The University of Texas System

Actuate Therapeutics Inc.

Steven Idell

Sreerama Shetty

Robert O Williams, Iii

Usha R Pendurthi

Torry A Tucker

Andrey A Komissarov

Vijaya M R Lella

Galina Florova

Shivakeshava Gaddam

In fibrotic lung fibroblasts, basal levels of p53 protein (and miR-34a) are markedly suppressed, leading to reduced p53-mediated inhibition of uPA and uPAR, or concurrent induction of PAI-1. These changes contribute to excessive FL-fibroblast proliferation and production of extracellular matrix (ECM), and, therefore, pulmonary fibrosis. These processes are reversed by treating the cells, and treating subjects suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with the small organic molecule nutlin-3a (NTL) or with a peptide, CSP-4 (SEQ ID NO:1), or variants or derivatives or multimers of this peptide, which increase p53 levels by inhibiting MDM2-mediated degradation of p53 protein. Use of these compounds serves as a new approach to the treatment of IPF, as they restore p53 expression and p53-mediated changes in the uPA-fibrinolytic system in FL-fibroblasts and restrict production and deposition of ECM.

Inhibition of pulmonary fibrosis with nutlin-3A and peptides

Pharmaceutical compositions and methods are described which rely upon glycogen synthase kinase 3 (form β; GSK 3 β) inhibitors, most preferably 9-ING-41, to inhibit fibrotic pulmonary remodeling in vivo including proliferation and differentiation of myofibroblasts to fibrotic fibroblasts in several mouse models. Therapeutic targeting of GSK-3β with the clinically useful specific inhibitor, 9-ING-41, mitigates fibrotic pulmonary remodeling in vivo and provides a mode of therapy of human IPF by specific GSK-3β inhibition with 9-ING-41.

Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with glycogen synthase kinase 3 form β inhibitors

Inhibition of pulmonary fibrosis with nutlin-3a and peptides

Methods and composition for delivery of enzymes to a subject's airway. In some aspects, nebulized composition of enzymes, such as plasminogen activators are provided. In further aspects perfluorocarbon compositions comprising enzymes, such as plasminogen activators are provided. Compositions may, in some aspects, be used for the treatment of lung infections or acute lung injury, such as inhalational smoke induced acute lung injury (ISALI).

Compositions and methods for administration of an enzyme to a subject's airway

An assay that informs precision-based intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy (IPFT) is disclosed. Provided is a simple assay based on measurement of the Fibrinolytic Potential (FP)&#x2014;total fibrinolytic activity in pleural fluid when plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAIs) are neutralized and endogenous plasminogen (PLG) is activated. The assay is used to determine FP in baseline pleural fluids of patients undergoing IPFT with agents such as tPA or scuPA to determine the dose and dose intervals for the particular patient. Pleural fluids are also collected after IPFT to confirm that intrapleural fibrinolysis is inhibited and endogenous PLG accumulates in the pleural fluid. Inhibition of intrapleural fibrinolysis in combination with its increase after supplementation of pleural fluid with a plasminogen activator indicates whether or not the subject should be treated with more or higher doses of an IPFT drug.

Fibrinolytic potential: a test of pleural fluid to predict outcomes and guide dosing in fibrinolytic therapy

The influence of TF, endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) and protease activated receptor-1 (PAR1) on tumor growth of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is disclosed. MPM cells that lack or express TF, EPCR or PAR1 and a murine orthotopic model of MPM led to the discovery that intrapleural administration into nude mice of REN MPM cells expressing TF and PAR1 but lacking EPCR and PAR2 generated large pleural cavity tumors. Suppression of TF or PAR1 expression markedly reduced tumor growth. Overexpression of TF in non-aggressive MPM cells expressing EPCR and PAR1 but exhibiting minimal levels of TF failed to alter their tumorigenicity. Introduction of EPCR expression in aggressive MPM cells attenuated tumor growth whereas EPCR silencing in non-aggressive MPM cells overexpressing TF increased tumorigenicity of non-aggressive cells. Expression of EPCR by MPM cells suppresses tumor growth and treats MPM.

Suppression of malignant mesothelioma by overexpression or stimulation of endothelial protein C receptors (EPCR)

In fibrotic lung fibroblasts, basal levels of p53 protein (and miR-34a) are markedly suppressed, leading to reduced p53-mediated inhibition of uPA and uPAR, or concurrent induction of PAI-1. These changes contribute to excessive FL-fibroblast proliferation and production of extracellular matrix (ECM), and, therefore, pulmonary fibrosis. These processes are reversed by treating the cells, and treating subjects suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with the small organic molecule nutlin-3a (NTL) or with a peptide, CSP-4 (SEQ ID NO:1), or variants or derivatives or multimers of this peptide, which increase p53 levels by inhibiting MDM2-mediated degradation of p53 protein. Use of these compounds serves as a new approach to the treatment of IPF, they restore p53 expression and p53-mediated changes in the uPA-fibrinolytic system in FL-fibroblasts and restrict production and deposition of ECM.

During lung injury, p53 expression increases, inducing plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) while inhibiting expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR), resulting in apoptosis of lung epithelial cells (LECs). In the bleomycin lung injury model, p53 and PAI-1 are induced while uPA and uPAR are inhibited. A 20 residue peptide DGIWKASFTTFTVTKYWFYR termed PP-1 (the Cav-1 scaffolding domain) or peptide NYHYLESSMTALYTLGH, termed PP-2, protected LECs from bleomycin-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo and prevented subsequent pulmonary fibrosis by attenuating lung epitheilial damage. Pharmaceutical compositions, peptide multimers and deliverable polypeptides comprising the above peptides are dislcosed. The peptides and functional variants, peptide multimers, cell-targeted polyepeptides and pharmaceutical compositions are used in methods for inhibiting apoptosis of injured or damaged lung epithelial cells and for treating acute lung injury and consequent pulmonary fibrosis.

Peptide inhibition of lung epithelial apoptosis and pulmonary fibrosis

The present invention relates to methods of preventing or decreasing the severity of scarring in a subject comprising: obtaining a pharmaceutical composition comprising a single chain urokinase plasminogen activator molecule (scuPA) or a scuPA mimetic; and administering the pharmaceutical composition to a subject; wherein scarring in the subject is either prevented or decreased relative to an amount of scarring that would be expected if the pharmaceutical composition were not administered to the subject. The invention also relates to methods of screening for compounds that prevent or decrease the severity of scarring in a subject.

Growing community of inventors

Tyler, TX, United States of America

Steven Idell