Joint-homing peptides and uses thereof

1. A peptide that homes to a joint of an animal, comprising a sequence CRNADKFPC (SEQ ID NO. 1).

2. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein said peptide has a sequence at least 77% identical to CRNADKFPC (SEQ ID NO. 1).

3. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein said peptide has a sequence at least 88% identical to CRNADKFPC (SEQ ID NO. 1).

4. A peptide that homes to a joint of an animal comprising a sequence CLDNQRPKC (SEQ ID NO. 2), comprising a sequence at least 77% identical to CLDNQRPKC (SEQ ID NO. 2) or comprising a sequence at least 88% identical to CLDNQRPKC (SEQ ID NO. 2).

5. A composition, comprising the peptide of claim 4 .

6. The composition of claim 5 , further comprising a co-composition, wherein the peptide and the co-composition are not covalently coupled or non-covalently associated with each other.

7. The composition of claim 5 , wherein the peptide selectively homes to regenerating tissue, a site of injury, a site of inflammation or a site of arthritis.

8. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the peptide and the co-composition are chemically conjugated or bound to each other.

9. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the co-composition comprises a therapeutic agent, a therapeutic protein, a therapeutic compound, a therapeutic composition, a chemotherapeutic agent, a cancer chemotherapeutic agent, a toxin, a cytotoxic agent, imatinib, an anti-angiogenic agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-arthritic agent, a TGF-.beta. inhibitor, decorin, a systemic vasodilator, an anti-coagulant, tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), site-inactivated factor VIIa, a .beta.-2 agonist, salmeterol, formoterol, N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), a superoxide dismutase mimetic, EUK-8, an endothelin (ET-1) receptor antagonist, a prostacyclin derivative, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, Ketoconazole, a small interfering RNA (sRNA), a microRNA (miRNA), a polypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule, a small molecule, a carrier, a vehicle, a virus, a phage, a viral particle, a phage particle, a viral capsid, a phage capsid, a virus-like particle, a liposome, bone remodeling agents, tissue regenerating agents, a micelle, a bead, a nanoparticle, a microparticle, a detectable agent, a contrast agent, an imaging agent, a label, a labeling agent, a fluorophore, fluorescein, rhodamine, FAM, a radionuclide, indium-111, technetium-99, carbon-11, carbon-13, a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, an analgesic or a combination.

10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein said anti-angiogenic agent is selected from the group consisting of thrombospondin, angiostatin5, pigment epithelium-drived factor, angiotensin, laminin peptides, fibronectin peptides, plasminogen activator inhibitors, tissue metalloproteinase inhibitors, interferons, interleukin 12, platelet factor 4, IP-10, Gro-.beta., thrombospondin, 2-methoxyoestradiol, proliferin-related protein, carboxiamidotriazole, CM101, Marimastat, pentosan polysulphate, angiopoietin 2 (Regeneron), interferon-alpha, herbimycin A, PNU145156E, 16K Prolactin fragment, Linomide, thalidomide, pentoxifylline, genistein, TNP-470, endostatin, paclitaxel, Docetaxel, polyamines, a proteasome inhibitor, a kinase inhibitor, a signaling peptide, accutin, cidofovir, vincristine, bleomycin, AGM-1470, platelet factor 4 and minocycline.

11. The composition of claim 9 , wherein said anti-inflammatory agent is selected from the group consisting of steroids, cortisone, glucocorticoids, prednisone, prednisolone, hydrocortisone (cortisol), cortisone acetate, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, betamethasone, triamcinolone, beclometasone, and fludrocortisone acetate, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs), ibuprofen, naproxen, meloxicam, etodolac, nabumetone, sulindac, tolementin, choline magnesium salicylate, diclofenac, diflusinal, indomethicin, ketoprofen, oxaprozin, piroxicam, and nimesulide, salicylates, aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), diflunisal, salsalate, p-amino phenol derivatives, paracetamol, phenacetin, propionic acid derivatives, ibuprofen, naproxen, fenoprofen, ketoprofen, flurbiprofen, oxaprozin, loxoprofen, acetic acid derivatives, indomethacin, sulindac, etodolac, ketorolac, diclofenac, nabumetone, enolic acid (oxicam) derivatives, piroxicam, meloxicam, tenoxicam, droxicam, lornoxicam, isoxicam, fenamic acid derivatives (fenamates), mefenamic acid, meclofenamic acid, flufenamic acid, tolfenamic acid, selective cox-2 inhibitors (coxibs), celecoxib, rofecoxib, valdecoxib, parecoxib, lumiracoxib, etoricoxib, firocoxib, sulphonanilides, nimesulide, and licofelone.

12. The composition of claim 9 , wherein said analgesic agent is selected from the group consisting of NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors, Celecoxib, Rofecoxib, Valdecoxib, Parecoxib, Lumiracoxib, Etoricoxib, Firocoxib, acetaminophen, opiates, Dextropropoxyphene, Codeine, Tramadol, Anileridine, Pethidine, Hydrocodone, Morphine, Oxycodone, Methadone, Diacetylmorphine, Hydromorphone, Oxymorphone, Levorphanol, Buprenorphine, Fentanyl, Sufentanyl, Etorphine, Carfentanil, dihydromorphine, dihydrocodeine, Thebaine, Papaverine, diproqualone, Flupirtine, Tricyclic antidepressants, and lidocaine.

13. The composition of claim 9 , wherein said disease-modifying antirheumatic drug is selected from the group consisting of mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), calcineurin inhibitors, cyclosporine, sirolimus, everolimus, oral retinoids, azathioprine, fumeric acid esters, D-penicillamine, cyclophosphamide, immunoadsorption column, Prosorba(r) column, a gold salt, auranofin, sodium aurothiomalate (Myocrisin), hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, leflunomide, methotrexate (MTX), minocycline, sulfasalazine (SSZ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) blockers, etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), golimumab (Simponi)), Interleukin 1 (IL-1) blockers, e.g., anakinra (Kineret), monoclonal antibodies against B cells, rituximab (Rituxan)), T cell costimulation blockers, abatacept (Orencia), Interleukin 6 (IL-6) blockers, tocilizumab, RoActemra, and Actemra.

14. The composition of claim 9 , wherein said liposome or said nanoparticle is coated on its surface with the peptide comprising a peptide with a sequence of CLDNQRPKC (SEQ ID NO. 2), comprising a peptide with a sequence at least 77% identical to CLDNQRPKC (SEQ ID NO. 2) or comprising a peptide with a sequence at least 88% identical to CLDNQRPKC (SEQ ID NO. 2).

15. A method of treating a subject having an arthritic joint, comprising the step of administering to said subject a pharmacologically effective dose of the composition of claim 5 .

16. A method of treating a subject having an arthritic joint, comprising the step of administering to said subject a pharmacologically effective dose of the composition of claim 9 .

17. A method of treating a subject having an arthritic joint, comprising the step of administering to said subject a pharmacologically effective dose of the composition of claim 14 .