 mg/kg per day plus 31,2 i.U.
Alprostadil or placebo (NaCl 9,9%) plus 31,2 i.U.
Alprostadil. The patients received one subcutaneous injec-tion once a day and three times a day the prostavasine intranasal. The maximum dose of 300 i.U. per day for LMWH's was chosen to ml n;m~ ze the risk of insufficient ;mmnnocompetent heparin treatment and to avoid high doses of heparin in patients with designated risk factors for bleeding and to reduce the rereptor desensitization effect of heparin doses exceeding 5 i.U. per kg and day.
Each patient had a neurologic evaluation done once a week and a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance scan (NMR-scan) once a month. This neurologic ex~minAtion consisted of a neurologic status (reflexes, visus, muscular tonus, coordination and a dyn~mnmetric evaluation of the grasp force (Dynacheque-test)). See table 4.
CoL,cern ns this status the cr~er a were: reduced (-1 point), ~lnch~nged (0 points) or improved (+1 point). These data were evaluated in a variance analysis.
2156~
WO94/18988 PCT~4/00506 .
Table 4: variance analysis o~ the variables: reflexes, visus, muscular tonus, coordination and Dynacheque-test during the di~ferent treatment periods. p stands ~or the significance niveau.
Vanables ~M~VH DEXA AZAPL4CEBO
n2 323 n-287 n-302 n-304 refl~Yes F:1,8S6 F:2,364 F:6,473F:2,751 (R) p:O,OOO p:O,069 p:O,OS 1p:O,141 ~sus F:47,99 F:20,69 ~:3,630~:47,08 (V) p:O,OOO p:O,701 p:O,865p:O,965 musn~ar t~ F:8,674 F:15,69 ~:0,029~:17,93 nus (~) p:O,OOO p:O,654 p:O,865p:O,913 coor~in~o~ F:3,681 F:91,65 ~:1,130~:11,27 (C) p:O,~12 p:Q,053 p:O,042p:O,756 Dyn~he~ue- F:74,23 F:1,266 ~:1.066~:0,399 test(D) p:O,OGO p:C,268 p:~,38 p:O.~.3 In the NMR-scans number and size of the plaques were documented. After six months the crossover took place so that within 24 months each patient received a six month treatment course of Fragmin-D, dexamethason, azathioprine and placebo. The physicians treating the patients and evaluatin~ their neurolcsical status did not know which therapy the patients received. The medication was prepared as an injectable solution with a volume of l ml in ampules carrying a code, the daily injected amount was lml. In addition we received blood samples once a week conducting adhesion assays. After the 24 month treatment period the initial LMWH group received a further continuous treatment for l8 months with Fragmin-D.
Results are snown in tabie 3.
2~6735 W094/18988 PCT~4/00506 Table 3: NMR-scans of the central nervous system.
Gr~up Numl~er of Plaques Size of Plaques MEAN 2S mm2 2S
WHOLEPOPULATIO~ 35.6 1 14.Z 65.9- 26.4 BEFORE TRE4.TMENT
n~ 1216 6 months tre~tmPnt 17.2 ' 6.9 31.4_ 13.2 with L~IWH
after2ysLMWH 4.3 ' 1.7 7.8 2.6 n- 323 DEXAMETH~ON 6 mor 26.7_ 10.7 49.4_ 19.8 n ~ 287 AZATHIOPRIN 6 mon 23.4_ 9.4 37.8_15.1 n~ 302 PLACEBO 6 mon 32.1 _ 12.8 59.4 _ ~,~
n - 304 Change of the number and the size of sclerotic plaques in the different groups which are found in the NMR-scans are shown. Comparing the dexamethason and azathioprine group to the LMWH group the NMR controlled reduction of sclerotic patches in the LMWH group (FRAGMIN-D) is signi~icant (p=0,002; n=1216). Compared to other st~nA~r~
drugs such as Dexamethason and Azathioprin the number of negative side effects is negligible. Figure 4 shows the mean therapeutic results graphically.
There were 73 acute cases of MS amongst the group of 1216 patients of example l; see table 1 and also Fig. 5. These patients had a breething failure and needed a mechanical breething support on admission. They were r~n~omized into three groups and treated either with a LMWH i.e. Fragmin-D, dexamethason or azathioprine. The only improvement 21~735 WO94/18988 PCT~4/00506 criteria was the possibility to reduce or turn off the mechanical breething support.
A signi~icant therapeutic improvement in the 73 acute cases could be ~emonstrated after treatment with LMWH as compared to treatment with dexamethason or azathioprine (p = O,002; n = 73). Patients treated with Fragmin-~ showed the highest amount of reduction of vitally impairing symptoms.
Example 2:
Adhesion assays were performed with blood samples ~rom MS
patients treated with low-molecular-weight heparin, dexamethason, azathioprine ana a controi substance.
Adhesion assays were carried out as described above. The results are shown in table 2.
Table 2: Pathologic adhesion patter,. cf lymphocytes/cell.
Group HEC Oligo~1Pnrirocytes Schwann' ce31s percent per 100 cells - 2S
L~rWH n ~ 323 1.2 + 0.2 0 0 DEXA 4S.6_ 19.2 52.8_ 21.2 34.7- 13.9 METHASON
n~ 287 AZAT~OPRIN 97.5 48.8 85,9_ 45.4 69.4, 27.8 n 5 302 PLACEBO 450,6 _ 246,2 2~4.6 - 117.5 237.1 + 118.6 n= 30~1 W~OLE 148.7_ 53.6 122.1- 61.1 96.4- 38.6 POPULATION n He~lthy 1.4_ 0.3 0 0 Control n - 200 21~3~
To determine the anti-inflammatory and anti-activation potential of heparins versus corticosteroids and azathioprine we preincubated Ta1 and T113 cells isolated from the MS patients for 60min at 37C with 0,004 i.U./ml LMWH, with 0,0014 mg/ml dexamethason or with 0,0025mg/ml azathioprine and performed an adhesion assay on pICAMhec expressing HEC, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells which showed no pathologically increased adhesion in case of LMWH-pretreatment while the pathologic adhesion patterns were not positivly influenced by dexamethason or azathioprine.
Refering to table 2 the in vitro adhesion assays showed pathognomonic patterns of lymphocyte adhesion on in vitro cultivated HEC. According to Woodruff et al. (1980) the physiologic adhesion rate is one lymphocyte per high endothelial cell. We observed similar rates. Putting pathophysiologic conditions into account such as MS the adhesion rate varies from 2 lymphocytes per HEC to 10.000 lymphocytes per HEC depending on the state of disease and activity.
Fig. 7 shows the typical alteration of the adhesion rate in a case of MS. The last attack is already 15 years ago.
Fig. 8 reveals the typical picture of an acute MS attack.
By dilution row we managed to observe more than 10.000 adherent lymphocytes per HEC.
The adhesion assay was routinely performed for all pati-ents and we observed that the assay is a highly specific and the most sensitive tool for diagnosis of MS compared to the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Scan which needs sclerotic patches of at least 5mm diameter in vivo to come SUBSTI~ SHEET (RULE 26) 215~7~5 W094/18g88 PCT~4/00506 .
up with a diagnosis. This is due to the fact that the adhesion assay shows changes of the adhesion pattern im~ediately even when the patient has not got any symptoms.
The results o~ table 2 show that the adhesion is more efficiently reduced with LMWH compared to dexamethason and azathioprine. Moreover, the rate o~ adhesion upon heparin treatment is similar to that o~ healthy control individuals.
Example 3:
There are also other diseases that have been treated with heparins, heparinoids, proteoglycans and LWHM in doubleblind crossover studies. In these studies 174 patients with Alzheimer's disease, 174 with GvH, 174 with leukaemia, 174 with lym~hom~, 174 with primary biliary cirrhosis, 173 with rheuma~ism and 173 patien.s with neuritides (german: Neuritiden) have been treated with the above-mentioned pharmaceuticfi~, corticosterolds and placebo.
It turned out that results similar to those obtained by treatment of MS patients with LWXM have been received by treatment of rheumatism, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), neuritides i~ autoagressi~e (this means if it has an immll~ological origin), GvH and systemic carcinoma e.g.
leukaemia and lymp~m~s with the same pharmaceuticals.
Most suitable ~or the treatment of rheumatism, PBC, neuritides and of course MS are pharm.aceuticals as Fragmin and Pragmin-D which are both LWHM's. Fragmin-D has 2.500 i.U./ml and Fragmin has 10.000 i.U./ml. Thus, Fragmin has a higher yield than Fragmin-D and can be cheaper in use.
215~735 WO94/18988 - 27 - PCT~4/00506 Fragmin-P is also suitable for the treatment of the above-mentioned diseases.
Most suitable for the treatment of GvH and systemic carcinoma e.g. leukaemia and lymphomas is Reviparin.
The bone marrow dif~usion of Reviparin is much better than that of Fragmin or Fragmin-D. There is a higher concentration of a factor 103 of this pharmaceutical in the bone marrow which is a result of the higher diffusion (also a factor of 103).
All other LWHM's which can be bought until now vary in concentration up to 20% . Thus, the usage for treatment is much more intensive in time because the correct concentration has to be determined before it can be used to treat the patients.
1~ turned out that Fragmin and Fragmin-D is also very suitable to treat patients with migraine and hyper-IgE-syndrome.
To treat Crohn's disease a special medication (application) has to be used. In this case pills with a galenic preparation that is soluble in the small intestine is used. Thus, it is possible to treat the disease where it occurs with very few side effects.
Claims (10)
1. Pharmaceutical for the treatment of inflammatory or immunological diseases characterized in that the pharmaceutical comprises heparins, heparinoids, proteoglycans or low-molecular-weight heparins or a mixture thereof or a combination of low-molecular-weight heparins and Prostavasin.
2. Pharmaceutical according to claim 1, characterized in that the pharmaceutical comprises Fragmin-D, Fragmin, Fragmin-P and/or Reviparin.
3. Pharmaceutical according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a dosage between 1 and 40 i.U. per kg and day (for heparins with the exception of LMWH up to 1200 i.U. per kg and day) is used.
4. Pharmaceutical according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a dosage between 1 and 5 i.U. per kg and day is used.
5. Method of treatment of inflammatory or immunological diseases, characterized in that patients are treated with a pharmaceutical composition comprising heparins, heparinoids, proteoglycans or low-molecular-weight heparins or a mixture thereof or a combination of low-molecular-weight heparins and Prostavasin.
6. Method of treatment according to claim 5, characterized in that the pharmaceutical composition comprises Fragmin-D, Fragmin, Fragmin-P and/or Reviparin.
7. Method of treatment according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the disease is multiple sclerosis (MS), Ghost versus Host reaction (GvH), primary biliary cirrhosis, post-infarct-syndrome, lupus erythematosus (LE), rheumatism, migraine, hyper-IgE-syndrome, neurotides, Crohn's disease or systemic carcinoma e.g. leukaemia or lymphomas.
8. Method of treatment according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the treatment is directly pointed to the mucosa and/or an injection is performed hypodermicly or intravenously.
9. Method of treatment according to claim 8, characterized in that, a nasally treatment occurs via a spray.
10. Method of treatment according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein pills are swallowed which have a galenic preparation being soluble in the small intestine.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP93102750.2 | 1993-02-22 | ||
| EP93102750 | 1993-02-22 |
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|---|---|
| CA2156735A1 true CA2156735A1 (en) | 1994-09-01 |
Family
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| CA 2156735 Abandoned CA2156735A1 (en) | 1993-02-22 | 1994-02-22 | Pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of inflammatory or immunological diseases and a method for the treatment of said diseases |
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| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU6204594A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2156735A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994018988A2 (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE9303612D0 (en) * | 1993-11-02 | 1993-11-02 | Kabi Pharmacia Ab | New use |
| US5980865A (en) * | 1995-08-18 | 1999-11-09 | Baker Norton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Method for treating late phase allergic reactions and inflammatory diseases |
| RU2176509C2 (en) * | 1995-09-19 | 2001-12-10 | Сейкагаку Корпорейшн | Agent enhancing anti-inflammatory effect of immunodepressant (versions), method of enhancement of anti-inflammatory effect of immunodepressant, method of inflammation treatment |
| EP2311485A1 (en) | 1998-07-30 | 2011-04-20 | The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Health and Human Services | Thymosin beta 4 promotes wound repair |
| CA2475053A1 (en) * | 2002-02-06 | 2004-04-29 | Regenerx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. | Treatment of microbial infections and associated gastrointestinal disorders with thymosin .beta.4 |
| AU2006204785B2 (en) * | 2005-01-13 | 2010-11-25 | Regenerx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. | Method of treating or preventing tissue deterioration, injury or damage due to a neuro-, muscular- or neuro-muscular-degenerative disease, or restore tissue adversely affected by said disease |
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| US4847338A (en) * | 1985-03-28 | 1989-07-11 | University Of Iowa Research Foundation | Low molecular weight heparin fragments as inhibitors of complement activation |
| IL88554A0 (en) * | 1988-12-01 | 1989-07-31 | Hadassah Med Org | Compositions containing a compound binding to a heparin receptor |
| US5158940A (en) * | 1990-02-14 | 1992-10-27 | The United States Government As Represented By The Secretary, Dhhs | Use of suramin to treat rheumatologic diseases |
| CZ232593A3 (en) * | 1991-05-02 | 1994-07-13 | Yeda Res & Dev | Pharmaceutical preparation for preventing and/or therapy of pathological states |
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1994
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