Mucin hypersecretion inhibitors and methods of use

1. A method of inhibiting mucin hypersecretion in a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal a mucin hypersecretion-inhibiting amount of a N-terminal- and/or C-terminal-chemically modified peptide or a pharmaceutical composition comprising said chemically modified peptide, which peptide consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) an amino acid sequence of from 7 to 23 contiguous amino acids of a reference sequence, GAQFSKTAAKGEAAAERPGEAAVA (SEQ ID NO:1); and

(b) an amino acid sequence substantially identical to the sequence defined in (a);

wherein, in (a) and (b),

(i) the C-terminal amino acid of said chemically modified peptide is amidated at the C-terminal carboxyl group with ammonia, a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl amine, a hydroxyl-substituted C2 to C24 aliphatic alkyl amine, a linear 2-(C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl)oxyethylamine group, or an omega-methoxy-poly(ethyleneoxy)n-ethylamine group, where n is from 0 to 10 or esterified at the C-terminal carboxyl group with a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl alcohol or a 2-(omega-methoxy-poly(ethyleneoxy)n)-ethanol group, where n is from of 0 to 10; and the N-terminal amino acid of the peptide is not chemically modified; or

(ii) the C-terminal amino acid of said chemically modified peptide is optionally amidated at the C-terminal carboxyl group with ammonia, a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl amine, a hydroxyl-substituted C2 to C24 aliphatic alkyl amine, a linear 2-(C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl)oxyethylamine group, or an omega-methoxy-poly(ethyleneoxy)n-ethylamine group, where n is from 0 to 10 or esterified at the C-terminal carboxyl group with a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl alcohol or a 2-(omega-methoxy-poly(ethyleneoxy)n)-ethanol group, where n is from of 0 to 10; and the N-terminal amino acid of the peptide is alkylated at the N-terminal amine with a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl group, a linear 2-(C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl)oxyethyl group, or an omega-methoxy-poly(ethyleneoxy)n-ethyl group, where n is from 0 to 10, or acylated at the N-terminal amine with a trifluoroacetic acid, benzoic acid, a C 1 to C 24 aliphatic carboxylic acid or a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl sulfonic acid at the N-terminal amino group, and is not myristoylated when the C-terminal amino acid is not chemically modified;

with the proviso that said chemically modified peptide contains no more than 23 amino acids; and

wherein said chemically modified peptide has a mucin hypersecretion-inhibiting effect when administered to a mammal in a mucin hypersecretion-inhibiting amount.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide begins at the N-terminal amino acid of the reference sequence.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide begins at the amino acid at position 2 through the amino acid at position 18 of the reference sequence.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide includes the contiguous residues AKGE (SEQ ID NO: 219) of the reference sequence.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide ends at the C-terminal amino acid of the reference sequence.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the N-terminal amino acid of the peptide is acetylated at the N-terminal amino group.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said chemically modified peptide is selected from the group consisting of acetyl-PEPTIDE 106 (SEQ ID NO: 106), acetyl-PEPTIDE 106-NH 2 (SEQ ID NO: 106), myristoyl-PEPTIDE 106-NH 2 (SEQ ID NO: 106), and PEPTIDE 106-NH 2 (SEQ ID NO: 106).

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequence of PEPTIDE 106 (SEQ ID NO: 106), the amino acid sequence of PEPTIDE 124 (SEQ ID NO: 124), the amino acid sequence of PEPTIDE 137 (SEQ ID NO: 137), the amino acid sequence of PEPTIDE 153 (SEQ ID NO: 153), the amino acid sequence of PEPTIDE 79 (SEQ ID NO: 79), and the amino acid sequence of PEPTIDE 159 (SEQ ID NO: 159).

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of (a) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2-171.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemically modified peptide exhibits at least one of the properties of (a) greater mucin hypersecretion-inhibiting effect on a mammal than SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the N-terminal amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 is myristoylated, when administered to said mammal at equal concentrations or (b) greater aqueous solubility than SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the N-terminal amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 is myristoylated, at equal concentrations in the same liquid.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said administering of said peptide comprises pulmonary administration.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mucin hypersecretion in the mammal is caused by a pulmonary disease in the mammal.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pulmonary disease is selected from the group consisting of asthma, acute or chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mucin hypersecretion in the mammal is caused by a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of an inflammatory disease, viral or bacterial airway disease, common cold, rhinitis, acute or chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, kennel cough, allergic conditions, bronchiectasis, emphysema and bronchial asthma.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said chemically modified peptide consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) an amino acid sequence of from 7 to 16 contiguous amino acids of the reference sequence, GAQFSKTAAKGEAAAERPGEAAVA (SEQ ID NO:1); and

(b) an amino acid sequence substantially identical to the sequence defined in (a).

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide begins at the N-terminal amino acid of the reference sequence.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide begins at the amino acid at position 2 through the amino acid at position 18 of the reference sequence.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the N-terminal amino acid of the peptide is acetylated at the N-terminal amino group.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the chemically modified peptide exhibits at least one of the properties of (a) greater mucin hypersecretion-inhibiting effect on a mammal than SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the N-terminal amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 is myristoylated, when administered to said mammal at equal concentrations or (b) greater aqueous solubility than SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the N-terminal amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 is myristoylated, at equal concentrations in the same liquid.

21. The method of claim 16 , wherein said administering of said peptide comprises pulmonary administration.

22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the mucin hypersecretion in the mammal is caused by a pulmonary disease in the mammal.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the pulmonary disease is selected from the group consisting of asthma, acute or chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis.

24. The method of claim 16 , wherein the mucin hypersecretion in the mammal is caused by a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of an inflammatory disease, viral or bacterial airway disease, common cold, rhinitis, acute or chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, kennel cough, allergic conditions, bronchiectasis, emphysema and bronchial asthma.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein said chemically modified peptide consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) an amino acid sequence of from 7 to 14 contiguous amino acids of the reference sequence, GAQFSKTAAKGEAAAERPGEAAVA (SEQ ID NO:1); and

(b) an amino acid sequence substantially identical to the sequence defined in (a).

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide begins at the N-terminal amino acid of the reference sequence.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide begins at the amino acid at position 2 through the amino acid at position 18 of the reference sequence.

28. The method of claim 25 , wherein the N-terminal amino acid of the peptide is acetylated at the N-terminal amino group.

29. The method of claim 25 , wherein the chemically modified peptide exhibits at least one of the properties of (a) greater mucin hypersecretion-inhibiting effect on a mammal than SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the N-terminal amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 is myristoylated, when administered to said mammal at equal concentrations or (b) greater aqueous solubility than SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the N-terminal amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 is myristoylated, at equal concentrations in the same liquid.

30. The method of claim 25 , wherein said administering of said peptide comprises pulmonary administration.

31. The method of claim 25 , wherein the mucin hypersecretion in the mammal is caused by a pulmonary disease in the mammal.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the pulmonary disease is selected from the group consisting of asthma, acute or chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis.

33. The method of claim 25 , wherein the mucin hypersecretion in the mammal is caused by a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of an inflammatory disease, viral or bacterial airway disease, common cold, rhinitis, acute or chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, kennel cough, allergic conditions, bronchiectasis, emphysema and bronchial asthma.

34. The method of claim 1 , wherein said chemically modified peptide consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) an amino acid sequence of from 7 to 12 contiguous amino acids of the reference sequence, GAQFSKTAAKGEAAAERPGEAAVA (SEQ ID NO:1); and

(b) an amino acid sequence substantially identical to the sequence defined in (a).

35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide begins at the N-terminal amino acid of the reference sequence.

36. The method of claim 34 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide begins at the amino acid at position 2 through the amino acid at position 18 of the reference sequence.

37. The method of claim 34 , wherein the N-terminal amino acid of the peptide is acetylated at the N-terminal amino group.

38. The method of claim 34 , wherein the chemically modified peptide exhibits at least one of the properties of (a) greater mucin hypersecretion-inhibiting effect on a mammal than SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the N-terminal amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 is myristoylated, when administered to said mammal at equal concentrations or (b) greater aqueous solubility than SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the N-terminal amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 is myristoylated, at equal concentrations in the same liquid.

39. The method of claim 34 , wherein said administering of said peptide comprises pulmonary administration.

40. The method of claim 34 , wherein the mucin hypersecretion in the mammal is caused by a pulmonary disease in the mammal.

41. The method of claim 40 , wherein the pulmonary disease is selected from the group consisting of asthma, acute or chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis.

42. The method of claim 34 , wherein the mucin hypersecretion in the mammal is caused by a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of an inflammatory disease, viral or bacterial airway disease, common cold, rhinitis, acute or chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, kennel cough, allergic conditions, bronchiectasis, emphysema and bronchial asthma.

43. The method of claim 1 , wherein said chemically modified peptide consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) an amino acid sequence of from 7 to 10 contiguous amino acids of the reference sequence, GAQFSKTAAKGEAAAERPGEAAVA (SEQ ID NO:1); and

(b) an amino acid sequence substantially identical to the sequence defined in (a).

44. The method of claim 43 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide begins at the N-terminal amino acid of the reference sequence.

45. The method of claim 43 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the peptide begins at the amino acid at position 2 through the amino acid at position 18 of the reference sequence.

46. The method of claim 43 , wherein the N-terminal amino acid of the peptide is acetylated at the N-terminal amino group.

47. The method of claim 43 , wherein the chemically modified peptide exhibits at least one of the properties of (a) greater mucin hypersecretion-inhibiting effect on a mammal than SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the N-terminal amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 is myristoylated, when administered to said mammal at equal concentrations or (b) greater aqueous solubility than SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the N-terminal amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 1 is myristoylated, at equal concentrations in the same liquid.

48. The method of claim 43 , wherein said administering of said peptide comprises pulmonary administration.

49. The method of claim 43 , wherein the mucin hypersecretion in the mammal is caused by a pulmonary disease in the mammal.

50. The method of claim 49 , wherein the pulmonary disease is selected from the group consisting of asthma, acute or chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis.

51. The method of claim 43 , wherein the mucin hypersecretion in the mammal is caused by a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of an inflammatory disease, viral or bacterial airway disease, common cold, rhinitis, acute or chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, kennel cough, allergic conditions, bronchiectasis, emphysema and bronchial asthma.

52. A method of inhibiting mucin hypersecretion in a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal a mucin hypersecretion-inhibiting amount of a N-terminal- and/or C-terminal-chemically modified peptide or a pharmaceutical composition comprising said chemically modified peptide, which peptide consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) an amino acid sequence of from 7 to 23 contiguous amino acids of a reference sequence GAQFSKTAAKGEAAAERPGEAAVA (SEQ ID NO:1); and

(b) an amino acid sequence substantially identical to the sequence defined in (a);

wherein the N-terminal sequence of the modified peptide begins at position 2 through position 18 of the reference sequence, and wherein

(i) the C-terminal amino acid of said chemically modified peptide is amidated at the C-terminal carboxyl group with ammonia, a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl amine, a hydroxyl-substituted C2 to C24 aliphatic alkyl amine, a linear 2-(C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl)oxyethylamine group, or an omega-methoxy-poly(ethyleneoxy)n-ethylamine group, where n is from 0 to 10 or esterified at the C-terminal carboxyl group with a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl alcohol or a 2-(omega-methoxy-poly(ethyleneoxy)n)-ethanol group, where n is from of 0 to 10; and the N-terminal amino acid of the peptide is alkylated at the N-terminal amine with a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl group, a linear 2-(C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl)oxyethyl group, or an omega-methoxy-poly(ethyleneoxy)n-ethyl group, where n is from 0 to 10, or acylated at the N-terminal amine with a trifluoroacetic acid, benzoic acid, a C 1 to C 24 aliphatic carboxylic acid or a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl sulfonic acid; or

(ii) the C-terminal amino acid of said chemically modified peptide is amidated at the C-terminal carboxyl group with ammonia, a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl amine, a hydroxyl-substituted C2 to C24 aliphatic alkyl amine, a linear 2-(C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl)oxyethylamine group, or an omega-methoxy-poly(ethyleneoxy)n-ethylamine group, where n is from 0 to 10 or esterified at the C-terminal carboxyl group with a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl alcohol or a 2-(omega-methoxy-poly(ethyleneoxy)n)-ethanol group, where n is from of 0 to 10 and the N-terminal amino acid of the peptide is not chemically modified; or

(iii) the C-terminal amino acid of the peptide is not chemically modified and the N-terminal amino acid of said chemically modified peptide is alkylated at the N-terminal amine with a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl group, a linear 2-(C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl)oxyethyl group, or an omega-methoxy-poly(ethyleneoxy)n-ethyl group, where n is from 0 to 10, or acylated at the N-terminal amine with a trifluoroacetic acid, benzoic acid, a C 1 to C 24 aliphatic carboxylic acid or a C1 to C24 aliphatic alkyl sulfonic acid, but is not myristoylated;

with the proviso that said chemically modified peptide contains no more than 23 amino acids; and

wherein the peptide has a mucin hypersecretion-inhibiting effect when administered to a mammal in a mucin hypersecretion-inhibiting amount.

53. The method of claim 52 , wherein the mucin hypersecretion in the mammal is caused by a pulmonary disease in the mammal.

54. The method of claim 5 , wherein the pulmonary disease is selected from the group consisting of asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis.

55. The method of claim 52 , wherein the mucin hypersecretion in the mammal is caused by a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of an inflammatory disease, a viral or bacterial airway disease, common cold, rhinitis, acute or chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, kennel cough, allergic conditions, bronchiectasis, emphysema, and bronchial asthma.