Use of dendrimers to stimulate cell growth

1. A method for activating or stimulating growth of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures originating from differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells in culture, comprising administering to said culture dendrimers having monophosphonic or bisphosphonic terminations, said terminations comprising a terminal group being represented by the formula:

wherein,

A 2 represents a single bond or a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon chain with 1 to 6 members; and

X represents —H, -alkyl, -aryl, -alkaryl, or -aralkyl radical, or a corresponding salt, said salt being formed by a combination of a monophosphonic or bisphosphonic termination and a cation.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dendrimers are of generation n and include a central core § having a valency of m, which can establish m−2 bonds when m is greater than 2, or m−1 bonds when m is greater than 1, or m bonds with linkage chains, identical to each other, m representing an integer from 1 to 20, and n representing an integer from 0 to 12, said linkage chains comprising:

generation chains attached in a tree-like structure around the core on each of the bonds, and when n is greater than or equal to 1, then a generation chain of a given generation is linked to:

a generation chain of the generation immediately below the given generation, or to the core when the given generation is 1, and to

at least 2 generation chains of the generation immediately above the given generation, or optionally to at least one intermediate chain when the given generation is n,

a terminal group being attached to the end of each generation chain of generation n, or optionally to the end of each intermediate chain; or

intermediate chains attached around the core on each of the bonds, and when n is 0, then a terminal group is attached to an end of each intermediate chain,

said terminal group being represented by the formula:

where

A 1 represents N, a P═Y group, where Y represents O, S, or any atom, an N—R group, or a C—R group, R representing H or a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon chain with 1 to 16 members, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon and one or more double or triple bonds, each of said members being optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, an —NR′R″ group, an alkoxy group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, an —NO 2 group, a —CN group, a —CF 3 group, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, R′ and R″ representing independently of each other H or an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms or an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms;

A 2 represents a single bond or a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon chain with 1 to 6 members, each of said members optionally comprising one or more heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of a sulphur, oxygen, phosphorus and nitrogen atom, and being optionally substituted by at least one substituent being selected from the group consisting of H, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a halogen, an —NO 2 group, an —NRR′ group, a —CN group, a —CF 3 group, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl or heteroaryl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, the heteroelement being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur, and an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, R and R′ representing independently of each other H or a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon chain with 1 to 16 members, optionally comprising one or more heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon and one or more double or triple bonds, each of said members being optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, an —NR″R′″ group, an alkoxy group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, an —NO 2 group, a —CN group, a —CF 3 group, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, R″ and R′″ representing independently of each other H or an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms or an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms;

A 3 represents H, or a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon chain with 1 to 6 members, each of said members optionally comprising a heteroatom, said heteroatom being selected from the group consisting of sulphur, nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon, each member being able to be optionally substituted by at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, an —NR″R′″ group, an alkoxy group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, an —NO 2 group, a —CN group, a —CF 3 group, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, R″ and R′″ representing independently of each other H, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms or

or

A 3 represents

each A 2 being identical or different, each OX, identical or different for each phosphonic group, represents OH, Oalkyl, where the alkyl group comprises from 1 to 16 carbon atoms, Oaryl, where the aryl group comprises from 6 to 24 carbon atoms, Oaralkyl, where the aralkyl group comprises from 7 to 24 carbon atoms, Oalkylaryl, where the alkylaryl group comprises from 7 to 24 carbon atoms, OSiR′ 1 R′ 2 R′ 3 , where R′ 1 , R′ 2 and R′ 3 , identical or different, represent an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, O − M + , where M + is a cation of elements of group IA, IB, IIA, IIB or IIIA, IIIB of the periodic table of elements, M + is selected from the group consisting of cations of sodium, potassium, copper, calcium, barium, zinc, magnesium, lithium and aluminium atoms, hydrocarbon groups of 1 to 100 carbon atoms, nitrogenous groups of 0 to 100 carbon atoms, NR 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 + , where independently of each other R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 represent H or a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon chain with 1 to 16 members, optionally comprising one or more heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon and one or more double or triple bonds, each of said members being optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, an —NR″R′″ group, an alkoxy group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, an —NO 2 group, a —CN group, a —CF 3 group, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, R″ and R′″ representing independently of each other H or an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms or an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms;

said central core § representing a group comprising from 1 to 500 atoms, and optionally comprising one or more heteroatoms, said heteroatoms being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the core § establishes m bonds with m identical linkage chains comprising:

either generation chains attached in a tree-like structure around the core on each of the bonds, an end of each chain generation furthest from a central core being attached either to a terminal group or to an intermediate chain, an end of each intermediate chain being attached to a terminal group,

or intermediate chains attached around the core on each of the bonds, an end of each intermediate chain being attached to a terminal group.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the core establishes m−2 or m−1 bonds, m representing an integer from 3 to 20, with respectively m−2 or m−1 identical linkage chains comprising:

either generation chains attached in a tree-like structure around the core on each of the bonds, an end of each chain generation furthest from a central core being attached either to a terminal group or to an intermediate chain, and an end of each intermediate chain being attached to a terminal group,

or intermediate chains attached around the core on each of the bonds, an end of each intermediate chain being attached to a terminal group; and

one or two remaining bonds being attached to linkage groups, identical or different, optionally linked together, by means of a covalent bond, comprising:

either part of the linkage chains defined above,

or a hydrogen atom,

or hydrocarbon groups comprising from 1 to 500 carbon atoms, said hydrocarbon groups comprising H or a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon chain having 1 to 200 members, optionally comprising one or more double or triple bonds, each of said members being optionally selected from the group consisting of a heteroatom, said heteroatom being selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, silicon and sulphur atom, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, a carboxyl group, a >C═NR group, each member optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, an —NR″R′″ group, an alkoxy group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, an —NO 2 group, a —CN group, a —CF 3 group, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, R″ and R′″ representing independently of each other H or an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms or an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, the first member of said hydrocarbon chain being oxygen or nitrogen.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the generation chains are selected from the group consisting of a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon chain having 1 to 12 members, optionally comprising one or more double or triple bonds, each of said members being optionally selected from the group consisting of a heteroatom, said heteroatom being selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur, phosphorus and silicon, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, the heteroelement being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur, a carboxyl group, a >C═NR group, each member being optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, an —NO 2 group, an —NRR′ group, a —CN group, a —CF 3 group, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, R and R′ representing independently of each other H or an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the intermediate chains are groups corresponding to the formula:

-J-K-L-,

where,

J represents an oxygen or sulphur atom, or an —NR— group;

K represents an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, the heteroelement being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, each being able to be optionally substituted by a halogen atom or an —NO 2 , —NRR′, —CN, —CF 3 , —OH group, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms; and

L represents a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon chain with 0 to 10 members, optionally comprising one or more double or triple bonds, each of said members optionally being able to be a heteroatom, said heteroatom being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon, each member being able to be optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a halogen, an oxygen atom, —NO 2 , —NRR′, —CN, —CF 3 , —OH, an alkoxy group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, R and R′ representing independently of each other H, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms.

7. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the core is selected from the group consisting of:

a nitrogen or silicon atom;

a group of formula

wherein G represents an oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, selenium, tellurium atom or an ═NR group, R representing H or an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, a thiophosphoryl group of formula

a bis-phenyloxy group of formula

a 1,2-diamino-ethane group of formula

a 1,4-diamino-butane group of formula

a cyclotriphosphazene group of formula

also denoted N 3 P 3 or P 3 N 3 , and

a cyclotetraphosphazene group of formula

also denoted N 4 P 4 or P 4 N 4 .

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dendrimers correspond to a structure PAMAM, DAB or PMMH.

9. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the dendrimers with monophosphonic or bisphosphonic terminations correspond to the following general formula (1a):

where n represents an integer from 0 to 3, and:

when n=0, formula (1a) corresponds to the following formula (2a),

when n=1, formula (1a) corresponds to the following formula (3a),

when n=2, formula (1a) corresponds to the following formula (4a),

and when n=3, formula (1a) corresponds to the following formula (5a),

and wherein:

the central core § is chosen from the following groups:

m represents 3, 6 or 8;

the generation chain corresponds to the formula:

where

A represents an oxygen, sulphur, phosphorus atom or an —NR— group,

B represents an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, each being able to be optionally substituted by a halogen atom or an —NO 2 , —NRR′, —CN, —CF 3 , —OH group, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms,

D represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, each being able to be optionally substituted by a halogen atom or an —NO 2 , —NRR′, —CN, —CF 3 , —OH group, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms,

E represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, each being able to be optionally substituted by a halogen atom or an —NO 2 , —NRR′, —CN, —CF 3 , —OH group, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, and

G represents an oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, selenium, tellurium atom or an ═NR group, R and R′ representing independently of each other H or an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms;

the intermediate chain corresponds to the formula:

-J-K-L-,

where

J represents an oxygen, sulphur atom, or an —NR— group,

K represents an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, the heteroelement being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, each being able to be optionally substituted by a halogen atom or an —NO 2 , —NRR′, —CN, —CF 3 , —OH group, an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, and

L represents a linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon chain with 0 to 10 members, optionally containing one or more double or triple bonds, each of said members being able to be optionally a heteroatom, said heteroatom being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon, each member being able to be optionally substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a halogen, an oxygen atom, —NO 2 , —NRR′, —CN, —CF 3 , —OH, an alkoxy group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, R and R′ representing independently of each other H or an alkyl group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group of 7 to 16 carbon atoms; and

the terminal group corresponds to the formula:

where A 1 , A 3 and X have been defined previously, each X being identical or different.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the dendrimer corresponds to the general formula (1a) and A 3 represents:

said general formula (1a) then corresponding to the following general formula (1):

§, A, B, C, D, E, G, J, K, L, A 1 , A 2 , X, m and n being as previously defined.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the dendrimer corresponds to the general formula (1) of structure PMMH, and

§ represents

m represents 6;

n represents 0, 1, or 2;

A represents an oxygen atom;

B represents a benzene group;

D represents hydrogen;

E represents a methyl group;

G represents a sulphur atom;

J represents an oxygen atom;

K represents a benzene group;

L represents a non-substituted linear saturated hydrocarbon chain with two carbon atoms;

A 1 represents a nitrogen atom;

A 2 represents a CH 2 group; and

X represents a methyl group, or a hydrogen or sodium atom;

said dendrimer being designated GCn, n being defined above.

12. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the dendrimers are selected from the group consisting of compounds of the following formulae:

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral blood mononuclear cells are of a lymphoid line expressing a receptor NKG2D and are derived from NK cells, CD8 + αβ T lymphocytes or γδ lymphocytes.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral blood mononuclear cells in culture are activated by the dendrimers with monophosphonic or bisphosphonic terminations, the activation of the cells corresponding to:

an increase in size of the activated cells compared with non-activated cells, and/or

a reduction in expression of MHC class I and class II molecules, or of a molecule CD14 compared with non-activated cells, and/or

an increase in nuclear translocation of a factor NFκB.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the peripheral blood mononuclear cells in culture exhibit reduced apoptosis compared with cells cultured in the absence of dendrimers with monophosphonic or bisphosphonic terminations.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dendrimers have bisphosphonic terminations.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the terminations consist of bisphosphonic terminations.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein X represents H, alkyl comprising 1-16 carbon atoms, aryl comprising 6-24 carbon atoms, araalkyl comprising 7-24 carbon atoms, or alkylaryl comprising 7-24 carbon atoms.