A novel peptide agonist of formyl-peptide receptor-like 1 (ALX) displays anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects

J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2009 Feb;328(2):426-34. doi: 10.1124/jpet.108.145821. Epub 2008 Nov 20.

Abstract

Activation of the formyl-peptide receptor-like (FPRL) 1 pathway has recently gained high recognition for its significance in therapy of inflammatory diseases. Agonism at FPRL1 affords a beneficial effect in animal models of acute inflammatory conditions, as well as in chronic inflammatory diseases. TIPMFVPESTSKLQKFTSWFM-amide (CGEN-855A) is a novel 21-amino acid peptide agonist for FPRL1 and also activates FPRL2. CGEN-855A was discovered using a computational platform designed to predict novel G protein-coupled receptor peptide agonists cleaved from secreted proteins by convertase proteolysis. In vivo, CGEN-855A displays anti-inflammatory activity manifested as 50% inhibition of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) recruitment to inflamed air pouch and provides protection against ischemia-reperfusion-mediated injury to the myocardium in both murine and rat models (36 and 25% reduction in infarct size, respectively). Both these activities are accompanied by inhibition of PMN recruitment to the injured organ. The secretion of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, was not affected upon incubation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with CGEN-855A, whereas IL-8 secretion was elevated up to 2-fold upon treatment with the highest CGEN-855A dose only. Collectively, these new data support a potential role for CGEN-855A in the treatment of reperfusion-mediated injury and in other acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / prevention & control*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Myocardial Infarction / pathology
  • Myocardial Infarction / prevention & control*
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Peptides / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Formyl Peptide / agonists*
  • Receptors, Lipoxin / agonists*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • CGEN-855A
  • Cytokines
  • FPR2 protein, human
  • Peptides
  • Receptors, Formyl Peptide
  • Receptors, Lipoxin