Skin Repair Accelerating Therapeutic Agent Containing Desacyl Ghrelin and Derivatives Thereof as Active Ingredient

1 . A therapeutic agent for skin injuries, comprising desacyl ghrelin or a peptide having physiological activity that is substantially identical to that of desacyl ghrelin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as an active ingredient.

2 . The therapeutic agent according to claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide selected from the group consisting of (i) a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, (ii) a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 4 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, and having the amino acid sequence from the 5 th amino acid residue to the C terminus wherein one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted and/or added, (iii) peptides of (1) and (2), in which the C terminus is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

3 . The therapeutic agent according to claim 2 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

4 . The therapeutic agent according to claim 2 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 15 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, of which the 15 th amino acid is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

5 . The therapeutic agent according to claim 1 , including the active ingredient in an amount of 0.001 mg to 100 mg per unit formulation.

6 . A skin regeneration accelerator, comprising desacyl ghrelin or a peptide having physiological activity that is substantially identical to that of desacyl ghrelin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as an active ingredient.

7 . The skin regeneration accelerator according to claim 6 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide selected from the group consisting of (i) a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, (ii) a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 4 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, and having the amino acid sequence from the 5 th amino acid residue to the C terminus wherein one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted and/or added, (iii) peptides of (1) and (2), in which the C terminus is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

8 . The skin regeneration accelerator according to claim 7 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

9 . The skin regeneration accelerator according to claim 7 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 15 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, of which the 15 th amino acid is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

10 . The skin regeneration accelerator according to claim 6 , including the active ingredient in an amount of 0.001 mg to 100 mg per unit formulation.

11 . A method for accelerating proliferation of a cultured skin cell, using desacyl ghrelin or a peptide having physiological activity that is substantially identical to that of desacyl ghrelin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as an active ingredient.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide selected from the group consisting of (i) a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, (ii) a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 4 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, and having the amino acid sequence from the 5 th amino acid residue to the C terminus wherein one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted and/or added, (iii) peptides of (1) and (2), in which the C terminus is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 15 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, of which the 15 th amino acid is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

15 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein proliferation of the cultured skin cell is performed in a medium containing the active ingredient in an amount of 0.0000001 mg/mL to 0.1 mg/mL.

16 . A treatment method of skin injuries, comprising administration of desacyl ghrelin or a peptide having physiological activity that is substantially identical to that of desacyl ghrelin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient to a mammal requiring treatment of skin injuries.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide selected from the group consisting of (i) a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, (ii) a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 4 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, and having the amino acid sequence from the 5 th amino acid residue to the C terminus wherein one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted and/or added, (iii) peptides of (1) and (2), in which the C terminus is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 15 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, of which the 15 th amino acid is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the active ingredient is administered in an amount of 0.001 mg to 100 mg per administration.

21 . A method for accelerating skin regeneration, comprising administration of desacyl ghrelin or a peptide having physiological activity that is substantially identical to that of desacyl ghrelin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient to a mammal requiring skin regeneration.

22 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide selected from the group consisting of (i) a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, (ii) a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 4 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, and having the amino acid sequence from the 5 th amino acid residue to the C terminus wherein one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted and/or added, (iii) peptides of (1) and (2), in which the C terminus is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

23 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

24 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 15 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, of which the 15 th amino acid is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

25 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein the active ingredient is administered in an amount of 0.001 mg to 100 mg per administration.

26 . Use of desacyl ghrelin or a peptide having physiological activity that is substantially identical to that of desacyl ghrelin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient for production of a therapeutic agent for skin injuries.

27 . The use according to claim 26 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide selected from the group consisting of (i) a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, (ii) a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 4 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, and having the amino acid sequence from the 5 th amino acid residue to the C terminus wherein one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted and/or added, (iii) peptides of (1) and (2), in which the C terminus is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

28 . The use according to claim 27 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

29 . The use according to claim 27 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 15 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, of which the 15 th amino acid is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

30 . The use according to claim 26 , wherein the therapeutic agent for skin injuries contains the active ingredient in an amount of 0.001 mg to 100 mg per unit formulation.

31 . Use of desacyl ghrelin, or a peptide having a physiological action that is substantially identical to that of desacyl ghrelin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient for production of a skin regeneration accelerator.

32 . The use according to claim 31 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide selected from the group consisting of (i) a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, (ii) a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 4 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 21, and having the amino acid sequence from the 5 th amino acid residue to the C terminus wherein one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted and/or added, (iii) peptides of (1) and (2), in which the C terminus is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

33 . The use according to claim 32 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

34 . The use according to claim 32 , wherein the active ingredient is a peptide having the amino acid sequence from the N terminus to the 15 th amino acid residue of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, of which the 15 th amino acid is amidated, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

35 . The use according to claim 31 , wherein the skin regeneration accelerator contains the active ingredient in an amount of 0.001 mg to 100 mg per unit formulation.