Effectors of innate immunity determination

Abstract
A method of identifying a polynucleotide or pattern of polynucleotides regulated by one or more sepsis or inflammatory inducing agents and inhibited by a peptide is described. A method of identifying a pattern of polynucleotide expression for inhibition of an inflammatory or septic response. The method includes contacting cells with LPS, LTA, CpG DNA and/or intact microbe or microbial components in the presence or absence of a cationic peptide; detecting a pattern of polynucleotide expression for the cells in the presence and absence of the peptide, wherein the pattern in the presence of the peptide represents inhibition of an inflammatory or septic response. Also included are compounds and agents identified by the methods of the invention. In another aspect, the invention provides methods and compounds for enhancing innate immunity in a subject.
Description


FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to peptides and specifically to peptides effective as therapeutics and for drug discovery related to pathologies resulting from microbial infections and for modulating innate immunity or anti-inflammatory activity.



BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. According to a 1999 World Health Organization study, over 13 million people die from infectious diseases each year. Infectious diseases are the third leading cause of death in North America, accounting for 20% of deaths annually and increasing by 50% since 1980. The success of many medical and surgical treatments also hinges on the control of infectious diseases. The discovery and use of antibiotics has been one of the great achievements of modem medicine. Without antibiotics, physicians would be unable to perform complex surgery, chemotherapy or most medical interventions such as catheterization.


[0004] Current sales of antibiotics are US$26 billion worldwide. However, the overuse and sometimes unwarranted use of antibiotics have resulted in the evolution of new antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Antibiotic resistance has become part of the medical landscape. Bacteria such as vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, VRE, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA, strains cannot be treated with antibiotics and often, patients suffering from infections with such bacteria die. Antibiotic discovery has proven to be one of the most difficult areas for new drug development and many large pharmaceutical companies have cut back or completely halted their antibiotic development programs. However, with the dramatic rise of antibiotic resistance, including the emergence of untreatable infections, there is a clear unmet medical need for novel types of anti-microbial therapies, and agents that impact on innate immunity would be one such class of agents.


[0005] The innate immune system is a highly effective and evolved general defense system. Elements of innate immunity are always present at low levels and are activated very rapidly when stimulated. Stimulation can include interaction of bacterial signaling molecules with pattern recognition receptors on the surface of the body's cells or other mechanisms of disease. Every day, humans are exposed to tens of thousands of potential pathogenic microorganisms through the food and water we ingest, the air we breathe and the surfaces, pets and people that we touch. The innate immune system acts to prevent these pathogens from causing disease. The innate immune system differs from so-called adaptive immunity (which includes antibodies and antigen-specific B- and T-lymphocytes) because it is always present, effective immediately, and relatively non-specific for any given pathogen. The adaptive immune system requires amplification of specific recognition elements and thus takes days to weeks to respond. Even when adaptive immunity is pre-stimulated by vaccination, it may take three days or more to respond to a pathogen whereas innate immunity is immediately or rapidly (hours) available. Innate immunity involves a variety of effector functions including phagocytic cells, complement, etc, but is generally incompletely understood. Generally speaking many innate immune responses are “triggered” by the binding of microbial signaling molecules with pattern recognition receptors termed Toll-like receptors on the surface of host cells. Many of these effector functions are grouped together in the inflammatory response. However too severe an inflammatory response can result in responses that are harmful to the body, and in an extreme case sepsis and potentially death can occur.


[0006] The release of structural components from infectious agents during infection causes an inflammatory response, which when unchecked can lead to the potentially lethal condition, sepsis. Sepsis occurs in approximately 780,000 patients in North America annually. Sepsis may develop as a result of infections acquired in the community such as pneumonia, or it may be a complication of the treatment of trauma, cancer or major surgery. Severe sepsis occurs when the body is overwhelmed by the inflammatory response and body organs begin to fail. Up to 120,000 deaths occur annually in the United Stated due to sepsis. Sepsis may also involve pathogenic microorganisms or toxins in the blood (e.g., septicemia), which is a leading cause of death among humans. Gram-negative bacteria are the organisms most commonly associated with such diseases. However, gram-positive bacteria are an increasing cause of infections. Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and their components can all cause sepsis.


[0007] The presence of microbial components induce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines of which tumor necrosis factorα (TNF-α) is of extreme importance. TNF-α and other pro-inflammatory cytokines can then cause the release of other pro-inflammatory mediators and lead to an inflammatory cascade. Gram-negative sepsis is usually caused by the release of the bacterial outer membrane component, lipopolysaccharide (LPS; also referred to as endotoxin). Endotoxin in the blood, called endotoxemia comes primarily from a bacterial infection, and may be released during treatment with antibiotics. Gram-positive sepsis can be caused by the release of bacterial cell wall components such as lipoteichoic acid (LTA), peptidoglycan (PG), rhamnose-glucose polymers made by Streptococci, or capsular polysaccharides made by Staphylococci. Bacterial or other non-mammalian DNA that, unlike mammalian DNA, frequently contains unmethylated cytosine-guanosine dimers (CpG DNA) has also been shown to induce septic conditions including the production of TNF-α. Mammalian DNA contains CpG dinucleotides at a much lower frequency, often in a methylated form. In addition to their natural release during bacterial infections, antibiotic treatment can also cause release of the bacterial cell wall components LPS and LTA and probably also bacterial DNA. This can then hinder recovery from infection or even cause sepsis.


[0008] Cationic peptides are being increasingly recognized as a form of defense against infection, although the major effects recognized in the scientific and patent literature are the antimicrobial effects (Hancock, R. E. W., and R. Lehrer. 1998. Cationic peptides: a new source of antibiotics. Trends in Biotechnology 16: 82-88.). Cationic peptides having antimicrobial activity have been isolated from a wide variety of organisms. In nature, such peptides provide a defense mechanism against microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast. Generally, these cationic peptides are thought to exert their antimicrobial activity on bacteria by interacting with the cytoplasmic membrane, and in most cases, forming channels or lesions. In gram-negative bacteria, they interact with LPS to permeabilize the outer membrane, leading to self promoted uptake across the outer membrane and access to the cytoplasmic membrane. Examples of cationic antimicrobial peptides include indolicidin, defensins, cecropins, and magainins.


[0009] Recently it has been increasingly recognized that such peptides are effectors in other aspects of innate immunity (Hancock, R. E. W. and G. Diamond. 2000. The role of cationic peptides in innate host defenses. Trends in Microbiology 8:402-410.; Hancock, R. E. W. 2001. Cationic peptides: effectors in innate immunity and novel antimicrobials. Lancet Infectious Diseases 1:156-164) although it was not known if the antimicrobial and effector functions are independent.


[0010] Some cationic peptides have an affinity for binding bacterial products such as LPS and LTA. Such cationic peptides can suppress cytokine production in response to LPS, and to varying extents can prevent lethal shock. However it has not been proven as to whether such effects are due to binding of the peptides to LPS and LTA, or due to a direct interaction of the peptides with host cells. Cationic peptides are induced, in response to challenge by microbes or microbial signaling molecules like LPS, by a regulatory pathway similar to that used by the mammalian immune system (involving Toll receptors and the transcription factor; NFκB). Cationic peptides therefore appear to have a key role in innate immunity. Mutations that affect the induction of antibacterial peptides can reduce survival in response to bacterial challenge. As well, mutations of the Toll pathway of Drosophila that lead to decreased antifungal peptide expression result in increased susceptibility to lethal fungal infections. In humans, patients with specific granule deficiency syndrome, completely lacking in α-defensins, suffer from frequent and severe bacterial infections. Other evidence includes the inducibility of some peptides by infectious agents, and the very high concentrations that have been recorded at sites of inflammation. Cationic peptides may also regulate cell migration, to promote the ability of leukocytes to combat bacterial infections. For example, two human α-defensin peptides, HNP-1 and HNP-2, have been indicated to have direct chemotactic activity for murine and human T cells and monocytes, and human β-defensins appear to act as chemoattractants for immature dendritic cells and memory T cells through interaction with CCR6. Similarly, the porcine cationic peptide, PR-39 was found to be chemotactic for neutrophils. It is unclear however as to whether peptides of different structures and compositions share these properties.


[0011] The single known cathelicidin from humans, LL-37, is produced by myeloid precursors, testis, human keratinocytes during inflammatory disorders and airway epithelium. The characteristic feature of cathelicidin peptides is a high level of sequence identity at the N-terminus prepro regions termed the cathelin domain. Cathelicidin peptides are stored as inactive propeptide precursors that, upon stimulation, are processed into active peptides.



SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is based on the seminal discovery that based on patterns of polynucleotide expression regulated by endotoxic lipopolysaccharide, lipoteichoic acid, CpG DNA, or other cellular components (e.g., microbe or their cellular components), and affected by cationic peptides, one can screen for novel compounds that block or reduce sepsis and/or inflammation in a subject. Further, based on the use of cationic peptides as a tool, one can identify selective enhancers of innate immunity that do not trigger the sepsis reaction and that can block/dampen inflammatory and/or septic responses.


[0013] Thus, in one embodiment, a method of identifying a polynucleotide or pattern of polynucleotides regulated by one or more sepsis or inflammatory inducing agents and inhibited by a cationic peptide, is provided. The method of the invention includes contacting the polynucleotide or polynucleotides with one or more sepsis or inflammatory inducing agents and contacting the polynucleotide or polynucleotides with a cationic peptide either simultaneously or immediately thereafter. Differences in expression are detected in the presence and absence of the cationic peptide, and a change in expression, either up- or down-regulation, is indicative of a polynucleotide or pattern of polynucleotides that is regulated by a sepsis or inflammatory inducing agent and inhibited by a cationic peptide. In another aspect the invention provides a polynucleotide or polynucleotides identified by the above method. Examples of sepsis or inflammatory regulatory agents include LPS, LTA or CpG DNA or microbial components (or any combination thereof), or related agents.


[0014] In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of identifying an agent that blocks sepsis or inflammation including combining a polynucleotide identified by the method set forth above with an agent wherein expression of the polynucleotide in the presence of the agent is modulated as compared with expression in the absence of the agent and wherein the modulation in expression affects an inflammatory or septic response.


[0015] In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of identifying a pattern of polynucleotide expression for inhibition of an inflammatory or septic response by 1) contacting cells with LPS, LTA and/or CpG DNA in the presence or absence of a cationic peptide and 2) detecting a pattern of polynucleotide expression for the cells in the presence and absence of the peptide. The pattern obtained in the presence of the peptide represents inhibition of an inflammatory or septic response. In another aspect the pattern obtained in the presence of the peptide is compared to the pattern of a test compound to identify a compound that provides a similar pattern. In another aspect the invention provides a compound identified by the foregoing method.


[0016] In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of identifying an agent that enhances innate immunity by contacting a polynucleotide or polynucleotides that encode a polypeptide involved in innate immunity, with an agent of interest, wherein expression of the polynucleotide in the presence of the agent is modulated as compared with expression of the polynucleotide in the absence of the agent and wherein the modulated expression results in enhancement of innate immunity. Preferably, the agent does not stimulate a sepsis reaction in a subject. In one aspect, the agent increases the expression of an anti-inflammatory polynucleotide. Exemplary, but non-limiting anti-inflammatory polynucleotides encode proteins such as IL-1 R antagonist homolog 1 (AI1 67887), IL-10 R beta (AA486393), IL-10 R alpha (U00672) TNF Receptor member 1B (AA150416), TNF receptor member 5 (H98636), TNF receptor member 11b (AA194983), IK cytokine down-regulator of HLA II (R39227), TGF-B inducible early growth response 2 (AI473938), CD2 (AA927710), IL-19 (NM013371) or IL-10 (M57627). In one aspect, the agent decreases the expression of polynucleotides encoding proteasome subunits involved in NF-κB activation such as proteasome subunit 26S (NM013371). In one aspect, the agent may act as an antagonist of protein kinases. In one aspect, the agent is a peptide selected from SEQ ID NO: 4-54.


[0017] In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of identifying a pattern of polynucleotide expression for identification of a compound that selectively enhances innate immunity. The invention includes detecting a pattern of polynucleotide expression for cells contacted in the presence and absence of a cationic peptide, wherein the pattern in the presence of the peptide represents stimulation of innate immunity; detecting a pattern of polynucleotide expression for cells contacted in the presence of a test compound, wherein a pattern with the test compound that is similar to the pattern observed in the presence of the cationic peptide, is indicative of a compound that enhances innate immunity. It is preferred that the compound does not stimulate a septic reaction in a subject.


[0018] In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for inferring a state of infection in a mammalian subject from a nucleic acid sample of the subject by identifying in the nucleic acid sample a polynucleotide expression pattern exemplified by an increase in polynucleotide expression of at least 2 polynucleotides in Table 50, 51 and or 52, as compared to a non-infected subject. Also included is a polynucleotide expression pattern obtained by any of the methods described above.


[0019] In another aspect a cationic peptide that is an antagonist of CXCR-4 is provided. In still another aspect, a method of identifying a cationic peptide that is an antagonist of CXCR-4 by contacting T cells with SDF-1 in the presence of absence of a test peptide and measuring chemotaxis is provided. A decrease in chemotaxis in the presence of the test peptide is indicative of a peptide that is an antagonist of CXCR-4. Cationic peptide also acts to reduce the expression of the SDF-1 receptor polynucleotide (NM013371).


[0020] In all of the above described methods, the compounds or agents of the invention include but are not limited to peptides, cationic peptides, peptidomimetics, chemical compounds, polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules and the like.


[0021] In still another aspect the invention provides an isolated cationic peptide. An isolated cationic peptide of the invention is represented by one of the following general formulas and the single letter amino acid code:


[0022] X1X2X3IX4PX4IPX5X2X1 (SEQ ID NO: 4), where X1 is one or two of R, L or K, X2 is one of C, S or A, X3 is one of R or P, X4 is one of A or V and X5 is one of V or W;


[0023] X1LX2X3KX4X2X5X3PX3X1 (SEQ ID NO: 11), where X1 is one or two of D, E, S, T or N, X2 is one or two of P, G or D, X3 is one of G, A, V, L, I or Y, X4 is one of R, K or H and X5 is one of S, T, C, M or R;


[0024] X1X2X3X4WX4WX4X5K (SEQ ID NO: 18), where X1 is one to four chosen from A, P or R, X2 is one or two aromatic amino acids (F, Y and W), X3 is one of P or K, X4 is one, two or none chosen from A, P, Y or W and X5 is one to three chosen from R or P;


[0025] X1X2X3X4X1VX3X4RGX4X3X4X1X3X1 (SEQ ID NO: 25) where X1 is one or two of R or K, X2 is a polar or charged amino acid (S, T, M, N, Q, D, E, K, R and H), X3 is C, S, M, D or A and X4 is F, I, V, M or R;


[0026] X1X2X3X4X1VX5X4RGX4X5X4X1X3X1 (SEQ ID NO: 32), where X1 is one or two of R or K, X2 is a polar or charged amino acid (S, T, M, N, Q, D, E, K, R and H), X3 is one of C, S, M, D or A, X4 is one of F, I, V, M or R and X5 is one of A, I, S, M, D or R;


[0027] and


[0028] KX1KX2FX2KMLMX2ALKKX3 (SEQ ID NO: 39), where X1 is a polar amino acid (C, S, T, M, N and Q); X2 is one of A, L, S or K and X3 is 1-17 amino acids chosen from G, A, V, L, I, P, F, S, T, K and H;


[0029] KWKX2X1X1X2X2X1X2X2X1X1X2X2IFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 46), where X1 is a hydrophobic amino acid and X2 is a hydrophilic amino acid.


[0030] Additionally, in another aspect the invention provides isolated cationic peptides KWKSFLRTFKSPVRTVFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 53) and KWKSYAHTIMSPVRLVFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 54).


[0031] Also provided are nucleic acid sequences encoding the cationic peptides of the invention, vectors including such polynucleotides and host cells containing the vectors.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The present invention provides novel cationic peptides, characterized by a group of generic formulas, which have ability to modulate (e.g., up- and/or down regulate) polynucleotide expression, thereby regulating sepsis and inflammatory responses and/or innate immunity.


[0033] “Innate immunity” as used herein refers to the natural ability of an organism to defend itself against invasions by pathogens. Pathogens or microbes as used herein, may include, but are not limited to bacteria, fungi, parasite, and viruses. Innate immunity is contrasted with acquired/adaptive immunity in which the organism develops a defensive mechanism based substantially on antibodies and/or immune lymphocytes that is characterized by specificity, amplifiability and self vs. non-self dsicrimination. With innate immunity, broad, nonspecific immunity is provided and there is no immunologic memory of prior exposure. The hallmarks of innate immunity are effectiveness against a broad variety of potential pathogens, independence of prior exposure to a pathogen, and immediate effectiveness (in contrast to the specific immune response which takes days to weeks to be elicited). In addition, innate immunity includes immune responses that affect other diseases, such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, multiple sclerosis, various viral infections, and the like.


[0034] As used herein, the term “cationic peptide” refers to a sequence of amino acids from about 5 to about 50 amino acids in length. In one aspect, the cationic peptide of the invention is from about 10 to about 35 amino acids in length. A peptide is “cationic” if it possesses sufficient positively charged amino acids to have a pKa greater than 9.0. Typically, at least two of the amino acid residues of the cationic peptide will be positively charged, for example, lysine or arginine. “Positively charged” refers to the side chains of the amino acid residues which have a net positive charge at pH 7.0. Examples of naturally occurring cationic antimicrobial peptides which can be recombinantly produced according to the invention include defensins, cathelicidins, magainins, melittin, and cecropins, bactenecins, indolicidins, polyphemusins, tachyplesins, and analogs thereof. A variety of organisms make cationic peptides, molecules used as part of a non-specific defense mechanism against microorganisms. When isolated, these peptides are toxic to a wide variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and certain enveloped viruses. While cationic peptides act against many pathogens, notable exceptions and varying degrees of toxicity exist. However this patent reveals additional cationic peptides with no toxicity towards microorganisms but an ability to protect against infections through stimulation of innate immunity, and this invention is not limited to cationic peptides with antimicrobial activity. In fact, many peptides useful in the present invention do not have antimicrobial activity.


[0035] Cationic peptides known in the art include for example, the human cathelicidin LL-37, and the bovine neutrophil peptide indolicidin and the bovine variant of bactenecin, Bac2A.
1(SEQ ID NO: 1)LL-37LLGDFFRKSKEKIGKEFKRIVQRIKDFLRNLVPRTES(SEQ ID NO: 2)IndolicidinILPWKWPWWPWRR-NH2(SEQ ID NO: 3)Bac2ARLARIVVIRVAR-NH2


[0036] In innate immunity, the immune response is not dependent upon antigens. The innate immunity process may include the production of secretory molecules and cellular components as set forth above. In innate immunity, the pathogens are recognized by receptors encoded in the germline. These Toll-like receptors have broad specificity and are capable of recognizing many pathogens. When cationic peptides are present in the immune response, they aid in the host response to pathogens. This change in the immune response induces the release of chemokines, which promote the recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection.


[0037] Chemokines, or chemoattractant cytokines, are a subgroup of immune factors that mediate chemotactic and other pro-inflammatory phenomena (See, Schall, 1991, Cytokine 3:165-183). Chemokines are small molecules of approximately 70-80 residues in length and can generally be divided into two subgroups, a which have two N-terminal cysteines separated by a single amino acid (C×C) and β which have two adjacent cysteines at the N terminus (CC). RANTES, MIP- 1α and MIP-1β are members of the β subgroup (reviewed by Horuk, R., 1994, Trends Pharmacol. Sci, 15:159-165; Murphy, P. M., 1994, Annu. Rev. Immunol., 12:593-633). The amino terminus of the β chemokines RANTES, MCP-1, and MCP-3 have been implicated in the mediation of cell migration and inflammation induced by these chemokines. This involvement is suggested by the observation that the deletion of the amino terminal 8 residues of MCP-1, amino terminal 9 residues of MCP-3, and amino terminal 8 residues of RANTES and the addition of a methionine to the amino terminus of RANTES, antagonize the chemotaxis, calcium mobilization and/or enzyme release stimulated by their native counterparts (Gong et al., 1996 J. Biol. Chem. 271:10521-10527; Proudfoot et al., 1996 J. Biol. Chem. 271:2599-2603). Additionally, a chemokine-like chemotactic activity has been introduced into MCP-1 via a double mutation of Tyr 28 and Arg 30 to leucine and valine, respectively, indicating that internal regions of this protein also play a role in regulating chemotactic activity (Beall et al., 1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267:3455-3459).


[0038] The monomeric forms of all chemokines characterized thus far share significant structural homology, although the quaternary structures of α and β groups are distinct. While the monomeric structures of the β and α chemokines are very similar, the dimeric structures of the two groups are completely different. An additional chemokine, lymphotactin, which has only one N terminal cysteine has also been identified and may represent an additional subgroup (γ) of chemokines (Yoshida et al., 1995, FEBS Lett. 360:155-159; and Kelner et al., 1994, Science 266:1395-1399).


[0039] Receptors for chemokines belong to the large family of G-protein coupled, 7 transmembrane domain receptors (GCR's) (See, reviews by Horuk, R., 1994, Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 15:159-165; and Murphy, P. M., 1994, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 12:593-633). Competition binding and cross-desensitization studies have shown that chemokine receptors exhibit considerable promiscuity in ligand binding. Examples demonstrating the promiscuity among β chemokine receptors include: CC CKR-1, which binds RANTES and MIP-1α (Neote et al., 1993, Cell 72: 415-425), CC CKR-4, which binds RANTES, MIP-1α, and MCP-1 (Power et al., 1995, J. Biol. Chem. 270:19495-19500), and CC CKR-5, which binds RANTES, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β (Alkhatib et al., 1996, Science, in press and Dragic et al., 1996, Nature 381:667-674). Erythrocytes possess a receptor (known as the Duffy antigen) which binds both α and β chemokines (Horuk et al., 1994, J. Biol. Chem. 269:17730-17733; Neote et al., 1994, Blood 84:44-52; and Neote et al., 1993, J. Biol. Chem. 268:12247-12249). Thus the sequence and structural homologies evident among chemokines and their receptors allows some overlap in receptor-ligand interactions.


[0040] In one aspect, the present invention provides the use of compounds including cationic peptides of the invention to reduce sepsis and inflammatory responses by acting directly on host cells. In this aspect, a method of identification of a polynucleotide or polynucleotides that are regulated by one or more sepsis or inflammatory inducing agents is provided, where the regulation is altered by a cationic peptide. Such sepsis or inflammatory inducing agents include, but are not limited to endotoxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and/or CpG DNA or intact bacteria or other bacterial components. The identification is performed by contacting the polynucleotide or polynucleotides with the sepsis or inflammatory inducing agents and further contacting with a cationic peptide either simultaneously or immediately after. The expression of the polynucleotide in the presence and absence of the cationic peptide is observed and a change in expression is indicative of a polynucleotide or pattern of polynucleotides that is regulated by a sepsis or inflammatory inducing agent and inhibited by a cationic peptide. In another aspect, the invention provides a polynucleotide identified by the method.


[0041] Once identified, such polynucleotides will be useful in methods of screening for compounds that can block sepsis or inflammation by affecting the expression of the polynucleotide. Such an effect on expression may be either up regulation or down regulation of expression. By identifying compounds that do not trigger the sepsis reaction and that can block or dampen inflammatory or septic responses, the present invention also presents a method of identifying enhancers of innate immunity. Additionally, the present invention provides compounds that are used or identified in the above methods.


[0042] Candidate compounds are obtained from a wide variety of sources including libraries of synthetic or natural compounds. For example, numerous means are available for random and directed synthesis of a wide variety of organic compounds and biomolecules, including expression of randomized oligonucleotides and oligopeptides. Alternatively, libraries of natural compounds in the form of bacterial, fungal, plant and animal extracts are available or readily produced. Additionally, natural or synthetically produced libraries and compounds are readily modified through conventional chemical, physical and biochemical means, and may be used to produce combinatorial libraries. Known pharmacological agents may be subjected to directed or random chemical modifications, such as acylation, alkylation, esterification, amidification, and the like to produce structural analogs. Candidate agents are also found among biomolecules including, but not limited to: peptides, peptidiomimetics, saccharides, fatty acids, steroids, purines, pyrimidines, polypeptides, polynucleotides, chemical compounds, derivatives, structural analogs or combinations thereof.


[0043] Incubating components of a screening assay includes conditions which allow contact between the test compound and the polynucleotides of interest. Contacting includes in solution and in solid phase, or in a cell. The test compound may optionally be a combinatorial library for screening a plurality of compounds. Compounds identified in the method of the invention can be further evaluated, detected, cloned, sequenced, and the like, either in solution or after binding to a solid support, by any method usually applied to the detection of a compound.


[0044] Generally, in the methods of the invention, a cationic peptide is utilized to detect and locate a polynucleotide that is essential in the process of sepsis or inflammation. Once identified, a pattern of polynucleotide expression may be obtained by observing the expression in the presence and absence of the cationic peptide. The pattern obtained in the presence of the cationic peptide is then useful in identifying additional compounds that can inhibit expression of the polynucleotide and therefore block sepsis or inflammation. It is well known to one of skill in the art that non-peptidic chemicals and peptidomimetics can mimic the ability of peptides to bind to receptors and enzyme binding sites and thus can be used to block or stimulate biological reactions. Where an additional compound of interest provides a pattern of polynucleotide expression similar to that of the expression in the presence of a cationic peptide, that compound is also useful in the modulation of sepsis or an innate immune response. In this manner, the cationic peptides of the invention, which are known inhibitors of sepsis and inflammation and enhancers of innate immunity are useful as tools in the identification of additional compounds that inhibit sepsis and inflammation and enhance innate immunity.


[0045] As can be seen in the Examples below, peptides of the invention have a widespread ability to reduce the expression of polynucleotides regulated by LPS. High levels of endotoxin in the blood are responsible for many of the symptoms seen during a serious infection or inflammation such as fever and an elevated white blood cell count. Endotoxin is a component of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria and is a potent trigger of the pathophysiology of sepsis. The basic mechanisms of inflammation and sepsis are related. In Example 1, polynucleotide arrays were utilized to determine the effect of cationic peptides on the transcriptional response of epithelial cells. Specifically, the effects on over 14,000 different specific polynucleotide probes induced by LPS were observed. The tables show the changes seen with cells treated with peptide compared to control cells. The resulting data indicated that the peptides have the ability to reduce the expression of polynucleotides induced by LPS.


[0046] Example 2, similarly, shows that peptides of the invention are capable of neutralizing the stimulation of immune cells by Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial products. Additionally, it is noted that certain pro-inflammatory polynucleotides are down-regulated by cationic peptides, as set forth in table 24 such as TLR1 (AI339155), TLR2 (T57791), TLR5 (N41021), TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (T55353), TNF receptor-associated factor 3 (AA504259), TNF receptor superfamily, member 12 (W71984), TNF receptor superfamily, member 17 (AA987627), small inducible cytokine subfamily B, member 6 (AI889554), IL-12R beta 2 (AA977194), IL-18 receptor 1 (AA482489), while anti-inflammatory polynucleotides are up-regulated by cationic peptides, as seen in table 25 such as IL,-1 R antagonist homolog 1 (AI167887), IL-10 R beta (AA486393), TNF Receptor member 1B (AA150416), TNF receptor member 5 (H98636), TNF receptor member 11b (AA 194983), IK cytokine down-regulator of HLA II (R39227), TGF-B inducible early growth response 2 (AI473938), or CD2 (AA927710). The relevance and application of these results are confirmed by an in vivo application to mice.


[0047] In another aspect, the invention provides a method of identifying an agent that enhances innate immunity. In the method, a polynucleotide or polynucleotides that encode a polypeptide involved in innate immunity is contacted with an agent of interest. Expression of the polynucleotide is determined, both in the presence and absence of the agent. The expression is compared and of the specific modulation of expression was indicative of an enhancement of innate immunity. In another aspect, the agent does not stimulate a septic reaction as revealed by the lack of upregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. In still another aspect the agent reduces or blocks the inflammatory or septic response. In yet another aspect, the agent reduces the expression of TNF-α and/or interleukins including, but not limited to, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 p40, IL-12 p70, and IL-8.


[0048] In another aspect, the invention provides methods of direct polynucleotide regulation by cationic peptides and the use of compounds including cationic peptides to stimulate elements of innate immunity. In this aspect, the invention provides a method of identification of a pattern of polynucleotide expression for identification of a compound that enhances innate immunity. In the method of the invention, an initial detection of a pattern of polynucleotide expression for cells contacted in the presence and absence of a cationic peptide is made. The pattern resulting from polynucleotide expression in the presence of the peptide represents stimulation of innate immunity. A pattern of polynucleotide expression is then detected in the presence of a test compound, where a resulting pattern with the test compound that is similar to the pattern observed in the presence of the cationic peptide is indicative of a compound that enhances innate immunity. In another aspect, the invention provides compounds that are identified in the above methods. In another aspect, the compound of the invention stimulates chemokine or chemokine receptor expression. Chemokine or chemokine receptors may include, but are not limited to CXCR4, CXCR1, CXCR2, CCR2, CCR4, CCR5, CCR6, MIP-1 alpha, MDC, MIP-3 alpha, MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, MCP-5, and RANTES. In still another aspect, the compound is a peptide, peptidomimetic, chemical compound, or a nucleic acid molecule.


[0049] In still another aspect the polynucleotide expression pattern includes expression of pro-inflammatory polynucleotides. Such pro-inflammatory polynucleotides may include, but are not limited to, ring finger protein 10 (D8745 1), serine/threonine protein kinase MASK (AB040057), KIAA0912 protein (AB020719), KIAA0239 protein (D87076), RAP1, GTPase activating protein 1 (M64788), FEM-1-like death receptor binding protein (AB007856), cathepsin S (M90696), hypothetical protein FLJ20308 (AK000315), pim-1 oncogene (M54915), proteasome subunit beta type 5 (D29011), KIAA0239 protein (D87076), mucin 5 subtype B tracheobronchial (AJ001403), cAMP response element-binding protein CREBPa, integrin alpha M (J03925), Rho-associated kinase 2 (NM004850), PTD017 protein (AL050361) unknown genes (AK001143, AK034348, AL049250, AL16199, AL031983) and any combination thereof. In still another aspect the polynucleotide expression pattern includes expression of cell surface receptors that may include but is not limited to retinoic acid receptor (X06614), G protein-coupled receptors (Z94155, X81892, U52219, U22491, AF015257, U66579) chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 7 (L31584), tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 17 (Z29575), interferon gamma receptor 2 (U05875), cytokine receptor-like factor 1 (AF059293), class I cytokine receptor (AF053004), coagulation factor II (thrombin) receptor-like 2 (U92971), leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (NM002310), interferon gamma receptor 1 (AL050337).


[0050] In Example 4 it can be seen that the cationic peptides of the invention alter polynucleotide expression in macrophage and epithelial cells. The results of this example show that pro-inflammatory polynucleotides are down-regulated by cationic peptides (Table 24) whereas anti-inflammatory polynucleotides are up-regulated by cationic peptides (Table 25).


[0051] It is shown below, for example, in tables 1-15, that cationic peptides can neutralize the host response to the signaling molecules of infectious agents as well as modify the transcriptional responses of host cells, mainly by down-regulating the pro-inflammatory response and/or up-regulating the anti-inflammatory response. Example 5 shows that the cationic peptides can aid in the host response to pathogens by inducing the release of chemokines, which promote the recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection. The results are confirmed by an in vivo application to mice.


[0052] It is seen from the examples below that cationic peptides have a substantial influence on the host response to pathogens in that they assist, in regulation of the host immune response by inducing selective pro-inflammatory responses that for example promote the recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection but not inducing potentially harmful pro-inflammatory cytokines. Sepsis appears to be caused in part by an overwhelming pro-inflammatory response to infectious agents. Cationic peptides aid the host in a “balanced” response to pathogens by inducing an anti-inflammatory response and suppressing certain potentially harmful pro-inflammatory responses.


[0053] In Example 7, the activation of selected MAP kinases was examined, to study the basic mechanisms behind the effects of interaction of cationic peptides with cells. Macrophages activate MEK/ERK kinases in response to bacterial infection. MEK is a MAP kinase kinase that when activated, phosphorylates the downstream kinase ERK (extracellular regulated kinase), which then dimerizes and translocates to the nucleus where it activates transcription factors such as Elk-1 to modify polynucleotide expression. MEK/ERK kinases have been shown to impair replication of Salmonella within macrophages. Signal transduction by MEK kinase and NADPH oxidase may play an important role in innate host defense against intracellular pathogens. By affecting the MAP kinases as shown below the cationic peptides have an effect on bacterial infection. The cationic peptides can directly affect kinases. Table 21 demonstrates but is not limited to MAP kinase polynucleotide expression changes in response to peptide. The kinases include MAP kinase kinase 6 (H070920), MAP kinase kinase 5 (W69649), MAP kinase 7 (H39192), MAP kinase 12 (AI936909) and MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3 (W68281).


[0054] In another method, the methods of the invention may be used in combination, to identify an agent with multiple characteristics, i.e. a peptide with anti-inflammatory/anti-sepsis activity, and the ability to enhance innate immunity, in part by inducing chemokines in vivo.


[0055] In another aspect, the invention provides a method for inferring a state of infection in a mammalian subject from a nucleic acid sample of the subject by identifying in the nucleic acid sample a polynucleotide expression pattern exemplified by an increase in polynucleotide expression of at least 2 polynucleotides in Table 55 as compared to a non-infected subject. In another aspect the invention provides a method for inferring a state of infection in a mammalian subject from a nucleic acid sample of the subject by identifying in the nucleic acid sample a polynucleotide expression pattern exemplified by a polynucleotide expression of at least 2 polynucleotides in Table 56 or Table 57 as compared to a non-infected subject. In one aspect of the invention, the state of infection is due to infectious agents or signaling molecules derived therefrom, such as, but not limited to, Gram negative bacteria and Gram positive bacteria, viral, fungal or parasitic agents. In still another aspect the invention provides a polynucleotide expression pattern of a subject having a state of infection identified by the above method. Once identified, such polynucleotides will be useful in methods of diagnosis of a condition associated with the activity or presence of such infectious agents or signaling molecules.


[0056] Example 10 below demonstrates this aspect of the invention. Specifically, table 61 demonstrates that both MEK and the NADPH oxidase inhibitors can limit bacterial replication (infection of IFN-γ-primed macrophages by S. typhimurium triggers a MEK kinase). This is an example of how bacterial survival can be impacted by changing host cell signaling molecules.


[0057] In still another aspect of the invention, compounds are presented that inhibit stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) induced chemotaxis of T cells. Compounds are also presented which decrease expression of SDF-1 receptor. Such compounds also may act as an antagonist or inhibitor of CXCR-4. In one aspect the invention provides a cationic peptide that is an antagonist of CXCR-4. In another aspect the invention provides a method of identifying a cationic peptide that is an antagonist of CXCR-4. The method includes contacting T cells with SDF-1 in the presence of absence of a test peptide and measuring chemotaxis. A decrease in chemotaxis in the presence of the test peptide is then indicative of a peptide that is an antagonist of CXCR-4. Such compounds and methods are useful in therapeutic applications in HIV patients. These types of compounds and the utility thereof is demonstrated, for example, in Example 11 (see also Tables 62, 63). In that example, cationic peptides are shown to inhibit cell migration and therefore antiviral activity.


[0058] In one embodiment, the invention provides an isolated cationic peptides having an amino acid sequence of the general formula (Formula A): X1X2X3IX4PX4IPX5X2X1 (SEQ ID NO: 4), wherein X1 is one or two of R, L or K, X2 is one of C, S or A, X3 is one of R or P, X4 is one of A or V and X5 is one of V or W. Examples of the peptides of the invention include, but are not limited to: LLCRIVPVIPWCK (SEQ ID NO: 5), LRCPIAPVIPVCKK (SEQ ID NO: 6), KSRIVPAIPVSLL (SEQ ID NO: 7), KKSPIAPAIPWSR (SEQ ID NO: 8), RRARIVPAIPVARR (SEQ ID NO: 9) and LSRIAPAIPWAKL (SEQ ID NO: 10).


[0059] In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated linear cationic peptide having an amino acid sequence of the general formula (Formula B): X1LX2X3KX4X2X5X3PX3X1 (SEQ ID NO: 11), wherein X1 is one or two of D, E, S, T or N, X2 is one or two of P, G or D, X3 is one of G, A, V, L, I or Y, X4 is one of R, K or H and X5 is one of S, T, C, M or R. Examples of the peptides of the invention include, but are not limited to: DLPAKRGSAPGST (SEQ ID NO: 12), SELPGLKHPCVPGS (SEQ ID NO: 13), TTLGPVKRDSIPGE (SEQ ID NO: 14), SLPIKHDRLPATS (SEQ ID NO: 15), ELPLKRGRVPVE (SEQ ID NO: 16) and NLPDLKKPRVPATS (SEQ ID NO: 17).


[0060] In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated linear cationic peptide having an amino acid sequence of the general formula (Formula C): X1X2X3X4WX4WX4X5K (SEQ ID NO: 18) (this formula includes CP12a and CP12d), wherein X1 is one to four chosen from A, P or R, X2 is one or two aromatic amino acids (F, Y and W), X3 is one of P or K, X4 is one, two or none chosen from A, P, Y or W and X5 is one to three chosen from R or P. Examples of the peptides of the invention include, but are not limited to: RPRYPWWPWWPYRPRK (SEQ ID NO: 19), RRAWWKAWWARRK (SEQ ID NO: 20), RAPYWPWAWARPRK (SEQ ID NO: 21), RPAWKYWWPWPWPRRK (SEQ ID NO: 22), RAAFKWAWAWWRRK (SEQ ID NO: 23) and RRRWKWAWPRRK (SEQ ID NO: 24).


[0061] In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated hexadecameric cationic peptide having an amino acid sequence of the general formula (Formula D): X1X2X3X4X1VX3X4RGX4X3X4X1X3X1 (SEQ ID NO: 25) wherein X1 is one or two of R or K, X2 is a polar or charged amino acid (S, T, M, N, Q, D, E, K, R and H), X3 is C, S, M, D or A and X4 is F, I, V, M or R. Examples of the peptides of the invention include, but are not limited to: RRMCIKVCVRGVCRRKCRK (SEQ ID NO: 26), KRSCFKVSMRGVSRRRCK (SEQ ID NO: 27), KKDAIKKVDIRGMDMRRAR (SEQ ID NO: 28), RKMVKVDVRGIMIRKDRR (SEQ ID NO: 29), KQCVKVAMRGMALRRCK (SEQ ID NO: 30) and RREAIRRVAMRGRDMKRMRR (SEQ ID NO: 31).


[0062] In still another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated hexadecameric cationic peptide having an amino acid sequence of the general formula (Formula E): X1X2X3X4X1VX5X4RGX4X5X4X1X3X1 (SEQ ID NO: 32), wherein X1 is one or two of R or K, X2 is a polar or charged amino acid (S, T, M, N, Q, D, E, K, R and H), X3 is one of C, S, M, D or A, X4 is one of F, I, V, M or Rand X5 is one of A, I, S, M, D or R. Examples of the peptides of the invention include, but are not limited to: RTCVKRVAMRGIIRKRCR (SEQ ID NO: 33), KKQMMKRVDVRGISVKRKR (SEQ ID NO: 34), KESIKVIIRGMMVRMKK (SEQ ID NO: 35), RRDCRRVMVRGIDIKAK (SEQ ID NO: 36), KRTAIKKVSRRGMSVKARR (SEQ ID NO: 37) and RHCIRRVSMRGIIMRRCK (SEQ ID NO: 38).


[0063] In another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated longer cationic peptide having an amino acid sequence of the general formula (Formula F): KX1KX2FX2KMLMX2ALKKX3 (SEQ ID NO: 39), wherein X1 is a polar amino acid (C, S, T, M, N and Q); X2 is one of A, L, S or K and X3 is 1-17 amino acids chosen from G, A, V, L, I, P, F, S, T, K and H. Examples of the peptides of the invention include, but are not limited to: KCKLFKKMLMLALKKVLTTGLPALKLTK (SEQ ID NO: 40), KSKSFLKMLMKALKKVLTTGLPALIS (SEQ ID NO: 41), KTKKFAKMLMMALKKVVSTAKPLAILS (SEQ ID NO: 42), KMKSFAKMLMLALKKVLKVLTTALTLKAGLPS (SEQ ID NO: 43), KNKAFAKMLMKALKKVTTAAKPLTG (SEQ ID NO: 44) and KQKLFAKMLMSALKKKTLVTTPLAGK (SEQ ID NO: 45).


[0064] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated longer cationic peptide having an amino acid sequence of the general formula (Formula G): KWKX2X1X1X2X2X1X2X2X1X1X2X2IFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 46), wherein X1 is a hydrophobic amino acid and X2 is a hydrophilic amino acid. Examples of the peptides of the invention include, but are not limited to: KWKSFLRTFKSPVRTIFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 47), KWKSYAHTIMSPVRLIFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 48), KWKRGAHRFMKFLSTIFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 49), KWKKWAHSPRKVLTRIFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 50), KWKSLVMMFKKPARRIFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 51) and KWKHALMKAHMLWHMIFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 52).


[0065] In still another embodiment, the invention provides an isolated cationic peptide having an amino acid sequence of the formula: KWKSFLRTFKSPVRTVFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 53) or KWKSYAHTIMSPVRLVFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 54).


[0066] The term “isolated” as used herein refers to a peptide that is substantially free of other proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids (e.g., cellular components with which an in vivo-produced peptide would naturally be associated). Preferably, the peptide is at least 70%, 80%, or most preferably 90% pure by weight.


[0067] The invention also includes analogs, derivatives, conservative variations, and cationic peptide variants of the enumerated polypeptides, provided that the analog, derivative, conservative variation, or variant has a detectable activity in which it enhances innate immunity or has anti-inflammatory activity. It is not necessary that the analog, derivative, variation, or variant have activity identical to the activity of the peptide from which the analog, derivative, conservative variation, or variant is derived.


[0068] A cationic peptide “variant” is an peptide that is an altered form of a referenced cationic peptide. For example, the term “variant” includes a cationic peptide in which at least one amino acid of a reference peptide is substituted in an expression library. The term “reference” peptide means any of the cationic peptides of the invention (e.g., as defined in the above formulas), from which a variant, derivative, analog, or conservative variation is derived. Included within the term “derivative” is a hybrid peptide that includes at least a portion of each of two cationic peptides (e.g., 30-80% of each of two cationic peptides). Also included are peptides in which one or more amino acids are deleted from the sequence of a peptide enumerated herein, provided that the derivative has activity in which it enhances innate immunity or has anti-inflammatory activity. This can lead to the development of a smaller active molecule which would also have utility. For example, amino or carboxy terminal amino acids which may not be required for enhancing innate immunity or anti-inflammatory activity of a peptide can be removed. Likewise, additional derivatives can be produced by adding one or a few (e.g., less than 5) amino acids to a cationic peptide without completely inhibiting the activity of the peptide. In addition, C-terminal derivatives, e.g., C-terminal methyl esters, and N-terminal derivatives can be produced and are encompassed by the invention. Peptides of the invention include any analog, homolog, mutant, isomer or derivative of the peptides disclosed in the present invention, so long as the bioactivity as described herein remains. Also included is the reverse sequence of a peptide encompassed by the general formulas set forth above. Additionally, an amino acid of “D” configuration may be substituted with an amino acid of “L” configuration and vice versa. Alternatively the peptide may be cyclized chemically or by the addition of two or more cysteine residues within the sequence and oxidation to form disulphide bonds.


[0069] The invention also includes peptides that are conservative variations of those peptides exemplified herein. The term “conservative variation” as used herein denotes a polypeptide in which at least one amino acid is replaced by another, biologically similar residue. Examples of conservative variations include the substitution of one hydrophobic residue, such as isoleucine, valine, leucine, alanine, cysteine, glycine, phenylalanine, proline, tryptophan, tyrosine, norleucine or methionine for another, or the substitution of one polar residue for another, such as the substitution of arginine for lysine, glutamic for aspartic acid, or glutamine for asparagine, and the like. Neutral hydrophilic amino acids that can be substituted for one another include asparagine, glutamine, serine and threonine. The term “conservative variation” also encompasses a peptide having a substituted amino acid in place of an unsubstituted parent amino acid. Such substituted amino acids may include amino acids that have been methylated or amidated. Other substitutions will be known to those of skill in the art. In one aspect, antibodies raised to a substituted polypeptide will also specifically bind the unsubstituted polypeptide.


[0070] Peptides of the invention can be synthesized by commonly used methods such as those that include t-BOC or FMOC protection of alpha-amino groups. Both methods involve stepwise synthesis in which a single amino acid is added at each step starting from the C-terminus of the peptide (See, Coligan, et al., Current Protocols in Immunology, Wiley Interscience, 1991, Unit 9). Peptides of the invention can also be synthesized by the well known solid phase peptide synthesis methods such as those described by Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 85:2149, 1962) and Stewart and Young, Solid Phase Peptides Synthesis, Freeman, San Francisco, 1969, pp.27-62) using a copoly(styrene-divinylbenzene) containing 0.1-1.0 mMol amines/g polymer. On completion of chemical synthesis, the peptides can be deprotected and cleaved from the polymer by treatment with liquid HF-10% anisole for about ¼-1 hours at 0° C. After evaporation of the reagents, the peptides are extracted from the polymer with a 1% acetic acid solution, which is then lyophilized to yield the crude material. The peptides can be purified by such techniques as gel filtration on Sephadex G-15 using 5% acetic acid as a solvent. Lyophilization of appropriate fractions of the column eluate yield homogeneous peptide, which can then be characterized by standard techniques such as amino acid analysis, thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, molar rotation, or measuring solubility. If desired, the peptides can be quantitated by the solid phase Edman degradation.


[0071] The invention also includes isolated nucleic acids (e.g., DNA, cDNA, or RNA) encoding the peptides of the invention. Included are nucleic acids that encode analogs, mutants, conservative variations, and variants of the peptides described herein. The term “isolated” as used herein refers to a nucleic acid that is substantially free of proteins, lipids, and other nucleic acids with which an in vivo-produced nucleic acids naturally associated. Preferably, the nucleic acid is at least 70%, 80%, or preferably 90% pure by weight, and conventional methods for synthesizing nucleic acids in vitro can be used in lieu of in vivo methods. As used,herein, “nucleic acid” refers to a polymer of deoxyribo-nucleotides or ribonucleotides, in the form of a separate fragment or as a component of a larger genetic construct (e.g., by operably linking a promoter to a nucleic acid encoding a peptide of the invention). Numerous genetic constructs (e.g., plasmids and other expression vectors) are known in the art and can be used to produce the peptides of the invention in cell-free systems or prokaryotic or eukaryotic (e.g., yeast, insect, or mammalian) cells. By taking into account the degeneracy of the genetic code, one of ordinary skill in the art can readily synthesize nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the invention. The nucleic acids of the invention can readily be used in conventional molecular biology methods to produce the peptides of the invention.


[0072] DNA encoding the cationic peptides of the invention can be inserted into an “expression vector.” The term “expression vector” refers to a genetic construct such as a plasmid, virus or other vehicle known in the art that can be engineered to contain a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide of the invention. Such expression vectors are preferably plasmids that contain a promoter sequence that facilitates transcription of the inserted genetic sequence in a host cell. The expression vector typically contains an origin of replication, and a promoter, as well as polynucleotides that allow phenotypic selection of the transformed cells (e.g., an antibiotic resistance polynucleotide). Various promoters, including inducible and constitutive promoters, can be utilized in the invention. Typically, the expression vector contains a replicon site and control sequences that are derived from a species compatible with the host cell.


[0073] Transformation or transfection of a recipient with a nucleic acid of the invention can be carried out using conventional techniques well known to those skilled in the art. For example, where the host cell is E. coli, competent cells that are capable of DNA uptake can be prepared using the CaCl2, MgCl2 or RbCl methods known in the art. Alternatively, physical means, such as electroporation or microinjection can be used. Electroporation allows transfer of a nucleic acid into a cell by high voltage electric impulse. Additionally, nucleic acids can be introduced into host cells by protoplast fusion, using methods well known in the art. Suitable methods for transforming eukaryotic cells, such as electroporation and lipofection, also are known.


[0074] “Host cells” or “Recipient cells” encompassed by of the invention are any cells in which the nucleic acids of the invention can be used to express the polypeptides of the invention. The term also includes any progeny of a recipient or host cell. Preferred recipient or host cells of the invention include E. coli, S. aureuis and P. aeruginosa, although other Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial, fungal and mammalian cells and organisms known in the art can be utilized as long as the expression vectors contain an origin of replication to permit expression in the host.


[0075] The cationic peptide polynucleotide sequence used according to the method of the invention can be isolated from an organism or synthesized in the laboratory. Specific DNA sequences encoding the cationic peptide of interest can be obtained by: 1) isolation of a double-stranded DNA sequence from the genomic DNA; 2) chemical manufacture of a DNA sequence to provide the necessary codons for the cationic peptide of interest; and 3) in vitro synthesis of a double-stranded DNA sequence by reverse transcription of mRNA isolated from a donor cell. In the latter case, a double-stranded DNA complement of MRNA is eventually formed which is generally referred to as cDNA.


[0076] The synthesis of DNA sequences is frequently the method of choice when the entire sequence of amino acid residues of the desired peptide product is known. In the present invention, the synthesis of a DNA sequence has the advantage of allowing the incorporation of codons which are more likely to be recognized by a bacterial host, thereby permitting high level expression without difficulties in translation. In addition, virtually any peptide can be synthesized, including those encoding natural cationic peptides, variants of the same, or synthetic peptides.


[0077] When the entire sequence of the desired peptide is not known, the direct synthesis of DNA sequences is not possible and the method of choice is the formation of cDNA sequences. Among the standard procedures for isolating cDNA sequences of interest is the formation of plasmid or phage containing cDNA libraries which are derived from reverse transcription of MRNA which is abundant in donor cells that have a high level of genetic expression. When used in combination with polymerase chain reaction technology, even rare expression products can be cloned. In those cases where significant portions of the amino acid sequence of the cationic peptide are known, the production of labeled single or double-stranded DNA or RNA probe sequences duplicating a sequence putatively present in the target cDNA may be employed in DNA/DNA hybridization procedures which are carried out on cloned copies of the cDNA which have been denatured into a single stranded form (Jay, et al., Nuc. Acid Res., 11:2325, 1983).


[0078] The peptide of the invention can be administered parenterally by injection or by gradual infusion over time. The peptide can be administered intravenously, intraperitoneally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intracavity, or transdermally. Preferred methods for delivery of the peptide include orally, by encapsulation in microspheres or proteinoids, by aerosol delivery to the lungs, or transdermally by iontophoresis or transdermal electroporation. Other methods of administration will be known to those skilled in the art.


[0079] Preparations for parenteral administration of a peptide of the invention include sterile aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, suspensions, and emulsions. Examples of non-aqueous solvents are propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. Aqueous carriers include water, alcoholic/aqueous solutions, emulsions or suspensions, including saline and buffered media Parenteral vehicles include sodium chloride solution, Ringer's dextrose, dextrose and sodium chloride, lactated Ringer's, or fixed oils. Intravenous vehicles include fluid and nutrient replenishers, electrolyte replenishers (such as those based on Ringer's dextrose), and the like. Preservatives and other additives may also be present such as, for example, antimicrobials, anti-oxidants, chelating agents, and inert gases and the like.


[0080] The invention will now be described in greater detail by reference to the following non-limiting examples. While the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that modifications and variations are within the spirit and scope of that which is described and claimed.







EXAMPLE 1

[0081] Anti-Sepsis/Anti-Inflammatory Activity


[0082] Polynucleotide arrays were utilized to determine the effect of cationic peptides on the transcriptional response of epithelial cells. The A549 human epithelial cell line was maintained in DMEM (Gibco) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS, Medicorp). The A549 cells were plated in 100 mm tissue culture dishes at 2.5×106 cells/dish, cultured overnight and then incubated with 100 ng/ml E. coli O111:B4 LPS (Sigma), without (control) or with 50 μg/ml peptide or medium alone for 4 h. After stimulation, the cells were washed once with diethyl pyrocarbonate-treated phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and detached from the dish using a cell scraper. Total RNA was isolated using RNAqueous (Ambion, Austin, Tex.). The RNA pellet was resuspended in RNase-free water containing Superase-In (RNase inhibitor; Ambion). DNA contamination was removed with DNA-free kit, Ambion). The quality of the RNA was assessed by gel electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel.


[0083] The polynucleotide arrays used were the Human Operon arrays (identification number for the genome is PRHU04-S1), which consist of about 14,000 human oligos spotted in duplicate. Probes were prepared from 10 μg of total RNA and labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 labeled dUTP. The probes were purified and hybridized to printed glass slides overnight at 42° C. and washed. After washing, the image was captured using a Perkin Elmer array scanner. The image processing software (Imapolynucleotide 5.0, Marina Del Rey, Calif.) determines the spot mean intensity, median intensities, and background intensities. A “homemade” program was used to remove background. The program calculates the bottom 10% intensity for each subgiid and subtracts this for each grid. Analysis was performed with Genespring software (Redwood City, Calif.). The intensities for each spot were normalized by taking the median spot intensity value from the population of spot values within a slide and comparing this value to the values of all slides in the experiment. The relative changes seen with cells treated with peptide compared to control cells can be found in Tables 1 and 2. These tables 2 reflect only those polynucleotides that demonstrated significant changes in expression of the 14,000 polynucleotides that were tested for altered expression. The data indicate that the peptides have a widespread ability to reduce the expression of polynucleotides that were induced by LPS.


[0084] In Table 1, the peptide, SEQ ID NO: 27 is shown to potently reduce the expression of many of the polynucleotides up-regulated by E. coli O111:B4 LPS as studied by polynucleotide microarrays. Peptide (50 μg/ml) and LPS (0.1 μg/ml) or LPS alone was incubated with the A549 cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated. Five μg total RNA was used to make Cy3/Cy5 labeled cDNA probes and hybridized onto Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of unstimulated cells is shown in the third column of Table 1. The “Ratio: LPS/control” column refers to the intensity of polynucleotide expression in LPS simulated cells divided by in the intensity of unstimulated cells. The “Ratio: LPS+ID 27/control” column refers to the intensity of polynucleotide expression in cells stimulated with LPS and peptide divided by unstimulated cells.
2TABLE 1Reduction, by peptide SEQ ID 27, of A549 human epithelial cellpolynucleotide expression up-regulated by E. coli O111: B4 LPSControl:PolynucleotideMedia onlyRatio:Ratio: LPS + IDAccession NumberaGene FunctionIntensityLPS/control27/controlAL031983Unknown0.032302.85.1L04510ADP-0.655213.61.4ribosylationfactorD87451ring finger3.896183.72.1protein 10AK000869hypothetical0.138120.12.3proteinU78166Ric-like0.05191.70.2expressed inneuronsAJ001403mucin 50.20353.415.9subtype BtracheobronchialAB040057serine/threonine0.9544.315.8proteinkinase MASKZ99756Unknown0.14135.914.0L42243interferon0.16327.65.2receptor 2NM_016216RNA lariat6.15122.310.9debranchingenzymeAK001589hypothetical0.64619.21.3proteinAL137376Unknown1.88117.30.6AB007856FEM-1-like2.62715.70.6death receptorbinding proteinAB007854growth arrest-0.84514.82.2specific 7AK000353cytosolic0.45313.51.0ovariancarcinomaantigen 1D14539myeloid/lymphoid2.03311.63.1or mixed-lineageleukemiatranslocated to 1X76785integration site0.72811.61.9for Epstein-BarrvirusM54915pim-11.40411.40.6oncogeneNM_006092caspase0.36911.00.5recruitmentdomain 4J03925integrin_alpha M0.2729.94.2NM_001663ADP-0.4399.71.7ribosylationfactor 6M23379RAS p210.5679.32.8proteinactivatorK02581thymidine3.0998.63.5kinase 1solubleU94831transmembrane3.2657.11.59 superfamilymember 1X70394zinc finger1.4636.91.7protein 146AL137614hypothetical0.7056.81.0proteinU43083guanine0.8416.61.6nucleotidebinding proteinAL137648DKFZp434J1811.2766.50.83 proteinAF085692ATP-binding3.1756.52.4cassette sub-family C(CFTR/MRP)member 3AK001239hypothetical2.2046.41.3proteinFLJ10377NM_001679ATPase2.4026.30.9Na+/K+transportingbeta 3polypeptideL24804unactive3.4036.11.1progesteronereceptorU15932dual specificity0.8546.12.1phosphatase 5M36067ligase I DNA1.3546.12.2ATP-dependentAL161951Unknown0.7285.81.9M59820colony0.385.72.0stimulatingfactor 3receptorAL050290spermidine/2.7245.61.4spermine N1-acetyltransferaseNM_002291laminin_beta 11.2785.61.8X06614retinoic acid1.9245.50.8receptor_alphaAB007896putative L-type0.945.31.8neutral aminoacid transporterAL050333DKFZP564B111.2725.30.66 proteinAK001093hypothetical1.7295.32.0proteinNM_016406hypothetical1.3145.21.2proteinM86546pre-B-cell1.1135.22.2leukemiatranscriptionfactor 1X56777zona pellucida1.4145.01.4glycoprotein 3ANM_013400replication1.2414.92.0initiation regionproteinNM_002309leukemia1.2864.81.9inhibitory factorNM_001940dentatorubral-2.0344.71.2pallidoluysianatrophyU91316cytosolic acyl2.0434.71.4coenzyme AthioesterhydrolaseX76104death-1.1184.61.8associatedprotein kinase 1AF131838Unknown1.8794.61.4AL050348Unknown8.5024.41.7D42085KIAA0095 gene1.3234.41.2productX92896Unknown1.6754.31.5U26648syntaxin 5A1.594.31.4X85750monocyte to1.014.31.1macrophagedifferentiation-associatedD14043CD1641.6834.21.0antigensialomucinJ04513fibroblast1.2814.00.9growth factor 2U19796melanoma-1.6184.00.6associatedantigenAK000087hypothetical1.4593.91.0proteinAK001569hypothetical1.5083.91.2proteinAF189009ubiquilin 21.4483.81.3U60205sterol-C4-1.5693.70.8methyl oxidase-likeAK000562hypothetical1.1663.70.6proteinAL096739Unknown3.663.70.5AK000366hypothetical15.1923.51.0proteinNM_006325RAN member1.2423.51.4RAS oncogenefamilyX51688cyclin A21.7723.31.0U34252aldehyde1.2643.31.2dehydrogenase 9NM_013241FH1/FH21.2643.30.6domain-containingproteinAF112219esterase1.8393.31.1D/formylglutathionehydrolaseNM_016237anaphase-2.713.20.9promotingcomplexsubunit 5AB014569KIAA0669 gene2.7623.20.2productAF151047hypothetical3.0623.11.0proteinX92972protein2.6153.11.1phosphatase 6catalyticsubunitAF035309proteasome5.6283.11.326S subunitATPase 5U52960SRB7 homolog1.3913.10.8J04058electron-3.2653.11.2transfer-flavoproteinalphapolypeptideM57230interleukin 60.7933.11.0signaltransducerU78027galactosidase3.5193.11.1alphaAK000264Unknown2.5333.00.6X80692mitogen-2.4632.91.3activatedprotein kinase 6L25931lamin B2.1862.70.7receptorX13334CD14 antigen0.3932.51.1M32315tumor necrosis0.6392.40.4factor receptorsuperfamilymember 1BNM_004862LPS-induced6.0772.31.1TNF-alphafactorAL050337interferon2.0642.11.0gammareceptor 1aAll Accession Numbers in Table 1 through Table 64 refer to GenBank Accession Numbers.


[0085] In Table 2, the cationic peptides at a concentration of 50 μg/ml were shown to potently reduce the expression of many of the polynucleotides up-regulated by 100 ng/ml E. coli O111:B4 LPS as studied by polynucleotide microarrays. Peptide and LPS or LPS alone was incubated with the A549 cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated. 5 μg total RNA was used to make Cy3/Cy5 labeled CDNA probes and hybridized onto Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of unstimulated cells is shown in the third column of Table 2. The “Ratio: LPS/control” column refers to the intensity of polynucleotide expression in LPS-simulated cells divided by in the intensity of unstimulated cells. The other columns refer to the intensity of polynucleotide expression in cells stimulated with LPS and peptide divided by unstimulated cells.
3TABLE 2Human A549 Epithelial Cell Polynucleotide Expression up-regulatedby E.coli O111:B4 LPS and reduced by Cationic PeptidesControl:Ratio:Ratio:Ratio:AccessionMedia onlyRatio:LPS + ID 27/LPS + ID 16/LPS + ID 22/NumberGeneIntensityLPS/controlcontrolcontrolcontrolAL031983Unknown0.03302.85.066.910.31L04510ADP-0.66213.61.42.443.79ribosylationfactorD87451ring finger3.90183.72.13.684.28proteinAK000869hypothetical0.14120.12.342.572.58proteinU78166Ric like0.0591.70.2016.8821.37X03066MHC class II0.0636.54.9012.130.98DO betaAK001904hypothetical0.0332.85.930.370.37proteinAB037722Unknown0.0321.40.300.302.36AK001589hypothetical0.6519.21.260.020.43proteinAL137376Unknown1.8817.30.641.301.35L19185thioredoxin-0.0616.30.182.150.18dependent peroxidereductase 1J05068transcobalamin I0.0415.91.784.340.83AB007856FEM-1-like2.6315.70.623.380.96death receptorbinding proteinAK000353cytosolic0.4513.51.021.732.33ovariancarcinoma ag 1X16940smooth muscle0.2111.83.240.052.26enteric actin γ2M54915pim-1 oncogene1.4011.40.631.251.83AL122111hypothetical0.3710.90.211.350.03proteinM95678phospholipase0.227.22.380.051.33C beta 2AK001239hypothetical2.206.41.271.892.25proteinAC004849Unknown0.146.30.072.700.07X06614retinoic acid1.925.50.771.431.03receptor_alphaAB007896putative L-type0.945.31.822.152.41neutral aminoacid transporterAB010894BAI1-associated0.695.01.381.031.80proteinU52522partner of RAC11.982.91.350.481.38AK001440hypothetical1.022.70.431.200.01proteinNM_001148ankyrin 20.262.50.820.040.66neuronalX07173inter-alpha0.332.20.440.030.51inhibitor H2AF095687brain and0.392.10.480.030.98nasopharyngealcarcinomasusceptibilityproteinNM_016382NKcell0.272.10.810.590.04activationinducing ligandNAILAB023198KIAA09810.392.00.430.810.92protein



EXAMPLE 2

[0086] Neutralization of the Stimulation of Immune Cells


[0087] The ability of compounds to neutralize the stimulation of immune cells by both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial products was tested. Bacterial products stimulate cells of the immune system to produce inflammatory cytokines and when unchecked this can lead to sepsis. Initial experiments utilized the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7, which was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection, (Manassas, Va.), the human epithelial cell line, A549, and primary macrophages derived from the bone marrow of BALB/c mice (Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, Mass.). The cells from mouse bone marrow were cultured in 150 -mm plates in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM; Life Technologies, Burlington, ON) supplemented with 20% FBS (Sigma Chemical Co, St. Louis, Mo.) and 20% L cell-conditioned medium as a source of M-CSF. Once macrophages were 60-80% confluent, they were deprived of L cell-conditioned medium for 14-16 h to render the cells quiescent and then were subjected to treatments with 100 ng/ml LPS or 100 ng/ml LPS+20 μg/ml peptide for 24 hours. The release of cytokines into the culture supernatant was determined by ELISA (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.). The cell lines, RAW 264.7 and A549, were maintained in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. RAW 264.7 cells were seeded in 24 well plates at a density of 106 cells per well in DMEM and A549 cells were seeded in 24 well plates at a density of 105 cells per well in DMEM and both were incubated at 37° C. in 5% CO2 overnight. DMEM was aspirated from cells grown overnight and replaced with fresh medium. In some experiments, blood from volunteer human donors was collected (according to procedures accepted by UBC Clinical Research Ethics Board, certificate C00-0537) by venipuncture into tubes (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, N.J.) containing 14.3 USP units heparin/mI blood. The blood was mixed with LPS with or without peptide in polypropylene tubes at 37° C. for 6 h. The samples were centrifuged for 5 min at 2000×g, the plasma was collected and then stored at −20° C. until being analyzed for IL-8 by ELISA (R&D Systems). In the experiments with cells, LPS or other bacterial products were incubated with the cells for 6-24 hr at 37° C. in 5% CO2. S. typhimurium LPS and E. coli 0111:B4 LPS were purchased from Sigma. Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from S. aureus (Sigma) was resuspended in endotoxin free water (Sigma). The Limulus amoebocyte lysate assay (Sigma) was performed on LTA preparations to confirm that lots were not significantly contaminated by endotoxin. Endotoxin contamination was less than 1 ng/ml, a concentration that did not cause significant cytokine production in the RAW 264.7 cells. Non-capped lipoarabinomannan (AraLAM) was a gift from Dr. John T. Belisle of Colorado State University. The AraLAM from Mycobacterium was filter sterilized and the endotoxin contamination was found to be 3.75 ng per 1.0 mg of LAM as determined by Limulus Amebocyte assay. At the same time as LPS addition (or later where specifically described), cationic peptides were added at a range of concentrations. The supernatants were removed and tested for cytokine production by ELISA (R&D Systems). All assays were performed at least three times with similar results. To confirm the anti-sepsis activity in vivo, sepsis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 2 or 3 μg of E. coli O111:B4 LPS in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.2) into galactosamine-sensitized 8- to 10- week-old female CD-1 or BALB/c mice. In experiments involving peptides, 200 μg in 100μl of sterile water was injected at separate intraperitoneal sites within 10 min of LPS injection. In other experiments, CD-1 mice were injected with 400 μg E. coli O111:B4 LPS and 10 min later peptide (200 μg) was introduced by intraperitoneal injection. Survival was monitored for 48 hours post injection.


[0088] Hyperproduction of TNF-α has been classically linked to development of sepsis. The three types of LPS, LTA or AraLAM used in this example represented products released by both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1, was able to significantly reduce TNF-α production stimulated by S. typhimurium, B. cepacia, and E. coli O111:B4 LPS, with the former being affected to a somewhat lesser extent (Table 3). At concentrations as low as 1 μg/ml of peptide (0.25 nM) substantial reduction of TNF-α production was observed in the latter two cases. A different peptide, SEQ ID NO: 3 did not reduce LPS-induced production of TNF-α in RAW macrophage cells, demonstrating that this is not a uniform and predictable property of cationic peptides. Representative peptides from each Formula were also tested for their ability to affect TNF-α production stimulated by E. coli O111:B4 LPS (Table 4). The peptides had a varied ability to reduce TNF-α production although many of them lowered TNF-α by at least 60%.


[0089] At certain concentrations peptides SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, could also reduce the ability of bacterial products to stimulate the production of IL-8 by an epithelial cell line. LPS is a known potent stimulus of IL-8 production by epithelial cells. Peptides, at low concentrations (1-20 μg/ml), neutralized the IL-8 induction responses of epithelial cells to LPS (Table 5-7). Peptide SEQ ID 2 also inhibited LPS-induced production of IL-8 in whole human blood (Table 4). Conversely, high concentrations of peptide SEQ ID NO: 1 (50 to 100 μg/ml) actually resulted in increased levels of IL-8 (Table 5). This suggests that the peptides have different effects at different concentrations.


[0090] The effect of peptides on inflammatory stimuli was also demonstrated in primary murine cells, in that peptide SEQ ID NO: 1 significantly reduced TNF-α production (>90%) by bone marrow-derived macrophages from BALB/c mice that had been stimulated with 100 ng/ml E. coli 0111:B4 LPS (Table 8). These experiments were performed in the presence of serum, which contains LPS-binding protein (LBP), a protein that can mediate the rapid binding of LPS to CD14. Delayed addition of SEQ ID NO: 1 to the supernatants of macrophages one hour after stimulation with 100 ng/ml E. coli LPS still resulted in substantial reduction (70%) of TNF-α production (Table 9).


[0091] Consistent with the ability of SEQ ID NO: 1 to prevent LPS-induced production of TNF-α in vitro, certain peptides also protected mice against lethal shock induced by high concentrations of LPS. In some experiments, CD-1 mice were sensitized to LPS with a prior injection of galactosamine. Galactosainine-sensitized mice that were injected with 3 μg of E. coli 0111:B4 LPS were all killed within 4-6 hours. When 200 μg of SEQ ID NO: 1 was injected 15 min after the LPS, 50% of the mice survived (Table 10). In other experiments when a higher concentration of LPS was injected into BALB/c mice with no D-galactosamine, peptide protected 100% compared to the control group in which there was no survival (Table 13). Selected other peptides were also found to be protective in these models (Tables 11,12).


[0092] Cationic peptides were also able to lower the stimulation of macrophages by Gram-positive bacterial products such as Mycobacterium non-capped lipoarabinomannan (AraLAM) and S. aureus LTA. For example, SEQ ID NO: 1 inhibited induction of TNF-α in RAW 264.7 cells by the Gram-positive bacterial products, LTA (Table 14) and to a lesser extent AraLAM (Table 15). Another peptide, SEQ ID NO: 2, was also found to reduce LTA-induced TNF-α production by RAW 264.7 cells. At a concentration of 1 μg/ml SEQ ID NO: 1 was able to substantially reduce (>75%) the induction of TNF-α production by 1 μg/ml S. aureus LTA. At 20 μg/ml SEQ ID NO: 1, there was >60% inhibition of AraLAM induced TNF-α. Polymyxin B (PMB) was included as a control to demonstrate that contaminating endotoxin was not a significant factor in the inhibition by SEQ ID NO: 1 of AraLAM induced TNF-α. These results demonstrate that cationic peptides can reduce the pro-inflammatory cytokine response of the immune system to bacterial products.


[0093] Table 3: Reduction by SEQ ID 1 of LPS Induced TNF-α Production in RAW 264.7 Cells.


[0094] RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells were stimulated with 100 ng/ml S. typhimurium LPS, 100 ng/ml B. cepacia LPS and 100 ng/ml E. coli 0111:B4 LPS in the presence of the indicated concentrations of SEQ ID 1 for 6 hr. The concentrations of TNF-α released into the culture supernatants were determined by ELISA. 100% represents the amount of TNF-α resulting from RAW 264.7 cells incubated with LPS alone for 6 hours (S. typhimurium LPS=34.5±3.2 ng/ml, B. cepacia LPS=11.6±2.9 ng/ml, and E. coli 0111:B4 LPS =30.8±2.4 ng/ml). Background levels of TNF-α production by the RAW 264.7 cells cultured with no stimuli for 6 hours resulted in TNF-α levels ranging from 0.037-0.192 ng/ml. The data is from duplicate samples and presented as the mean of three experiments+standard error.
4Amount of SEQ IDInhibition of TNF-α (%)*1 (μg/ml)B. cepacia LPSE. coli LPSS. typhimurium LPS0.1 8.5 ± 2.9 0.0 ± 0.60.0 ± 0 1 23.0 ± 11.436.6 ± 7.5 9.8 ± 6.6555.4 ± 8  65.0 ± 3.631.1 ± 7.01063.1 ± 8  75.0 ± 3.437.4 ± 7.52071.7 ± 5.881.0 ± 3.5 58.5 ± 10.55086.7 ± 4.392.6 ± 2.573.1 ± 9.1


[0095] Table 4: Reduction by Cationic Peptides of E. coli LPS Induced TNF-α Production in RAW 264.7 Cells.


[0096] RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells were stimulated with 100 ng/ml E. coli 0111:B4 LPS in the presence of the indicated concentrations of cationic peptides for 6 h. The concentrations of TNF-α released into the culture supernatants were determined by ELISA. Background levels of TNF-α production by the RAW 264.7 cells cultured with no stimuli for 6 hours resulted in TNF-α levels ranging from 0.037-0.192 ng/ml. The data is from duplicate samples and presented as the mean of three experiments+standard deviation.
5Peptide (20 μg/ml)Inhibition of TNF-α (%)SEQ ID 565.6 ± 1.6 SEQ ID 659.8 ± 1.2 SEQ ID 750.6 ± 0.6 SEQ ID 839.3 ± 1.9 SEQ ID 958.7 ± 0.8 SEQ ID 1055.5 ± 0.52SEQ ID 1252.1 ± 0.38SEQ ID 1362.4 ± 0.85SEQ ID 1450.8 ± 1.67SEQ ID 1569.4 ± 0.84SEQ ID 1637.5 ± 0.66SEQ ID 1728.3 ± 3.71SEQ ID 1969.9 ± 0.09SEQ ID 2066.1 ± 0.78SEQ ID 2167.8 ± 0.6 SEQ ID 2273.3 ± 0.36SEQ ID 2383.6 ± 0.32SEQ ID 2460.5 ± 0.17SEQ ID 2654.9 ± 1.6 SEQ ID 2751.1 ± 2.8 SEQ ID 28 56 ± 1.1SEQ ID 29 58.9 ± 0.005SEQ ID 3160.3 ± 0.6 SEQ ID 3362.1 ± 0.08SEQ ID 3453.3 ± 0.9 SEQ ID 3560.7 ± 0.76SEQ ID 36  63 ± 0.24SEQ ID 3758.9 ± 0.67SEQ ID 3854 ± 1 SEQ ID 40  75 ± 0.45SEQ ID 41  86 ± 0.37SEQ ID 4280.5 ± 0.76SEQ ID 4388.2 ± 0.65SEQ ID 4444.9 ± 1.5 SEQ ID 4544.7 ± 0.39SEQ ID 4736.9 ± 2.2 SEQ ID 48  64 ± 0.67SEQ ID 4986.9 ± 0.69SEQ ID 5346.5 ± 1.3 SEQ ID 54  64 ± 0.73


[0097]

6





TABLE 5










Reduction by SEQ ID 1 of LPS induced IL-8 production in A549


cells. A549 cells were stimulated with increasing concentrations


of SEQ ID 1 in the presence of LPS (100 ng/ml E. coli O111: B4)


for 24 hours. The concentration of IL-8 in the culture supernatants


was determined by ELISA. The background levels of IL-8 from


cells alone was 0.172 ± 0.029 ng/ml. The data is presented


as the mean of three experiments + standard error.










SEQ ID 1 (μg/ml)
Inhibition of IL-8 (%)














0.1
  1 ± 0.3



1
32 ± 10



10
60 ± 9 



20
47 ± 12



50
40 ± 13



100
0











[0098]

7





TABLE 6










Reduction by SEQ ID 2 of E. coli LPS induced IL-8 production in


A549 cells. Human A549 epithelial cells were stimulated with


increasing concentrations of SEQ ID 2 in the presence of LPS


(100 ng/ml E. coli O111: B4) for 24 hours. The


concentration of IL-8 in the culture supernatants was determined


by ELISA. The data is presented as the mean of three


experiments + standard error.










Concentration of SEQ ID 2 (μg/ml)
Inhibition of IL-8 (%)














0.1
6.8 ± 9.6



1
12.8 ± 24.5



10
29.0 ± 26.0



50
39.8 ± 1.6 



100
45.0 ± 3.5 











[0099]

8





TABLE 7










Reduction by SEQ ID 2 of E. coli LPS induced IL-8 in human


blood. Whole human blood was stimulated with increasing


concentrations of peptide and E. coli O111: B4 LPS for 4 hr.


The human blood samples were centrifuged and the


serum was removed and tested for IL-8 by ELISA. The data


is presented as the average of 2 donors.










SEQ ID 2 (μg/ml)
IL-8 (pg/ml)














0
3205



10
1912



50
1458











[0100]

9





TABLE 8










Reduction by SEQ ID 1 of E. coli LPS induced TNF-α


production in murine bone marrow macrophages. BALB/c Mouse


bone marrow-derived macrophages were cultured for either 6 h


or 24 h with 100 ng/ml E. coli 0111: B4 LPS in the presence


or absence of 20 μg/ml of peptide. The supernatant was collected


and tested for levels of TNF-α by ELISA. The data represents the


amount of TNF-α resulting from duplicate wells of bone marrow-


derived macrophages incubated with LPS alone for 6 h (1.1 ± 0 0.09


ng/ml) or 24 h (1.7 ± 0.2 ng/ml). Background levels of TNF-α


were 0.038 ± 0.008 ng/ml for 6 h and 0.06 ± 0.012 ng/ml for 24 h.










Production of TNF-α (ng/ml)










SEQ ID 1 (μg/ml)
6 hours
24 hours












LPS alone
1.1
1.7


 1
0.02
0.048


 10
0.036
0.08


100
0.033
0.044


No LPS control
0.038
0.06










[0101]

10





TABLE 9










Inhibition of E. coli LPS-induced TNF-α production by delayed


addition of SEQ ID 1 to A549 cells. Peptide (20 μg/ml) was added


at increasing time points to wells already containing A549 human


epithelial cells and 100 ng/ml E. coli 0111: B4 LPS. The supernatant


was collected after 6 hours and tested for levels of TNF-α by ELISA.


The data is presented as the mean of three


experiments + standard error.










Time of addition of SEQ ID 1




after LPS (min)
Inhibition of TNF-α (%)














0
98.3 ± 0.3



15
89.3 ± 3.8



30
  83 ± 4.6



60
68 ± 8



90
53 ± 8











[0102]

11





TABLE 10










Protection against lethal endotoxaemia in galactosamine-


sensitized CD-1 mice by SEQ ID 1. CD-1 mice (9 weeks-old)


were sensitized to endotoxin by three intraperitoneal


injections of galactosamine (20 mg in 0.1 ml sterile PBS).


Then endotoxic shock was induced by intraperitoneal


injection of E. coli 0111: B4 LPS


(3 μg in 0.1 ml PBS). Peptide, SEQ ID 1,


(200 μg/mouse = 8 mg/kg) was injected at


a separate intraperitoneal site 15 min after injection of LPS.


The mice were monitored for 48 hours and the results were recorded.















Survival post


D-Galactosamine


E. coli


Peptide or

endotoxin


treatment
0111: B4 LPS
buffer
Total mice
shock














0
3 μg
PBS
5
5 (100%)


20 mg
3 μg
PBS
12
0 (0%)


20 mg
3 μg
SEQ ID 1
12
6 (50%)










[0103]

12





TABLE 11










Protection against lethal endotoxaemia in galactosamine-


sensitized CD-1 mice by Cationic Peptides. CD-1 mice (9 weeks-old)


were sensitized to endotoxin by intraperitoneal injection of


galactosamine (20 mg in 0.1 ml sterile PBS). Then endotoxic shock


was induced by intraperitoneal injection of E. coli 0111: B4


LPS (2 μg in 0.1 ml PBS). Peptide (200 μg/mouse = 8 mg/kg) was


injected at a separate intraperitoneal site 15 min after injection of LPS.


The mice were monitored for 48 hours and the results were recorded.













E. coli
0111: B4

Number



Peptide Treatment
LPS added
of Mice
Survival (%)













Control (no peptide)
2 μg
5
0


SEQ ID 6
2 μg
5
40


SEQ ID 13
2 μg
5
20


SEQ ID 17
2 μg
5
40


SEQ ID 24
2 μg
5
0


SEQ ID 27
2 μg
5
20










[0104]

13





TABLE 12










Protection against lethal endotoxaemia in galactosamine-sensitized


BALB/c mice by Cationic Peptides. BALB/c mice (8 weeks-old) were


sensitized to endotoxin by intraperitoneal injection of galactosamine


(20 mg in 0.1 ml sterile PBS). Then endotoxic shock was induced by


intraperitoneal injection of E. coli 0111:B4 LPS (2 μg in 0.1 ml PBS).


Peptide (200 μg/mouse = 8 mg/kg) was injected at a separate


intraperitoneal site 15 min after injection of LPS. The mice were


monitored for 48 hours and the results were recorded.













E. coli






Peptide Treatment
0111:B4 LPS added
Number of Mice
Survival (%)













No peptide
2 μg
10
10


SEQ ID 1
2 μg
6
17


SEQ ID 3
2 μg
6
0


SEQ ID 5
2 μg
6
17


SEQ ID 6
2 μg
6
17


SEQ ID 12
2 μg
6
17


SEQ ID 13
2 μg
6
33


SEQ ID 15
2 μg
6
0


SEQ ID 16
2 μg
6
0


SEQ ID 17
2 μg
6
17


SEQ ID 23
2 μg
6
0


SEQ ID 24
2 μg
6
17


SEQ ID 26
2 μg
6
0


SEQ ID 27
2 μg
6
50


SEQ ID 29
2 μg
6
0


SEQ ID 37
2 μg
6
0


SEQ ID 38
2 μg
6
0


SEQ ID 41
2 μg
6
0


SEQ ID 44
2 μg
6
0


SEQ ID 45
2 μg
6
0










[0105]

14





TABLE 13










Protection against lethal endotoxaemia in BALB/c mice by SEQ


ID 1. BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneal with 400 μg E. coli


0111:B4 LPS. Peptide (200 μg/mouse = 8 mg/kg) was injected at a


separate intraperitoneal site and the mice were monitored


for 48 hours and the results were recorded.













E. coli






Peptide Treatment
0111:B4 LPS
Number of Mice
Survival (%)













No peptide
400 μg
5
0


SEQ ID 1
400 μg
5
100










[0106]

15





TABLE 14










Peptide inhibition of TNF-α production induced by S. aureus


LTA. RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells were stimulated with 1


μg/ml S. aureus LTA in the absence and presence of increasing


concentrations of peptide. The supernatant was collected and tested for


levels of TNF-α by ELISA. Background levels of TNF-α production


by the RAW 264.7 cells cultured with no stimuli for 6 hours resulted in


TNF- α levels ranging from 0.037-0.192 ng/ml. The data is


presented as the mean of three or more experiments + standard error.










SEQ ID 1 added (μg/ml)
Inhibition of TNF-α (%)














0.1
 44.5 ± 12.5



1
76.7 ± 6.4



5
91 ± 1



10
94.5 ± 1.5



20
96 ± 1











[0107]

16





TABLE 15










Peptide inhibition of TNF-α production induced by


Mycobacterium non-capped lipoarabinomannan. RAW 264.7 mouse


macrophage cells were stimulated with 1 μg/ml AraLAM in the


absence and presence of 20 μg/ml peptide or Polymyxin B. The


supernatant was collected and tested for levels of TNF-α by


ELISA. Background levels of TNF-α production by the RAW 264.7


cells cultured with no stimuli for 6 hours resulted in TNF-α levels


ranging from 0.037-0.192 ng/ml. The data is presented as the mean


inhibition of three or more experiments + standard error.










Peptide (20 μg/ml)
Inhibition of TNF-α (%)







No peptide
0



SEQ ID 1
 64 ± 5.9



Polymyxin B
15 ± 2 












EXAMPLE 3


Assessment of Toxicity of the Cationic Peptides

[0108] The potential toxicity of the peptides was measured in two ways. First, the Cytotoxicity Detection Kit (Roche) (Lactate dehydrogenase -LDH) Assay was used. It is a calorimetric assay for the quantification of cell death and cell lysis, based on the measurement of LDH activity released from the cytosol of damaged cells into the supernatant. LDH is a stable cytoplasmic enzyme present in all cells and it is released into the cell culture supernatant upon damage of the plasma membrane. An increase in the amount of dead or plasma membrane-damaged cells results in an increase of the LDH enzyme activity in the culture supernatant as measured with an ELISA plate reader, OD490nm (the amount of color formed in the assay is proportional to the number of lysed cells). In this assay, human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBEo14, HBE) cells were incubated with 100 μg of peptide for 24 hours, the supernatant removed and tested for LDH. The other assay used to measure toxicity of the cationic peptides was the WST-1 assay (Roche). This assay is a calorimetric assay for the quantification of cell proliferation and cell viability, based on the cleavage of the tetrazolium salt WST-1 by mitochondrial dehydrogenases in viable cells (a non-radioactive alternative to the [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay). In this assay, HBE cells were incubated with 100 μg of peptide for 24 hours, and then 10 μl/well Cell Proliferation Reagent WST-1 was added. The cells are incubated with the reagent and the plate is then measured with an ELISA plate reader, OD490 nm.


[0109] The results shown below in Tables 16 and 17 demonstrate that most of the peptides are not toxic to the cells tested. However, four of the peptides from Formula F (SEQ ID NOS: 40, 41, 42 and 43) did induce membrane damage as measured by both assays.
17TABLE 16Toxicity of the Cationic Peptides as Measured by the LDHRelease Assay. Human HBE bronchial epithelial cells were incubatedwith 100 μg/ml peptide or Polymyxin B for 24 hours. LDH activitywas assayed in the supernatant of the cell cultures. As a control for100% LDH release, Triton X-100 was added. The data is presented asthe mean ± standard deviation. Only peptides SEQ ID 40, 41,42 and 43 showed any significant toxicity.TreatmentLDH Release (OD490 nm)No cells Control0.6 ± 0.1Triton X-100 Control4.6 ± 0.1No peptide control 1.0 ± 0.05SEQ ID 11.18 ± 0.05SEQ ID 31.05 ± 0.04SEQ ID 60.97 ± 0.02SEQ ID 71.01 ± 0.04SEQ ID 9 1.6 ± 0.03SEQ ID 101.04 ± 0.04SEQ ID 130.93 ± 0.06SEQ ID 140.99 ± 0.05SEQ ID 160.91 ± 0.04SEQ ID 170.94 ± 0.04SEQ ID 191.08 ± 0.02SEQ ID 201.05 ± 0.03SEQ ID 211.06 ± 0.04SEQ ID 221.29 ± 0.12SEQ ID 231.26 ± 0.46SEQ ID 241.05 ± 0.01SEQ ID 260.93 ± 0.04SEQ ID 270.91 ± 0.04SEQ ID 280.96 ± 0.06SEQ ID 290.99 ± 0.02SEQ ID 310.98 ± 0.03SEQ ID 331.03 ± 0.05SEQ ID 341.02 ± 0.03SEQ ID 350.88 ± 0.03SEQ ID 360.85 ± 0.04SEQ ID 370.96 ± 0.04SEQ ID 380.95 ± 0.02SEQ ID 402.8 ± 0.5SEQ ID 413.3 ± 0.2SEQ ID 423.4 ± 0.2SEQ ID 434.3 ± 0.2SEQ ID 440.97 ± 0.03SEQ ID 450.98 ± 0.04SEQ ID 471.05 ± 0.05SEQ ID 480.95 ± 0.05SEQ ID 531.03 ± 0.06Polymyxin B1.21 ± 0.03


[0110]

18





TABLE 17










Toxicity of the Cationic Peptides as Measured by the WST-1 Assay.


HBE cells were incubated with 100 μg/ml peptide or Polymyxin B for


24 hours and cell viability was tested. The data is presented as


the mean ± standard deviation. As a control for 100% LDH release,


Triton X-100 was added. Only peptides SEQ ID 40, 41, 42


and 43 showed any significant toxicity.










Treatment
OD490 nm







No cells Control
0.24 ± 0.01



Triton X-100 Control
0.26 ± 0.01



No peptide control
1.63 ± 0.16



SEQ ID 1
1.62 ± 0.34



SEQ ID 3
1.35 ± 0.12



SEQ ID 10
1.22 ± 0.05



SEQ ID 6
1.81 ± 0.05



SEQ ID 7
1.78 ± 0.10



SEQ ID 9
1.69 ± 0.29



SEQ ID 13
1.23 ± 0.11



SEQ ID 14
1.25 ± 0.02



SEQ ID 16
1.39 ± 0.26



SEQ ID 17
1.60 ± 0.46



SEQ ID 19
1.42 ± 0.15



SEQ ID 20
1.61 ± 0.21



SEQ ID 21
1.28 ± 0.07



SEQ ID 22
1.33 ± 0.07



SEQ ID 23
1.14 ± 0.24



SEQ ID 24
1.27 ± 0.16



SEQ ID 26
1.42 ± 0.11



SEQ ID 27
1.63 ± 0.03



SEQ ID 28
1.69 ± 0.03



SEQ ID 29
1.75 ± 0.09



SEQ ID 31
1.84 ± 0.06



SEQ ID 33
1.75 ± 0.21



SEQ ID 34
0.96 ± 0.05



SEQ ID 35
1.00 ± 0.08



SEQ ID 36
1.58 ± 0.05



SEQ ID 37
1.67 ± 0.02



SEQ ID 38
1.83 ± 0.03



SEQ ID 40
0.46 ± 0.06



SEQ ID 41
0.40 ± 0.01



SEQ ID 42
0.39 ± 0.08



SEQ ID 43
0.46 ± 0.10



SEQ ID 44
1.49 ± 0.39



SEQ ID 45
1.54 ± 0.35



SEQ ID 47
1.14 ± 0.23



SEQ ID 48
0.93 ± 0.08



SEQ ID 53
1.51 ± 0.37



Polymyxin B
1.30 ± 0.13












EXAMPLE 4

[0111] Polynucleotide Regulation by Cationic Peptides


[0112] Polynucleotide arrays were utilized to determine the effect of cationic peptides by themselves on the transcriptional response of macrophages and epithelial cells. Mouse macrophage RAW 264.7, Human Bronchial cells (HBE), or A549 human epithelial cells were plated in 150 mm tissue culture dishes at 5.6×106 cells/dish, cultured overnight and then incubated with 50 μg/ml peptide or medium alone for 4 h. After stimulation, the cells were washed once with diethyl pyrocarbonate-treated PBS, and detached from the dish using a cell scraper. Total RNA was isolated using Trizol (Gibco Life Technologies). The RNA pellet was resuspended in RNase-free water containing RNase inhibitor (Ambion, Austin, Tex.). The RNA was treated with DNaseI (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.) for 1 h at 37° C. After adding termination mix (0.1 M EDTA [pH 8.0], 1 mg/ml glycogen), the samples were extracted once with phenol: chloroform: isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1), and once with chloroform. The RNA was then precipitated by adding 2.5 volumes of 100% ethanol7 and {fraction (1/10)}th volume sodium acetate, pH 5.2. The RNA was resuspended in RNase-free water with RNase inhibitor (Ambion) and stored at −70° C. The quality of the RNA was assessed by gel electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel. Lack of genomic DNA contamination was assessed by using the isolated RNA as a template for PCR amplification with β-actin-specific primers (5′-GTCCCTGTATGCCTCTGGTC-3′(SEQ ID NO: 55) and 5′-GATGTCACGCACGATTTCC-3′(SEQ ID NO: 56)). Agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining confirmed the absence of an amplicon after 35 cycles.


[0113] Atlas cDNA Expression Arrays (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), which consist of 588 selected mouse cDNAs spotted in duplicate on positively charged membranes were used for early polynucleotide array studies (Tables 18,19). 32P-radiolabeled CDNA probes prepared from 5 μg total RNA were incubated with the arrays overnight at 71° C. The filters were washed extensively and then exposed to a phosphoimager screen (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, Calif.) for 3 days at 4° C. The image was captured using a Molecular Dynamics PSI phosphoimager. The hybridization signals were analyzed using AtlasImage 1.0 Image Analysis software (Clontech) and Excel (Microsoft, Redmond, Wash.). The intensities for each spot were corrected for background levels and normalized for differences in probe labeling using the average values for 5 polynucleotides observed to vary little between the stimulation conditions: β-actin, ubiquitin, ribosomal protein S29, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and Ca2+ binding protein. When the normalized hybridization intensity for a given cDNA was less than 20, it was assigned a value of 20 to calculate the ratios and relative expression.


[0114] The next polynucleotide arrays used (Tables 21-26) were the Resgen Human cDNA arrays (identification number for the genome is PRHU03-S3), which consist of 7,458 human cDNAs spotted in duplicate. Probes were prepared from 15-20 μg of total RNA and labeled with Cy3 labeled dUTP. The probes were purified and hybridized to printed glass slides overnight at 42° C. and washed. After washing, the image was captured using a Virtek slide reader. The image processing software (Imagene 4.1, Marina Del Rey, Calif.) determines the spot mean intensity, median intensities, and background intensities. Normalization and analysis was performed with Genespring software (Redwood City, Calif.). Intensity values were calculated by subtracting the mean background intensity from the mean intensity value determined by Imagene. The intensities for each spot were normalized by taking the median spot intensity value from the population of spot values within a slide and comparing this value to the values of all slides in the experiment. The relative changes seen with cells treated with peptide compared to control cells can be found in the Tables below.


[0115] The other polynucleotide arrays used (Tables 27-35) were the Human Operon arrays (identification number for the genome is PRHU04-S1), which consist of about 14,000 human oligos spotted in duplicate. Probes were prepared from 10 μg of total RNA and labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 labeled dUTP. In these experiments, A549 epithelial cells were plated in 100 mm tissue culture dishes at 2.5×106 cells/dish. Total RNA was isolated using RNAqueous (Ambion). DNA contamination was removed with DNA-free kit (Ambion). The probes prepared from total RNA were purified and hybridized to printed glass slides overnight at 42° C. and washed. After washing, the image was captured using a Perkin Elmer array scanner. The image processing software (Imagene 5.0, Marina Del Rey, Calif.) determines the spot mean intensity, median intensities, and background intensities. An “in house” program was used to remove background. The program calculates the bottom 10% intensity for each subgrid and subtracts this for each grid. Analysis was performed with Genespring software (Redwood City, Calif.). The intensities for each spot were normalized by taking the median spot intensity value from the population of spot values within a slide and comparing this value to the values of all slides in the experiment. The relative changes seen with cells treated with peptide compared to control cells can be found in the Tables below.


[0116] Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed to confirm polynucleotide array results. 1 μg RNA samples were incubated with 1 μl oligodT (500 μg/ml) and 1 μl mixed dNTP stock at 1 mM, in a 12 μl volume with DEPC treated water at 65° C. for 5 min in a thermocycler. 4 μl 5×First Strand buffer, 2 μl 0.1M DTT, and 1 μl RNaseOUT recombinant ribonuclease inhibitor (40 units/μl) were added and incubated at 42° C. for 2 min, followed by the addition of 1 μl (200 units) of Superscript II (Invitrogen, Burlington, ON). Negative controls for each RNA source were generated using parallel reactions in the absence of Superscript II. cDNAs were amplified in the presence of 5′ and 3′ primers (1.0 μM), 0.2 mM dNTP mixture, 1.5 mM MgCl, 1 U of Taq DNA polymerase (New England Biolabs, Missisauga, ON), and 1×PCR buffer. Each PCR was performed with a thermal cycler by using 30-40 cycles consisting of 30s of denaturation at 94° C., 30s of annealing at either 52° C. or 55° C. and 40s of extension at 72° C. The number of cycles of PCR was optimized to lie in the linear phase of the reaction for each primer and set of RNA samples. A housekeeping polynucleotide β-actin was amplified in each experiment to evaluate extraction procedure and to estimate the amount of RNA. The reaction product was visualized by electrophoresis and analyzed by densitometry, with relative starting RNA concentrations calculated with reference to β-actin amplification.


[0117] Table 18 demonstrates that SEQ ID NO: 1 treatment of RAW 264.7 cells up-regulated the expression of more than 30 different polynucleotides on small Atlas microarrays with selected known polynucleotides. The polynucleotides up-regulated by peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1, were mainly from two categories: one that includes receptors (growth, chemokine, interleukin, interferon, hormone, neurotransmitter), cell surface antigens and cell adhesion and another one that includes cell-cell communication (growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, interleukin, interferons, hormones), cytoskeleton, motility, and protein turnover. The specific polynucleotides up-regulated included those encoding chemokine MCP-3, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, macrophage colony stimulating factor, and receptors such as IL-1R-2 (a putative antagonist of productive IL-1 binding to IL-1R1), PDGF receptor B, NOTCH4, LIF receptor, LFA-1, TGFβ receptor 1, G-CSF receptor, and IFNγ receptor. The peptide also up-regulated polynucleotides encoding several metalloproteinases, and inhibitors thereof, including the bone morphogenetic proteins BMP-1, BMP-2, BMP-8a, TIMP2 and TIMP3. As well, the peptide up-regulated specific transcription factors, including JunD, and the YY and LIM-1 transcription factors, and kinases such as Etk1 and Csk demonstrating its widespread effects. It was also discovered from the polynucleotide array studies that SEQ ID NO: 1 down-regulated at least 20 polynucleotides in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells (Table 19). The polynucleotides down-regulated by peptide included DNA repair proteins and several inflammatory mediators such as MIP-1α, oncostatin M and IL-12. A number of the effects of peptide on polynucleotide expression were confirmed by RT-PCR (Table 20). The peptides, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO: 1, and representative peptides from each of the formulas also altered the transcriptional responses in a human epithelial cell line using mid-sized microarrays (7835 polynucleotides). The effect of SEQ ID NO: 1 on polynucleotide expression was compared in 2 human epithelial cell lines, A549 and HBE. Polynucleotides related to the host immune response that were up-regulated by 2 peptides or more by a ratio of 2-fold more than unstimulated cells are described in Table 21. Polynucleotides that were down-regulated by 2 peptides or more by a ratio of 2-fold more than unstimulated cells are described in Table 22. In Table 23 and Table 24, the human epithelial pro-inflammatory polynucleotides that are up- and down-regulated respectively are shown. In Table 25 and Table 26 the anti-inflammatory polynucleotides affected by cationic peptides are shown. The trend becomes clear that the cationic peptides up-regulate the anti-inflammatory response and down-regulate the pro-inflammatory response. It was very difficult to find a polynucleotide related to the anti-inflammatory response that was down-regulated (Table 26). The pro-inflammatory polynucleotides upregulated by cationic peptides were mainly polynucleotides related to migration and adhesion. Of the down-regulated pro-inflammatory polynucleotides, it should be noted that all the cationic peptides affected several toll-like receptor (TLR) polynucleotides, which are very important in signaling the host response to infectious agents. An important anti-inflammatory polynucleotide that was up-regulated by all the peptides is the IL-10 receptor. IL-10 is an important cytokine involved in regulating the pro-inflammatory cytokines. These polynucleotide expression effects were also observed using primary human macrophages as observed for peptide SEQ ID NO: 6 in Tables 27 and 28. The effect of representative peptides from each of the formulas on human epithelial cell expression of selected polynucleotides (out of 14,000 examined) is shown in Tables 31-37 below. At least 6 peptides from each formula were tested for their ability to alter human epithelial polynucleotide expression and indeed they had a wide range of stimulatory effects. In each of the formulas there were at least 50 polynucleotides commonly up-regulated by each of the peptides in the group.
19TABLE 18Polynucleotides up-regulated by peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1, treatment ofRAW macrophage cellsa.The cationic peptides at a concentration of 50 μg/ml were shown to potentlyinduce the expression of several polynucleotides. Peptide was incubated with theRAW cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probesand hybridized to Atlas arrays. The intensity of unstimulated cells is shown in thethird column. The “Ratio Peptide: Unstimulated” column refers to the intensity ofpolynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the intensity ofunstimulated cells.The changes in the normalized intensities of the housekeeping polynucleotidesranged from 0.8-1.2 fold, validating the use of these polynucleotides fornormalization. When the normalized hybridization intensity for a given cDNAwas less than 20, it was assigned a value of 20 to calculate the ratios and relativeexpression. The array experiments were repeated 3 times with different RNApreparations and the average fold change is shown above. Polynucleotides with atwo fold or greater change in relative expression levels are presented.Polynucleotide/UnstimulatedRatio peptide:AccessionProteinPolynucleotide FunctionIntensityUnstimulatedbNumberEtk1Tyrosine-protein kinase2043M68513receptorPDGFRBGrowth factor receptor2425X04367Corticotropin releasing2023X72305factor receptorNOTCH4proto-oncopolynucleotide4818M80456IL-1R2Interleukin receptor2016X59769MCP-3Chemokine5614S71251BMP-1Bone2014L24755morphopolynucleotideticproteinEndothelinReceptor2014U32329b receptorc-retOncopolynucleotide2013X67812precursorLIFRCytokine receptor2012D26177BMP-8aBone2012M97017morphopolynucleotideticproteinZfp92Zinc finger protein 928711U47104MCSFMacrophage colony8511X05010stimulating factor 1GCSFRGranulocyte colony-2011M58288stimulating factor receptorIL-8RBChemokine receptor11210D17630IL-9RInterleukin receptor1126M84746CasCrk-associated substrate316U48853p58/GTAKinase2545M58633CASP2Caspase precursor1295D28492IL-1βInterleukin precursor915M15131precursorSPI2-2Serine protease inhibitor625M64086C5ARChemokine receptor3004S46665L-mycOncopolynucleotide2084X13945IL-10Interleukin1684M37897p19ink4cdk4 and cdk6 inhibitor1474U19597ATOH2Atonal homolog 21134U29086DNAse1DNase874U00478CXCR-4Chemokine receptor364D87747Cyclin D3Cyclin3273U43844IL-7RαInterleukin receptor3173M29697POLADNA polymeraseα2413D17384Tie-2Oncopolynucleotide1933S67051DNL1DNA ligase I1403U04674BADApoptosis protein1223L37296GADD45DNA-damage-inducible883L28177proteinSikSrc-related kinase823U16805integrinα4Integrin23242X53176TGFβR1Growth factor receptor10382D25540LAMR1Receptor10012J02870CrkCrk adaptor protein8532S72408ZFXChromosomal protein6792M32309Cyclin E1Cylcin6712X75888POLD1DNA polymerase subunit6492Z21848Vavproto-oncopolynucleotide6132X64361YY (NF-Transcription factor5932L13968E1)JunDTranscription factor5342J050205Cskc-src kinase4892U05247Cdk7Cyclin-dependent kinase4752U11822MLC1AMyosin light subunit4532M19436isoformERBB-3Receptor4352L47240UBFTranscription factor4052X60831TRAILApoptosis ligand3642U37522LFA-1Cell adhesion receptor3402X14951SLAPSrc-like adaptor protein3152U29056IFNGRInterferon gamma receptor3082M28233LIM-1Transcription factor2952Z27410ATF2Transcription factor2872S76657FSTFollistatin precursor2752Z29532TIMP3Protease inhibitor2592L19622RU49Transcription factor2532U41671IGF-1RαInsulin-like growth factor2182U00182receptorCyclin G2Cyclin2142U95826fynTyrosine-protein kinase1912U70324BMP-2Bone1862L25602morphopolynucleotideticproteinBrn-3.2Transcription factor1742S68377POUKIF1AKinesin family protein1692D29951MRC1Mannose receptor1672Z11974PAI2Protease inhibitor1542X19622BKLFCACCC Box-binding1382U36340proteinTIMP2Protease inhibitor1362X62622MasProto-oncopolynucleotide1312X67735NURR-1Transcription factor1292S53744


[0118]

20





TABLE 19










Polynucleotides down-regulated by SEQ ID NO: 1 treatment of RAW


macrophage cellsa.


The cationic peptides at a concentration of 50 μg/ml were shown to reduce the


expression of several polynucleotides. Peptide was incubated with the RAW cells for 4 h


and the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes and hybridized to Atlas


arrays. The intensity of unstimulated cells is shown in the third column. The “Ratio


Peptide: Unstimulated” column refers to the intensity of polynucleotide expression in


peptide-simulated cells divided by the intensity of unstimulated cells. The array


experiments were repeated 3 times with different cells and the average fold change is


shown below. Polynucleotides with an approximately two fold or greater change in


relative expression levels are presented.











Polynucleotide/

Unstimulated
Ratio peptide:
Accession


Protein
Polynucleotide Function
Intensity
Unstimulated
Number














sodium channel
Voltage-gated ion channel
257
0.08
L36179


XRCC1
DNA repair protein
227
0.09
U02887


ets-2
Oncopolynucleotide
189
0.11
J04103


XPAC
DNA repair protein
485
0.12
X74351


EPOR
Receptor precursor
160
0.13
J04843


PEA 3
Ets-related protein
158
0.13
X63190


orphan receptor
Nuclear receptor
224
0.2
U11688


N-cadherin
Cell adhesion receptor
238
0.23
M31131


OCT3
Transcription factor
583
0.24
M34381


PLCβ
phospholipase
194
0.26
U43144


KRT18
Intermediate filament proteins
318
0.28
M11686


THAM
Enzyme
342
0.32
X58384


CD40L
CD40 ligand
66
0.32
X65453


CD86
T-lymphocyte antigen
195
0.36
L25606


oncostatin M
Cytokine
1127
0.39
D31942


PMS2 DNA
DNA repair protein
200
0.4
U28724


IGFBP6
Growth factor
1291
0.41
X81584


MIP-1β
Cytokine
327
0.42
M23503


ATBF1
AT motif-binding factor
83
0.43
D26046


nucleobindin
Golgi resident protein
367
0.43
M96823


bcl-x
Apoptosis protein
142
0.43
L35049


uromodulin
glycoprotein
363
0.47
L33406


IL-12 p40
Interleukin
601
0.48
M86671


MmRad52
DNA repair protein
371
0.54
Z32767


Tob1
Antiproliferative factor
956
0.5
D78382


Ung1
DNA repair protein
535
0.51
X99018


KRT19
Intermediate filament
622
0.52
M28698



proteins


PLCγ
phospholipase
251
0.52
X95346


Integrin α6
Cell adhesion receptor
287
0.54
X69902


GLUT1
Glucose transporter
524
0.56
M23384


CTLA4
immunoglobin
468
0.57
X05719



superfamily


FRA2
Fos-related antigen
446
0.57
X83971


MTRP
Lysosome-associated
498
0.58
U34259



protein










[0119]

21





TABLE 20










Polynucleotide Expression changes in response to peptide, SEQ ID


NO: 1, could be confirmed by RT-PCR. RAW 264.7 macrophage cells


were incubated with 50 μg/ml of peptide or media only for 4 hours and


total RNA isolated and subjected to semi-quantitative RT-PCR.


Specific primer pairs for each polynucleotide were used for


amplification of RNA. Amplification of β-actin was used as a positive


control and for standardization. Densitometric analysis of RT-PCR


products was used. The results refer to the relative fold change in


polynucleotide expression of peptide treated cells compared to cells


incubated with media alone. The data is presented as the


mean ± standard error of three experiments.











Polynucleotide
Array Ratio-*
RT-PCR Ratio-*







CXCR-4
4.0 ± 1.7
4.1 ± 0.9



IL-8RB
9.5 ± 7.6
7.1 ± 1.4



MCP-3
13.5 ± 4.4 
 4.8 ± 0.88



IL-10
4.2 ± 2.1
16.6 ± 6.1 



CD14
0.9 ± 0.1
0.8 ± 0.3



MIP-1B
0.42 ± 0.09
0.11 ± 0.04



XRCC1
0.12 ± 0.01
 0.25 ± 0.093



MCP-1
Not on array
3.5 ± 1.4











[0120]

22





TABLE 21










Polynucleotides up-regulated by peptide treatment of A549 epithelial cellsa.


The cationic peptides at concentrations of 50 μg/ml were shown to increase the


expression of several polynucleotides. Peptide was incubated with the human A549


epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes


and hybridized to Human cDNA arrays ID#PRHU03-S3. The intensity of


polynucleotides in unstimulated cells is shown in the second column. The “Ratio Peptide:


Unstimulated” columns refers to the intensity of polynucleotide expression in peptide-


simulated cells divided by the intensity of unstimulated cells.











Unstimulated
Ratio Peptide: Unstimulated
Accession













Polynucleotide/Protein
Intensity
ID 2
ID 3
ID 19
ID 1
Number
















IL-1 R antagonist homolog 1
0.00
3086
1856
870

AI167887


IL-10 R beta
0.53
2.5
1.6
1.9
3.1
AA486393


IL-11 R alpha
0.55
2.4
1.0
4.9
1.8
AA454657


IL-17 R
0.54
2.1
2.0
1.5
1.9
AW029299


TNF R superfamily, member 1B
0.28
18
3.0
15
3.6
AA150416


TNF R superfamily, member 5
33.71
3.0
0.02


H98636


(CD40LR)


TNF R superfamily, member 11b
1.00
5.3
4.50
0.8

AA194983


IL-8
0.55
3.6
17
1.8
1.1
AA102526


interleukin enhancer binding factor 2
0.75
1.3
2.3
0.8
4.6
AA894687


interleukin enhancer binding factor 1
0.41
2.7

5.3
2.5
R56553


cytokine inducible SH2-containing
0.03
33
44
39
46
AA427521


protein


IK cytokine, down-regulator of
0.50
3.1
2.0
1.7
3.3
R39227


HLA II


cytokine inducible SH2-containing
0.03
33
44
39
46
AA427521


Protein


IK cytokine, down-regulator of
0.50
3.1
2.0
1.7
3.3
R39227


HLA II


small inducible cytokine subfamily
1.00
3.9


2.4
AI922341


A (Cys-Cys), member 21


TGFB inducible early growth
0.90
2.4
2.1
0.9
1.1
AI473938


response 2


NK cell R
1.02
2.5
0.7
0.3
1.0
AA463248


CCR6
0.14
4.5
7.8
6.9
7.8
N57964


cell adhesion molecule
0.25
4.0
3.9
3.9
5.1
R40400


melanoma adhesion molecule
0.05
7.9
20
43
29.1
AA497002


CD31
0.59
2.7
3.1
1.0
1.7
R22412


integrin, alpha 2 (CD49B, alpha 2
1.00
0.9
2.4
3.6
0.9
AA463257


subunit of VLA-2 receptor


integrin, alpha 3 (antigen CD49C,
0.94
0.8
2.5
1.9
1.1
AA424695


alpha 3 subunit of VLA-3 receptor)


integrin, alpha E
0.01
180
120
28
81
AA425451


integrin, beta 1
0.47
2.1
2.1
7.0
2.6
W67174


integrin, beta 3
0.55
2.7
2.8
1.8
1.0
AA037229


integrin, beta 3
0.57
2.6
1.4
1.8
2.0
AA666269


integrin, beta 4
0.65
0.8
2.2
4.9
1.5
AA485668


integrin beta 4 binding protein
0.20
1.7
5.0
6.6
5.3
AI017019


calcium and integrin binding protein
0.21
2.8
4.7
9.7
6.7
AA487575


disintegrin and metalloproteinase
0.46
3.1

2.2
3.8
AA279188


domain 8


disintegrin and metalloproteinase
0.94
1.1
2.3
3.6
0.5
H59231


domain 9


disintegrin and metalloproteinase
0.49
1.5
2.1
3.3
2.2
AA043347


domain 10


disintegrin and metalloproteinase
0.44
1.9
2.3
2.5
4.6
H11006


domain 23


cadherin 1, type 1, E-cadherin
0.42
8.1
2.2
2.4
7.3
H97778


(epithelial)


cadherin 12, type 2 (N-cadherin 2)
0.11
13
26
9.5

AI740827


protocadherin 12
0.09
14.8
11.5
2.6
12.4
AI652584


protocadherin gamma subfamily C, 3
0.34
3.0
2.5
4.5
9.9
R89615


catenin (cadherin-associated
0.86
1.2
2.2
2.4

AA025276


protein), delta 1


laminin R 1 (67 kD, ribosomal
0.50
0.4
2.0
4.4
3.0
AA629897


protein SA)


killer cell lectin-like receptor
0.11
9.7
9.0
4.1
13.4
AA190627


subfamily C, member 2


killer cell lectin-like receptor
1.00
3.2
1.0
0.9
1.3
W93370


subfamily C, member 3


killer cell lectin-like receptor
0.95
2.3
1.7
0.7
1.1
AI433079


subfamily G, member 1


C-type lectin-like receptor-2
0.45
2.1
8.0
2.2
5.3
H70491


CSF 3 R
0.40
1.9
2.5
3.5
4.0
AA458507


macrophage stimulating 1 R
1.00
1.7
2.3
0.4
0.7
AA173454


BMP R type IA
0.72
1.9
2.8
0.3
1.4
W15390


formyl peptide receptor 1
1.00
3.1
1.4
0.4

AA425767


CD2
1.00
2.6
0.9
1.2
0.9
AA927710


CD36
0.18
8.2
5.5
6.2
2.5
N39161


vitamin D R
0.78
2.5
1.3
1.1
1.4
AA485226


Human proteinase activated R-2
0.54
6.1
1.9
2.2

AA454652


prostaglandin E receptor 3 (subtype
0.25
4.1
4.9
3.8
4.9
AA406362


EP3)


PDGF R beta polypeptide
1.03
2.5
1.0
0.5
0.8
R56211


VIP R 2
1.00
3.1


2.0
AI057229


growth factor receptor-bound
0.51
2.2
2.0
2.4
0.3
AA449831


protein 2


Mouse Mammary Turmor Virus
1.00
6.9

16

W93891


Receptor homolog


adenosine A2a R
0.41
3.1
1.8
4.0
2.5
N57553


adenosine A3 R
0.83
2.0
2.3
1.0
1.2
AA863086


T cell R delta locus
0.77
2.7
1.3

1.8
AA670107


prostaglandin E receptor 1 (subtype
0.65
7.2

6.0
1.5
AA972293


EP1)


growth factor receptor-bound
0.34

3.0
6.3
2.9
R24266


protein 14


Epstein-Barr virus induced
0.61
1.6
2.4

8.3
AA037376


polynucleotide 2


complement component receptor 2
0.22
26
4.5
2.6
18.1
AA521362


endothelin receptor type A
0.07
12
14
14
16
AA450009


v-SNARE R
0.56
11
12
1.8

AA704511


tyrosine kinase, non-receptor, 1
0.12
7.8
8.5
10
8.7
AI936324


receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan
0.40
7.3
5.0
1.6
2.5
N94921


receptor 2


protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-
1.02
1.0
13.2
0.5
0.8
AA682684


receptor type 3


protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-
0.28
3.5
4.0
0.9
5.3
AA434420


receptor type 9


protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-
0.42
2.9
2.4
2.2
3.0
AA995560


receptor type 11


protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-
1.00
2.3
2.2
0.8
0.5
AA446259


receptor type 12


protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-
0.58
1.7
2.4
3.6
1.7
AA679180


receptor type 13


protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-
0.52
3.2
0.9
1.9
6.5
AI668897


receptor type 18


protein tyrosine phosphatase,
0.25
4.0
2.4
16.8
12.8
H82419


receptor type, A


protein tyrosine phosphatase,
0.60
3.6
3.2
1.6
1.0
AA045326


receptor type, J


protein tyrosine phosphatase,
0.73
1.2
2.8
3.0
1.4
R52794


receptor type, T


protein tyrosine phosphatase,
0.20
6.1
1.2
5.6
5.0
AA644448


receptor type, U


protein tyrosine phosphatase,
1.00
5.1


2.4
AA481547


receptor type, C-associated protein


phospholipase A2 receptor 1
0.45
2.8
2.2
1.9
2.2
AA086038


MAP kinase-activated protein
0.52
2.1
2.7
1.1
1.9
W68281


kinase 3


MAP kinase kinase 6
0.10
18
9.6

32
H07920


MAP kinase kinase 5
1.00
3.0
5.2
0.8
0.2
W69649


MAP kinase 7
0.09

11.5
12
33
H39192


MAP kinase 12
0.49
2.1
1.7
2.2
2.0
AI936909


G protein-coupled receptor 4
0.40
3.7
3.0
2.4
2.5
AI719098


G protein-coupled receptor 49
0.05

19
19
27
AA460530


G protein-coupled receptor 55
0.08
19
15
12

N58443


G protein-coupled receptor 75
0.26
5.2
3.1
7.1
3.9
H84878


G protein-coupled receptor 85
0.20
6.8
5.4
4.9
5.0
N62306


regulator of G-protein signalling 20
0.02
48
137
82

AI264190


regulator of G-protein signalling 6
0.27

3.7
8.9
10.6
R39932


BCL2-interacting killer (apoptosis-
1.00
1.9

5.2

AA291323


inducing)


apoptosis inhibitor 5
0.56
2.8
1.6
2.4
1.8
AI972925


caspase 6, apoptosis-related
0.79
0.7
2.6
1.3
2.8
W45688


cysteine protease


apoptosis-related protein PNAS-1
0.46
2.2
1.4
2.3
2.9
AA521316


caspase 8, apoptosis-related
0.95
2.2
1.0
0.6
2.0
AA448468


cysteine protease










[0121]

23





TABLE 22










Polynucleotides down-regulated by peptide treatment of A549 epithelial


cellsa.


The cationic peptides at concentrations of 50 μg/ml were shown to decrease


the expression of several polynucleotides. Peptide was incubated with the human A549


epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes


and hybridized to Human cDNA arrays ID#PRHU03-S3. The intensity of


polynucleotides in unstimulated cells is shown in the second column. The “Ratio


Peptide: Unstimulated” columns refers to the intensity of polynucleotide expression


in peptide-simulated cells divided by the intensity of unstimulated cells.











Unstimulated
Ratio Peptide: Unstimulated
Accession













Polynucleotide/Protein
Intensity
ID 2
ID 3
ID 19
ID 1
Number
















TLR 1
3.22
0.35
0.31
0.14
0.19
AI339155


TLR 2
2.09
0.52
0.31
0.48
0.24
T57791


TLR 5
8.01
0.12
0.39


N41021


TLR 7
5.03
0.13
0.11
0.20
0.40
N30597


TNF receptor-associated factor 2
0.82
1.22
0.45
2.50
2.64
T55353


TNF receptor-associated factor 3
3.15
0.15

0.72
0.32
AA504259


TNF receptor superfamily, member 12
4.17
0.59
0.24

0.02
W71984


TNF R superfamily, member 17
2.62

0.38
0.55
0.34
AA987627


TRAF and TNF receptor-associated
1.33
0.75
0.22
0.67
0.80
AA488650


protein


IL-1 receptor, type I
1.39
0.34
0.72
1.19
0.34
AA464526


IL-2 receptor, alpha
2.46
0.41
0.33
0.58

AA903183


IL-2 receptor, gamma (severe combined
3.34
0.30
0.24

0.48
N54821


immunodeficiency)


IL-12 receptor, beta 2
4.58
0.67
0.22


AA977194


IL-18 receptor 1
1.78
0.50
0.42
0.92
0.56
AA482489


TGF beta receptor III
2.42
0.91
0.24
0.41
0.41
H62473


leukotriene b4 receptor (chemokine
1.00

1.38
4.13
0.88
AI982606


receptor-like 1)


small inducible cytokine subfamily A
2.26
0.32

0.44
1.26
AA495985


(Cys-Cys), member 18


small inducible cytokine subfamily A
2.22
0.19
0.38
0.45
0.90
AI285199


(Cys-Cys), member 20


small inducible cytokine subfamily A
2.64
0.38
0.31
1.53

AA916836


(Cys-Cys), member 23


small inducible cytokine subfamily B
3.57
0.11
0.06
0.28
0.38
AI889554


(Cys-X-Cys), member 6 (granulocyte


chemotactic protein 2)


small inducible cytokine subfamily B
2.02
0.50
1.07
0.29
0.40
AA878880


(Cys-X-Cys), member 10


small inducible cytokine A3
2.84
1.79
0.32
0.35

AA677522


(homologous to mouse Mip-1a)


cytokine-inducible kinase
2.70
0.41
0.37
0.37
0.34
AA489234


complement component C1q receptor
1.94
0.46
0.58
0.51
0.13
AI761788


cadherin 11, type 2, OB-cadherin
2.00
0.23
0.57
0.30
0.50
AA136983


(osteoblast)


cadherin 3, type 1, P-cadherin
2.11
0.43
0.53
0.10
0.47
AA425217


(placental)


cadherin, EGF LAG seven-pass G-type
1.67
0.42
0.41
1.21
0.60
H39187


receptor 2, flamingo (Drosophila)


homolog


cadherin 13, H-cadherin (heart)
1.78
0.37
0.40
0.56
0.68
R41787


selectin L (lymphocyte adhesion
4.43
0.03
0.23
0.61

H00662


molecule 1)


vascular cell adhesion molecule 1
1.40
0.20
0.72
0.77
0.40
H16591


intercellular adhesion molecule 3
1.00
0.12
0.31
2.04
1.57
AA479188


integrin, alpha 1
2.42
0.41
0.26

0.56
AA450324


integrin, alpha 7
2.53
0.57
0.39
0.22
0.31
AA055979


integrin, alpha 9
1.16
0.86
0.05
0.01
2.55
AA865557


integrin, alpha 10
1.00
0.33
0.18
1.33
2.25
AA460959


integrin, beta 5
1.00
0.32
1.52
1.90
0.06
AA434397


integrin, beta 8
3.27
0.10
1.14
0.31
0.24
W56754


disintegrin and metalloproteinase
2.50
0.40
0.29
0.57
0.17
AI205675


domain 18


disintegrin-like and metalloprotease
2.11
0.32
0.63
0.47
0.35
AA398492


with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 3


disintegrin-like and metalloprotease
1.62
0.39
0.42
1.02
0.62
AI375048


with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 5


T-cell receptor interacting molecule
1.00
0.41
1.24
1.41
0.45
AI453185


diphtheria toxin receptor (heparin-
1.62
0.49
0.85
0.62
0.15
R45640


binding epidermal growth factor-like


growth factor)


vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 1
2.31
0.43
0.31
0.23
0.54
H73241


Fc fragment of IgG, low affinity IIIb,
3.85
−0.20
0.26
0.76
0.02
H20822


receptor for (CD16)


Fc fragment of IgG, low affinity IIb,
1.63
0.27
0.06
1.21
0.62
R68106


receptor for (CD32)


Fc fragment of IgE, high affinity I,
1.78
0.43
0.00
0.56
0.84
AI676097


receptor for; alpha polypeptide


leukocyte immunoglobulin-like
2.25
0.44
0.05
0.38
0.99
N63398


receptor, subfamily A


leukocyte immunoglobulin-like
14.21


1.10
0.07
AI815229


receptor, subfamily B (with TM and


ITIM domains), member 3


leukocyte immunoglobulin-like
2.31
0.75
0.43
0.19
0.40
AA076350


receptor, subfamily B (with TM and


ITIM domains), member 4


leukocyte immunoglobulin-like
1.67
0.35
0.60
0.18
0.90
H54023


receptor, subfamily B


peroxisome proliferative activated
1.18
0.38
0.85
0.87
0.26
AI739498


receptor, alpha


protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor
2.19
0.43

1.06
0.46
N49751


type, f polypeptide (PTPRF), interacting


protein (liprin), α1


protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor
1.55
0.44
0.64
0.30
0.81
H74265


type, C


protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor
2.08
0.23
0.37
0.56
0.48
AA464542


type, E


protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor
2.27
0.02
0.44

0.64
AA464590


type, N polypeptide 2


protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor
2.34
0.11
0.43
0.24
0.89
AI924306


type, H


protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor-
1.59
0.63
0.34
0.72
0.35
AA476461


type, Z polypeptide 1


protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-
1.07
0.94
0.43
0.25
1.13
H03504


receptor type 21


MAP kinase 8 interacting protein 2
1.70
0.07
0.85
0.47
0.59
AA418293


MAP kinase kinase kinase 4
1.27
0.37
0.79
1.59
−5.28
AA402447


MAP kinase kinase kinase 14
1.00
0.34
0.66
2.10
1.49
W61116


MAP kinase 8 interacting protein 2
2.90
0.16
0.35
0.24
0.55
AI202738


MAP kinase kinase kinase 12
1.48
0.20
0.91
0.58
0.68
AA053674


MAP kinase kinase kinase kinase 3
2.21
0.45
0.20
1.03
0.41
AA043537


MAP kinase kinase kinase 6
2.62
0.37
0.38

0.70
AW084649


MAP kinase kinase kinase kinase 4
1.04
0.96
0.09
0.29
2.79
AA417711


MAP kinase kinase kinase 11
1.53
0.65
0.41
0.99
0.44
R80779


MAP kinase kinase kinase 10
1.32
1.23
0.27
0.50
0.76
H01340


MAP kinase 9
2.54
0.57
0.39
0.16
0.38
AA157286


MAP kinase kinase kinase 1
1.23
0.61
0.42
0.81
1.07
AI538525


MAP kinase kinase kinase 8
0.66
1.52
1.82
9.50
0.59
W56266


MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3
0.52
2.13
2.68
1.13
1.93
W68281


MAP kinase kinase 2
0.84
1.20
3.35
0.02
1.31
AA425826


MAP kinase kinase kinase 7
1.00
0.97

1.62
7.46
AA460969


MAP kinase 7
0.09

11.45
11.80
33.43
H39192


MAP kinase kinase 6
0.10
17.83
9.61

32.30
H07920


regulator of G-protein signalling 5
3.7397
0.27
0.06
0.68
0.18
AA668470


regulator of G-protein signalling 13
1.8564
0.54
0.45
0.07
1.09
H70047


G protein-coupled receptor
1.04
1.84
0.16
0.09
0.96
R91916


G protein-coupled receptor 17
1.78
0.32
0.56
0.39
0.77
AI953187


G protein-coupled receptor kinase 7
2.62

0.34
0.91
0.38
AA488413


orphan seven-transmembrane receptor,
7.16
1.06
0.10
0.11
0.14
AI131555


chemokine related


apoptosis antagonizing transcription
1.00
0.28
2.50
1.28
0.19
AI439571


factor


caspase 1, apoptosis-related cysteine
2.83
0.44

0.33
0.35
T95052


protease (interleukin 1, beta,


convertase)


programmed cell death 8 (apoptosis-
1.00
1.07
0.35
1.94
0.08
AA496348


inducing factor)










[0122]

24





TABLE 23










Pro-inflammatory polynucleotides up-regulated by peptide treatment of


A549 cells.


The cationic peptides at concentrations of 50 μg/ml were shown to increase the


expression of certain pro-inflammatory polynucleotides (data is a subset of Table 21).


Peptide was incubated with the human A549 epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was


isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes and hybridized to Human cDNA arrays


ID#PRHU03-S3. The intensity of polynucleotides in unstimulated cells is shown in the


second column. The “Ratio Peptide: Unstimulated” columns refers to the intensity of


polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the intensity of


unstimulated cells.











Unstim
Ratio Peptide: Unstimulated
Accession













Polynucleotide/Protein and function
Intensity
ID 2
ID 3
ID 19
ID 1
Number
















IL-11 Rα; Receptor for pro-
0.55
2.39
0.98
4.85
1.82
AA454657


inflammatory cytokine, inflammation


IL-17 R; Receptor for IL-17, an inducer
0.54
2.05
1.97
1.52
1.86
AW029299


of cytokine production in epithelial cells


small inducible cytokine subfamily A,
1.00
3.88


2.41
AI922341


member 21; a chemokine


CD31; Leukocyte and cell to cell
0.59
2.71
3.13
1.01
1.68
R22412


adhesion (PECAM)


CCR6; Receptor for chemokine MIP-3α
0.14
4.51
7.75
6.92
7.79
N57964


integrin, alpha 2 (CD49B, alpha 2
1.00
0.89
2.44
3.62
0.88
AA463257


subunit of VLA-2 receptor; Adhesion to


leukocytes


integrin, alpha 3 (antigen CD49C, alpha
0.94
0.79
2.51
1.88
1.07
AA424695


3 subunit of VLA-3 receptor);


Leukocyte Adhesion


integrin, alpha E; Adhesion
0.01
179.33
120.12
28.48
81.37
AA425451


integrin, beta 4; Leukocyte adhesion
0.65
0.79
2.17
4.94
1.55
AA485668


C-type lectin-like receptor-2;Leukocyte
0.45
2.09
7.92
2.24
5.29
H70491


adhesion










[0123]

25





TABLE 24










Pro-inflammatory polynucleotides down-regulated by peptide treatment


of A549 cells.


The cationic peptides at concentrations of 50 μg/ml were shown to decrease


the expression of certain pro-inflammatory polynucleotides (data is a subset of Table 22).


Peptide was incubated with the human A549 epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was


isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes and hybridized to Human cDNA arrays


ID#PRHU03-S3. The intensity of polynucleotides in unstimulated cells is shown in the


second column. The “Ratio Peptide: Unstimulated” columns refers to the intensity of


polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the intensity of


unstimulated cells.











Unstim
Ratio Peptide:Unstimulated
Accession













Polynucleotide/Protein; Function
Intensity
ID 2
ID 3
ID 19
ID 1
Number
















Toll-like receptor (TLR) 1; Response to gram
3.22
0.35
0.31
0.14
0.19
AI339155


positive bacteria


TLR 2; Response to gram positive bacteria and
2.09
0.52
0.31
0.48
0.24
T57791


yeast


TLR 5; May augment other TLR responses,
8.01
0.12
0.39


N41021


Responsive to flagellin


TLR 7: Putative host defence mechanism
5.03
0.13
0.11
0.20
0.40
N30597


TNF receptor-associated factor 2; Inflammation
0.82
1.22
0.45
2.50
2.64
T55353


TNF receptor-associated factor 3; Inflammation
3.15
0.15

0.72
0.32
AA504259


TNF receptor superfamily, member 12;
4.17
0.59
0.24

0.02
W71984


Inflammation


TNF R superfamily, member 17; Inflammation
2.62

0.38
0.55
0.34
AA987627


TRAF and TNF receptor-associated protein;
1.33
0.75
0.22
0.67
0.80
AA488650


TNF signalling


small inducible cytokine subfamily A, member
2.26
0.32

0.44
1.26
AA495985


18; Chemokine


small inducible cytokine subfamily A, member
2.22
0.19
0.38
0.45
0.90
AI285199


20; Chemokine


small inducible cytokine subfamily A, member
2.64
0.38
0.31
1.53

AA916836


23; Chemokine


small inducible cytokine subfamily B, member
3.57
0.11
0.06
0.28
0.38
AI889554


6 (granulocyte chemotactic protein); Chemokine


small inducible cytokine subfamily B, member
2.02
0.50
1.07
0.29
0.40
AA878880


10; Chemokine


small inducible cytokine A3 (homologous to
2.84
1.79
0.32
0.35

AA677522


mouse Mip-1α); Chemokine


IL-12 receptor, beta 2; Interleukin and
4.58
0.67
0.22


AA977194


Interferon receptor


IL-18 receptor 1; Induces IFN-γ
1.78
0.50
0.42
0.92
0.56
AA482489


selectin L (lymphocyte adhesion molecule 1);
4.43
0.03
0.23
0.61

H00662


Leukocyte adhesion


vascular cell adhesion molecule 1; Leukocyte
1.40
0.20
0.72
0.77
0.40
H16591


adhesion


intercellular adhesion molecule 3; Leukocyte
1.00
0.12
0.31
2.04
1.57
AA479188


adhesion


integrin, alpha 1; Leukocyte adhesion
2.42
0.41
0.26

0.56
AA450324










[0124]

26





TABLE 25










Anti-inflammatory polynucleotides up-regulated by peptide treatment of


A549 cells.


The cationic peptides at concentrations of 50 μg/ml were shown to increase the


expression of certain anti-inflammatory polynucleotides (data is a subset of Table 21).


Peptide was incubated with the human A549 epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was


isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes and hybridized to Human cDNA arrays


ID#PRHU03-S3. The intensity of polynucleotides in unstimulated cells is shown in the


second column. The “Ratio Peptide: Unstimulated” columns refers to the intensity of


polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the intensity of


unstimulated cells.











Unstim
Ratio Peptide: Unstimulated
Accession













Polynucleotide/Protein; Function
Intensity
ID 2
ID 3
ID 19
ID 1
Number
















IL-1 R antagonist homolog 1; Inhibitor of septic
0.00
3085.96
1855.90
869.57

AI167887


shock


IL-10 R beta; Receptor for cytokine synthesis
0.53
2.51
1.56
1.88
3.10
AA486393


inhibitor


TNF R, member 1B; Apoptosis
0.28
17.09
3.01
14.93
3.60
AA150416


TNF R, member 5; Apoptosis (CD40L)
33.71
2.98
0.02


H98636


TNF R, member 11b; Apoptosis
1.00
5.29
4.50
0.78

AA194983


IK cytokine, down-regulator of HLA II; Inhibits
0.50
3.11
2.01
1.74
3.29
R39227


antigen presentation


TGFB inducible early growth response 2; anti-
0.90
2.38
2.08
0.87
1.11
AI473938


inflammatory cytokine


CD2; Adhesion molecule, binds LFAp3
1.00
2.62
0.87
1.15
0.88
AA927710










[0125]

27





TABLE 26










Anti-inflammatory polynucleotides down-regulated by peptide treatment


of A549 cells.


The cationic peptides at concentrations of 50 μg/ml were shown to increase the


expression of certain anti-inflammatory polynucleotides (data is a subset of


Table 21). Peptide was incubated with the human A549 epithelial cells for 4 h


and the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes and hybridized


to Human cDNA arrays ID#PRHU03-S3. The intensity of polynucleotides in


unstimulated cells is shown in the second column. The “Ratio Peptide:


Unstimulated” columns refers to the intensity of polynucleotide


expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the intensity of


unstimulated cells.











Unstim
Ratio Peptide: Unstimulated
Accession













Polynucleotide/Protein; Function
Intensity
ID 2
ID 3
ID 19
ID 1
Number





MAP kinase 9
2.54
0.57
0.39
0.16
0.38
AA157286










[0126]

28





TABLE 27










Polynucleotides up-regulated by SEQ ID NO: 6, in primary human


macrophages. The peptide SEQ ID NO: 6 at a concentration of 50


μg/ml was shown to increase the expression of many polynucleotides.


Peptide was incubated with the human macrophages for 4 h and the


RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes and hybridized


to Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of polynucleotides


in unstimulated cells is shown in the second column. The “Ratio


peptide treated: Control” columns refer to the intensity of


polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells


divided by the intensity of unstimulated cells.











Ratio



Control:
peptide



Unstimulated
treated:


Gene (Accession Number)
cells
control












proteoglycan 2 (Z26248)
0.69
9.3


Unknown (AK001843)
26.3
8.2


phosphorylase kinase alpha 1 (X73874)
0.65
7.1


actinin, alpha 3 (M86407)
0.93
6.9


DKFZP586B2420 protein (AL050143)
0.84
5.9


Unknown (AL109678)
0.55
5.6


transcription factor 21 (AF047419)
0.55
5.4


Unknown (A433612)
0.62
5.0


chromosome condensation 1-like (AF060219)
0.69
4.8


Unknown (AL137715)
0.66
4.4


apoptosis inhibitor 4 (U75285)
0.55
4.2


TERF1 (TRF1)-interacting nuclear factor 2
0.73
4.2


(NM_012461)


LINE retrotransposable element 1 (M22333)
6.21
4.0


1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 1
0.89
4.0


(U56417)


Vacuolar proton-ATPase, subunit D; V-
1.74
4.0


ATPase, subunit D (X71490)


KIAA0592 protein (AB011164)
0.70
4.0


potassium voltage-gated channel KQT-like
0.59
3.9


subfamily member 4 (AF105202)


CDC14 homolog A (AF000367)
0.87
3.8


histone fold proteinCHRAC17 (AF070640)
0.63
3.8


Cryptochrome 1 (D83702)
0.69
3.8


pancreatic zymogen granule membrane


associated protein (AB035541)
0.71
3.7


Sp3 transcription factor (X68560)
0.67
3.6


hypothetical protein FLJ20495 (AK000502)
0.67
3.5


E2F transcription factor 5, p130-binding
0.56
3.5


(U31556)


hypothetical protein FLJ20070 (AK000077)
1.35
3.4


glycoprotein IX (X52997)
0.68
3.4


KIAA1013 protein (AB023230)
0.80
3.4


eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A,
2.02
3.4


isoform 2 (AL137681)


FYN-binding protein (AF198052)
1.04
3.3


guanine nucleotide binding protein, gamma
0.80
3.3


transducing activity polypeptide 1 (U41492)


glypican 1 (X54232)
0.74
3.2


mucosal vascular addressin cell adhesion
0.65
3.2


molecule 1 (U43628)


lymphocyte antigen (M38056)
0.70
3.2


H1 histone family, member 4 (M60748)
0.81
3.0


translational inhibitor protein p14.5 (X95384)
0.78
3.0


hypothetical protein FLJ20689 (AB032978)
1.03
2.9


KIAA1278 protein (AB03104)
0.80
2.9


unknown (AL031864)
0.95
2.9


chymotrypsin-like protease (X71877)
3.39
2.9


calumenin (NM_001219)
2.08
2.9


protein kinase, cAMP-dependent, regulatory,
7.16
2.9


type I, beta (M65066)
7.16
2.9


POU domain, class 4, transcription factor 2
0.79
2.8


(U06233)


POU domain, class 2, associating factor 1
1.09
2.8


(Z49194)


KIAA0532 protein (AB011104)
0.84
2.8


unknown (AF068289)
1.01
2.8


unknown (AL117643)
0.86
2.7


cathepsin E (M84424)
15.33
2.7


matrix metalloproteinase 23A (AF056200)
0.73
2.7


interferon receptor 2 (L42243)
0.70
2.5


MAP kinase kinase 1 (L11284)
0.61
2.4


protein kinase C, alpha (X52479)
0.76
2.4


c-Cbl-interacting protein (AF230904)
0.95
2.4


c-fos induced growth factor (Y12864)
0.67
2.3


cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (S76988)
0.89
2.2


zinc finger protein 266 (X78924)
1.67
2.2


MAP kinase 14 (L35263)
1.21
2.2


KIAA0922 protein (AB023139)
0.96
2.1


bone morphogenetic protein 1 (NM_006129)
1.10
2.1


NADH dehydrogenase 1 alpha subcomplex, 10
1.47
2.1


(AF087661)


bone morphogenetic protein receptor, type IB
0.50
2.1


(U89326)


interferon regulatory factor 2 (NM 002199)
1.46
2.0


protease, serine, 21 (AB031331)
0.89
2.0










[0127]

29





TABLE 28










Polynucleotides down-regulated by SEQ ID NO: 6,


in primary human macrophages.


The peptide SEQ ID NO: 6 at a concentration of 50 μg/ml was


shown to increase the expression of many polynucleotides.


Peptide was incubated with the human macrophages for 4 h and


the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes and


hybridized to Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of


polynucleotides in unstimulated cells is shown in the second


column. The “Ratio of Peptide: Control” columns refer to the


intensity of polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells


divided by the intensity of unstimulated cells.











Ratio



Control:
peptide



Unstimulated
treated:


Gene (Accession Number)
cells
control












Unknown (AL049263)
17
0.06


integrin-linked kinase (U40282)
2.0
0.13


KIAA0842 protein (AB020649)
1.1
0.13


Unknown (AB037838)
13
0.14


Granulin (AF055008)
8.6
0.14


glutathione peroxidase 3 (NM_002084)
1.2
0.15


KIAA0152 gene product (D63486)
0.9
0.17


TGFB1-induced anti-apoptotic factor 1 (D86970)
0.9
0.19


disintegrin protease (Y13323)
1.5
0.21


proteasome subunit beta type 7 (D38048)
0.7
0.22


cofactor required for Sp1 transcriptional
0.9
0.23


activation subunit 3 (AB033042)


TNF receptor superfamily, member 14 (U81232)
0.8
0.26


proteasome 26S subunit non-ATPase 8 (D38047)
1.1
0.28


proteasome subunit beta type, 4 (D26600)
0.7
0.29


TNF receptor superfamily member 1B (M32315)
1.7
0.29


cytochrome c oxidase subunit Vic (X13238)
3.3
0.30


S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (M80563)
3.8
0.31


proteasome subunit alpha type, 6 (X59417)
2.9
0.31


proteasome 26S subunit non-ATPase, 10
1.0
0.32


(AL031177)


MAP kinase kinase kinase 2 (NM_006609)
0.8
0.32


ribosomal protein L11 (X79234)
5.5
0.32


matrix metalloproteinase 14 (Z48481)
1.0
0.32


proteasome subunit beta type, 5 (D29011)
1.5
0.33


MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (U12779)
1.5
0.34


caspase 3 (U13737)
0.5
0.35


jun D proto-oncogene (X56681)
3.0
0.35


proteasome 26S subunit, ATPase, 3 (M34079)
1.3
0.35


IL-1 receptor-like 1 (AB012701)
0.7
0.35


interferon alpha-inducible protein (AB019565)
13
0.35


SDF receptor 1 (NM_012428)
1.6
0.35


Cathepsin D (M63138)
46
0.36


MAP kinase kinase 3 (D87116)
7.4
0.37


TGF, beta-induced, (M77349)
1.8
0.37


TNF receptor superfamily, member 10b
1.1
0.37


(AF016266)


proteasome subunit beta type, 6 (M34079)
1.3
0.38


nuclear receptor binding protein (NM_013392)
5.2
0.38


Unknown (AL050370)
1.3
0.38


protease inhibitor 1 alpha-1-antitrypsin (X01683)
0.7
0.40


proteasome subunit alpha type, 7 (AF054185)
5.6
0.40


LPS-induced TNF-alpha factor (NM_004862)
5.3
0.41


transferrin receptor (X01060)
14
0.42


proteasome 26S subunit non-ATPase 13
1.8
0.44


(AB009398)


MAP kinase kinase 5 (U25265)
1.3
0.44


Cathepsin L (X12451)
15
0.44


IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (L76191)
1.7
0.45


MAP kinase kinase kinase kinase 2 (U07349)
1.1
0.46


peroxisome proliferative activated receptor delta
2.2
0.46


(AL022721)


TNF superfamily, member 15 (AF039390)
16
0.46


defender against cell death 1 (D15057)
3.9
0.46


TNF superfamily member 10 (U37518)
287
0.46


cathepsin H (X16832)
14
0.47


protease inhibitor 12 (Z81326)
0.6
0.48


proteasome subunit alpha type, 4 (D00763)
2.6
0.49


proteasome 26S subunit ATPase, 1 (L02426)
1.8
0.49


proteasome 26S subunit ATPase, 2 (D11094)
2.1
0.49


caspase 7 (U67319)
2.4
0.49


matrix metalloproteinase 7 (Z11887)
2.5
0.49










[0128]

30





TABLE 29










Polynucleotides up-regulated by SEQ ID NO: 1, in HBE cells.


The peptide SEQ ID NO: 1 at a concentration of 50 μg/ml


was shown to increase the expression of many polynucleotides.


Peptide was incubated with the human HBE epithelial cells


for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA


probes and hybridized to Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of


polynucleotides in unstimulated cells is shown in the second column.


The “Ratio Peptide: Control” columns refer to the intensity of


polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated


cells divided by the intensity of unstimulated cells.












Control:



Accession

Unstimulated
Ratio peptide


Number
Gene
cells
treated: control













AL110161
Unknown
0.22
5218.3


AF131842
Unknown
0.01
573.1


AJ000730
solute carrier family
0.01
282.0


Z25884
chloride channel 1
0.01
256.2


M93426
protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor-
0.01
248.7



type, zeta


X65857
olfactory receptor, family 1, subfamily
0.01
228.7



D, member 2


M55654
TATA box binding protein
0.21
81.9


AK001411
hypothetical protein
0.19
56.1


D29643
dolichyl-diphosphooligosaccharide-
1.56
55.4



protein glycosyltransferase


AF006822
myelin transcription factor 2
0.07
55.3


AL117601
Unknown
0.05
53.8


AL117629
DKFZP434C245 protein
0.38
45.8


M59465
tumor necrosis factor, alpha-induced
0.50
45.1



protein 3


AB013456
aquaporin 8
0.06
41.3


AJ131244
SEC24 related gene family, member A
0.56
25.1


AL110179
Unknown
0.87
24.8


AB037844
Unknown
1.47
20.6


Z47727
polymerase II polypeptide K
0.11
20.5


AL035694
Unknown
0.81
20.4


X68994
H.sapiens CREB gene
0.13
19.3


AJ238379
hypothetical protein
1.39
18.5


NM_003519
H2B histone family member
0.13
18.3


U16126
glutamate receptor, ionotropic kainate 2
0.13
17.9


U29926
adenosine monophosphate deaminase
0.16
16.3


AK001160
hypothetical protein
0.39
14.4


U18018
ets variant gene 4
0.21
12.9


D80006
KIAA0184 protein
0.21
12.6


AK000768
hypothetical protein
0.30
12.3


X99894
insulin promoter factor 1,
0.26
12.0


AL031177
Unknown
1.09
11.2


AF052091
unknown
0.28
10.9


L38928
5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate
0.22
10.6



synthetase


AL117421
unknown
0.89
10.1


AL133606
hypothetical protein
0.89
9.8


NM_016227
membrane protein CH1
0.28
9.6


NM_006594
adaptor-related protein complex 4
0.39
9.3


U54996
ZW10 homolog, protein
0.59
9.3


AJ007557
potassium channel,
0.28
9.0


AF043938
muscle RAS oncogene
1.24
8.8


AK001607
unknown
2.74
8.7


AL031320
peroxisomal biogenesis factor 3
0.31
8.4


D38024
unknown
0.31
8.3


AF059575
LIM homeobox TF
2.08
8.2


AF043724
hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1
0.39
8.1


AK002062
hypothetical protein
2.03
8.0


L13436
natriuretic peptide receptor
0.53
7.8


U33749
thyroid transcription factor 1
0.36
7.6


AF011792
cell cycle progression 2 protein
0.31
7.6


AK000193
hypothetical protein
1.18
6.8


AF039022
exportin, tRNA
0.35
6.8


M17017
interleukin 8
0.50
6.7


AF044958
NADH dehydrogenase
0.97
6.5


U35246
vacuolar protein sorting
0.48
6.5


AK001326
tetraspan 3
1.59
6.5


M55422
Krueppel-related zinc finger protein
0.34
6.4


U44772
palmitoyl-protein thioesterase
1.17
6.3


AL117485
hypothetical protein
0.67
5.9


AB037776
unknown
0.75
5.7


AF131827
unknown
0.69
5.6


AL137560
unknown
0.48
5.2


X05908
annexin A1
0.81
5.1


X68264
melanoma adhesion molecule
0.64
5.0


AL161995
neurturin
0.86
4.9


AF037372
cytochrome c oxidase
0.48
4.8


NM_016187
bridging integrator 2
0.65
4.8


AL137758
unknown
0.57
4.8


U59863
TRAF family member-associated NFKB
0.46
4.7



activator


Z30643
chloride channel Ka
0.70
4.7


D16294
acetyl-Coenzyme A acyltransferase 2
1.07
4.6


AJ132592
zinc finger protein 281
0.55
4.6


X82324
POU domain TF
1.73
4.5


NM_016047
CGI-110 protein
1.95
4.5


AK001371
hypothetical protein
0.49
4.5


M60746
H3 histone family member D
3.05
4.5


AB033071
hypothetical protein
4.47
4.4


AB002305
KIAA0307 gene product
1.37
4.4


X92689
UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-D-
0.99
4.4



galactosamine: polypeptide N-



acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 3


AL049543
glutathione peroxidase 5
1.62
4.3


U43148
patched homolog
0.96
4.3


M67439
dopamine receptor D5
2.61
4.2


U09850
zinc finger protein 143
0.56
4.2


L20316
glucagon receptor
0.75
4.2


AB037767
a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease
0.69
4.2


NM_017433
myosin IIIA
99.20
4.2


D26579
a disintegrin and metalloprotease
0.59
4.1



domain 8


L10333
reticulon 1
1.81
4.1


AK000761
unknown
1.87
4.1


U91540
NK homeobox family 3, A
0.80
4.1


Z17227
interleukin 10 receptor, beta
0.75
4.0










[0129]

31





TABLE 30










Polynucleotides down-regulated by Peptide (50 μg/ml), SEQ ID NO: 1, in


HBE cells.


The peptide SEQ ID NO: 1 at a concentration of 50 μg/ml was shown to


decrease the expression of many polynucleotides. Peptide was incubated


with the human A549 epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated,


converted into labelled cDNA probes and hybridized to Human Operon


arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of polynucleotides in unstimulated cells


in shown is the third column. The “Ratio Peptide:


Control” columns refer to the intensity of polynucleotide


expression in peptide-simulated


cells divided by the intensity of unstimulated cells.












Control:
Ratio of SEQ


Accession

Unstimulated
ID NO: 1-


Number
Gene
Cells
treated: control













AC004908
Unknown
32.4
0.09


S70622
G1 phase-specific gene
43.1
0.10


Z97056
DEAD/H box polypeptide
12.8
0.11


AK002056
hypothetical protein
11.4
0.12


L33930
CD24 antigen
28.7
0.13


X77584
thioredoxin
11.7
0.13


NM_014106
PRO1914 protein
25.0
0.14


M37583
H2A histone family member
22.2
0.14


U89387
polymerase (RNA) II polypeptide D
10.2
0.14


D25274
ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1
10.3
0.15


J04173
phosphoglycerate mutase 1
11.4
0.15


U19765
zinc finger protein 9
8.9
0.16


X67951
proliferation-associated gene A
14.1
0.16


AL096719
profilin 2
20.0
0.16


AF165217
tropomodulin 4
14.6
0.16


NM_014341
mitochondrial carrier homolog 1
11.1
0.16


AL022068
Unknown
73.6
0.17


X69150
ribosomal protein S18
42.8
0.17


AL031577
Unknown
35.0
0.17


AL031281
Unknown
8.9
0.17


AF090094
Human mRNA for ornithine decarboxylase
10.3
0.17



antizyme,


AL022723
HLA-G histocompatibility antigen, class I, G
20.6
0.18


U09813
ATP synthase, H+ transporting mitochondrial
9.8
0.18



F0 complex


AF000560


Homo sapiens
TTF-I interacting peptide 20

20.2
0.19


NM_016094
HSPC042 protein
67.2
0.19


AF047183
NADH dehydrogenase
7.5
0.19


D14662
anti-oxidant protein 2 (non-selenium glutathione
8.1
0.19



peroxidase, acidic calcium-independent



phospholipas


X16662
annexin A8
8.5
0.19


U14588
paxillin
11.3
0.19


AL117654
DKFZP586D0624 protein
12.6
0.20


AK001962
hypothetical protein
7.7
0.20


L41559
6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin
9.1
0.20



synthase/dimerization cofactor of hepatocyte



nuclear factor 1 alpha


NM_016139
16.7 Kd protein
21.0
0.21


NM_016080
CGI-150 protein
10.7
0.21


U86782
26S proteasome-associated pad1 homolog
6.7
0.21


AJ400717
tumor protein, translationally-controlled 1
9.8
0.21


X07495
homeo box C4
31.0
0.21


AL034410
Unknown
7.3
0.22


X14787
thrombospondin 1
26.2
0.22


AF081192
purine-rich element binding protein B
6.8
0.22


D49489
protein disulfide isomerase-related protein
11.0
0.22


NM_014051
PTD011 protein
9.3
0.22


AK001536
Unknown
98.0
0.22


X62534
high-mobility group protein 2
9.5
0.22


AJ005259
endothelial differentiation-related factor 1
6.7
0.22


NM_000120
epoxide hydrolase 1, microsomal
10.0
0.22


M38591
S100 calcium-binding protein A10
23.9
0.23


AF071596
immediate early response 3
11.5
0.23


X16396
methylene tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase
8.3
0.23


AK000934
ATPase inhibitor precursor
7.6
0.23


AL117612
Unknown
10.7
0.23


AF119043
transcriptional intermediary factor 1 gamma
7.3
0.23


AF037066
solute carrier family 22 member 1-like antisense
7.6
0.23


AF134406
cytochrome c oxidase subunit
13.3
0.23


AE000661
Unknown
9.2
0.24


AL157424
synaptojanin 2
7.2
0.24


X56468
tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-
7.2
0.24



monooxygenase activation protein,


U39318
ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2D 3
10.7
0.24


AL034348
Unknown
24.4
0.24


D26600
proteasome subunit beta type 4
11.4
0.24


AB032987
Unknown
16.7
0.24


J04182
lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1
7.4
0.24


X78925
zinc finger protein 267
16.1
0.25


NM_000805
gastrin
38.1
0.25


U29700
anti-Mullerian hormone receptor, type II
12.0
0.25


Z98200
Unknown
13.4
0.25


U07857
signal recognition particle
10.3
0.25


L05096


Homo sapiens
ribosomal protein L39

25.3
0.25


AK001443
hypothetical protein
7.5
0.25


K03515
glucose phosphate isomerase
6.2
0.25


X57352
interferon induced transmembrane protein 3
7.5
0.26


J02883
colipase pancreatic
5.7
0.26


M24069
cold shock domain protein
6.3
0.26


AJ269537
chondroitin-4-sulfotransferase
60.5
0.26


AL137555
Unknown
8.5
0.26


U89505
RNA binding motif protein 4
5.5
0.26


U82938
CD27-binding protein
7.5
0.26


X99584
SMT3 homolog 1
12.8
0.26


AK000847
Unknown
35.8
0.27


NM_014463
Lsm3 protein
7.8
0.27


AL133645
Unknown
50.8
0.27


X78924
zinc finger protein 266
13.6
0.27


NM_004304
anaplastic lymphoma kinase
15.0
0.27


X57958
ribosomal protein L7
27.9
0.27


U63542
Unknown
12.3
0.27


AK000086
hypothetical protein
8.3
0.27


X57138
H2A histone family member N
32.0
0.27


AB023206
KIAA0989 protein
6.5
0.27


AB021641
gonadotropin inducible transcriptn repressor-1,
5.5
0.28


AF050639
NADH dehydrogenase
5.5
0.28


M62505
complement component 5 receptor 1
7.5
0.28


X64364
basigin
5.8
0.28


AJ224082
Unknown
22.5
0.28


AF042165
cytochrome c oxidase
20.4
0.28


AK001472
anillin
10.9
0.28


X86428
protein phosphatase 2A subunit
12.7
0.28


AF227132
candidate taste receptor T2R5
5.1
0.28


Z98751
Unknown
5.3
0.28


D21260
clathrin heavy polypeptide
8.3
0.28


AF041474
actin-like 6
15.1
0.28


NM_005258
GTP cyclohydrolase I protein
7.6
0.28


L20859
solute carrier family 20
9.6
0.29


Z80783
H2B histone family member
9.0
0.29


AB011105
laminin alpha 5
7.1
0.29


AL008726
protective protein for beta-galactosidase
5.2
0.29


D29012
proteasome subunit
12.6
0.29


X63629
cadherin 3 P-cadherin
6.8
0.29


X02419
plasminogen activator urokinase
12.9
0.29


X13238
cytochrome c oxidase
8.0
0.29


X59798
cyclin D1
12.7
0.30


D78151
proteasome 26S subunit
7.6
0.31*


AF054185
proteasome subunit
18.8
0.31


J03890
surfactant pulmonary-associated protein C
5.5
0.32


M34079
proteasome 26S subunit,
5.2
0.33










[0130]

32





TABLE 31










Up-regulation of Polynucleotide expression in A549 cells induced by


Formula A Peptides.


The peptides at a concentration of 50 μg/ml were shown to increase the


expression of many polynucleotides. Peptide was incubated with the human A549


epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes


and hybridized to Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of polynucleotides in


control, unstimulated cells are shown in the second and third columns for labeling of


cDNA with the dyes Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. The “ID#: Control” columns refer to the


intensity of polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the intensity


of unstimulated cells.
















Accession

control-
control-
ID 5:
ID 6:
ID 7:
ID 8:
ID 9:
ID 10:


Number
Gene
Cy3
Cy5
control
control
control
control
control
control



















U12472
glutathione S-
0.09
0.31
13.0
3.5
4.5
7.0
4.3
16.4



transferase


X66403
cholinergic
0.17
0.19
7.8
9.9
6.0
6.4
5.0
15.7



receptor


AK001932
unknown
0.11
0.25
19.4
4.6
9.9
7.6
8.1
14.5


X58079
S100 calcium-
0.14
0.24
12.2
7.6
8.1
4.3
4.5
13.2



binding protein


U18244
solute carrier
0.19
0.20
6.1
9.7
11.9
5.0
3.7
10.6



family 1


U20648
zinc finger
0.16
0.13
5.3
6.2
5.6
3.1
6.8
9.5



protein


AB037832
unknown
0.10
0.29
9.0
4.2
9.4
3.1
2.6
8.7


AC002542
unknown
0.15
0.07
10.5
15.7
7.8
10.1
11.7
8.2


M89796
membrane-
0.15
0.14
2.6
6.1
7.6
3.5
13.3
8.1



spanning 4-



domains,



subfamily A


AF042163
cytochrome c
0.09
0.19
3.9
3.2
7.6
6.3
4.9
7.9



oxidase


AL032821
Vanin 2
0.41
0.23
2.5
5.2
3.2
2.1
4.0
7.9


U25341
melatonin
0.04
0.24
33.1
5.1
23.3
6.6
4.1
7.6



receptor 1B


U52219
G protein-
0.28
0.20
2.1
6.2
6.9
2.4
3.9
7.1



coupled receptor


X04506
apolipoprotein B
0.29
0.32
7.9
3.4
3.3
4.8
2.6
7.0


AB011138
ATPase type IV
0.12
0.07
3.5
12.9
6.6
6.4
21.3
6.9


AF055018
unknown
0.28
0.22
3.8
6.9
5.0
2.3
3.1
6.8


AK002037
hypothetical
0.08
0.08
2.9
7.9
14.1
7.9
20.1
6.5



protein


AK001024
guanine
0.16
0.11
7.7
11.9
5.0
10.3
6.0
6.3



nucleotide-



binding protein


AF240467
TLR-7
0.11
0.10
20.4
9.0
3.4
9.4
12.9
6.1


AF105367
glucagon-like
0.15
0.35
23.2
2.6
3.0
10.6
2.9
5.7



peptide 2



receptor


AL009183
TNFR
0.46
0.19
10.6
4.7
3.7
2.8
6.5
5.7



superfamily,



member 9


X54380
pregnancy-zone
0.23
0.08
4.7
11.9
7.2
12.7
3.8
5.5



protein


AL137736
unknown
0.22
0.15
2.1
7.2
3.3
7.1
4.6
5.5


X05615
thyroglobulin
0.28
0.42
6.3
2.7
7.7
2.4
3.1
5.4


D28114
myelin-
0.24
0.08
2.5
15.9
13.0
7.1
13.7
5.4



associated



protein


AK000358
microfibrillar-
0.28
0.28
8.7
4.2
7.2
3.2
2.4
5.3



associated



protein 3


AK001351
unknown
0.12
0.22
3.9
7.6
8.7
3.9
2.3
5.2


U79289
unknown
0.14
0.27
2.5
2.7
2.8
2.0
4.3
5.1


AB014546
ring finger
0.12
0.34
6.8
2.4
4.1
2.7
2.0
5.0



protein


AL117428
DKFZP434A236
0.10
0.07
2.8
16.1
12.8
9.7
14.2
4.9



protein


AL050378
unknown
0.41
0.14
3.5
8.7
11.7
3.5
7.0
4.9


AJ250562
transmembrane
0.13
0.10
5.2
5.7
14.2
3.8
10.3
4.8



4 superfamily



member 2


NM_001756
corticosteroid
0.28
0.13
4.0
7.9
6.5
14.9
5.6
4.8



binding globulin


AL137471
hypothetical
0.29
0.05
3.7
18.0
6.2
7.2
16.3
4.7



protein


M19684
protease
0.41
0.14
3.5
4.6
5.4
2.8
9.4
4.7



inhibitor 1


NM_001963
epidermal
0.57
0.05
3.4
6.2
1.8
32.9
14.7
4.4



growth factor


NM_000910
neuropeptide Y
0.62
0.36
3.1
2.7
2.3
2.6
3.1
4.4



receptor


AF022212
Rho GTPase
0.19
0.02
9.0
45.7
25.6
12.4
72.2
4.4



activating



protein 6


AK001674
cofactor required
0.11
0.13
8.4
6.5
7.9
4.5
7.4
4.3



for Sp1


U51920
signal
0.23
0.27
3.4
3.8
2.1
4.1
8.8
4.2



recognition



particle


AK000576
hypothetical
0.27
0.06
4.4
14.7
7.4
14.1
8.6
4.2



protein


AL080073
unknown
0.17
0.20
21.6
3.9
4.3
8.8
2.6
4.1


U59628
paired box gene 9
0.34
0.06
3.4
14.1
5.4
7.9
4.9
4.1


U90548
butyrophilin,
0.41
0.31
2.3
4.7
5.5
6.8
3.4
4.1



subfamily 3,



member A3


M19673
cystatin SA
0.43
0.26
2.3
8.5
4.5
2.5
4.1
3.8


AL161972
ICAM 2
0.44
0.37
2.0
3.6
2.0
2.7
5.5
3.8


X54938
inositol 1,4,5-
0.32
0.22
3.9
3.3
6.2
3.1
4.4
3.7



trisphosphate 3-



kinase A


AB014575
KIAA0675 gene
0.04
0.13
46.2
4.5
10.2
8.0
6.2
3.4



product


M83664
MHC II, DP beta 1
0.57
0.29
2.9
2.1
2.0
3.1
6.6
3.4


AK000043
hypothetical
0.34
0.14
2.7
7.1
3.7
9.4
8.8
3.3



protein


U60666
testis specific
0.21
0.11
9.9
9.0
4.1
5.5
13.0
3.3



leucine rich



repeat protein


AK000337
hypothetical
0.49
0.19
4.3
5.1
4.7
10.6
7.1
3.3



protein


AF050198
putative
0.34
0.15
7.0
6.3
3.6
5.6
11.9
3.3



mitochondrial



space protein


AJ251029
odorant-binding
0.28
0.12
4.4
9.4
7.2
8.8
7.1
3.2



protein 2A


X74142
forkhead box
0.12
0.33
19.5
4.5
8.4
6.4
4.4
3.2



G1B


AB029033
KIAA1110
0.35
0.24
3.1
2.2
5.6
5.2
3.1
3.1



protein


D85606
cholecystokinin
0.51
0.14
4.3
3.9
4.6
3.5
7.2
3.1



A receptor


X84195
acylphosphatase
0.32
0.19
4.8
3.7
5.0
11.2
9.8
3.0



2 muscle type


U57971
ATPase Ca++
0.29
0.13
2.2
7.9
1.8
6.3
4.8
3.0



transporting



plasma



membrane 3


J02611
apolipoprotein D
0.28
0.10
2.8
11.0
3.7
10.3
8.4
3.0


AF071510
lecithin retinol
0.07
0.05
7.9
3.8
11.7
46.0
16.3
3.0



acyltransferase


AF131757
unknown
0.10
0.08
4.8
9.0
44.3
9.3
10.7
3.0


L10717
IL2-inducible T-
0.45
0.21
2.5
4.9
2.8
10.9
4.5
2.9



cell kinase


L32961
4-aminobutyrate
0.64
0.32
3.6
2.9
3.2
5.3
2.3
2.9



aminotransferase


NM_003631
poly (ADP-
0.46
0.41
9.7
3.9
4.1
3.8
2.8
2.7



ribose)



glycohydrolase


AF098484
pronapsin A
0.28
0.14
3.7
3.7
5.6
11.6
3.7
2.5


NM_009589
arylsulfatase D
0.73
0.16
3.2
5.6
6.0
48.6
7.2
2.4


M14764
TNFR
0.49
0.15
2.3
3.5
10.6
13.6
6.8
2.2



superfamily,



member 16


AL035250
endothelin 3
0.52
0.14
2.1
7.3
4.8
4.5
3.7
2.2


M97925
defensin, alpha
0.33
0.07
4.0
14.7
7.8
9.4
3.5
2.1



5, Paneth cell-



specific


D43945
transcription
0.46
0.19
6.6
2.9
8.2
4.0
3.5
2.1



factor EC


D16583
histidine
0.46
0.09
3.2
13.8
4.2
8.8
13.7
2.1



decarboxylase










[0131]

33





TABLE 32










Up-regulation of Polynucleotide expression in A549 cells induced by


Formula B Peptides.


The peptides at a concentration of 50 μg/ml were shown to increase the


expression of many polynucleotides. Peptide was incubated with the human A549


epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes


and hybridized to Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of polynucleotides in


control, unstimulated cells are shown in the second and third columns for labeling of


cDNA with the dyes Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. The “ID#: Control” columns refer to the


intensity of polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the intensity


of unstimulated cells.
















Accession


control-
ID 12:
ID 13:
ID 14:
ID 15:
ID 16:
ID 17:


Number
Gene
control-Cy3
Cy5
control
control
control
control
control
control



















AL157466
unknown
0.05
0.06
18.0
21.4
16.7
5.2
6.8
8.6


AB023215
KIAA0998 protein
0.19
0.07
14.8
10.6
7.9
14.4
6.6
16.1


AL031121
unknown
0.24
0.09
14.1
5.7
3.8
5.5
2.8
4.6


NM_016331
zinc finger protein
0.16
0.08
12.8
7.2
11.0
5.3
11.2
9.7


M14565
cytochrome P450
0.16
0.12
10.6
12.5
5.0
3.6
10.1
6.3


U22492
G protein-coupled
0.28
0.07
10.4
8.9
4.8
10.8
6.6
3.6



receptor 8


U76010
solute carrier
0.14
0.07
9.7
18.6
3.7
4.8
5.6
8.9



family 30


AK000685
unknown
0.51
0.10
9.0
3.1
2.8
3.9
15.3
3.0


AF013620
Immunoglobulin
0.19
0.18
8.5
2.6
6.2
5.7
8.2
3.8



heavy variable 4-4


AL049296
unknown
0.61
0.89
8.1
3.2
2.7
3.2
2.7
2.0


AB006622
KIAA0284 protein
0.47
0.28
7.5
5.0
2.8
11.1
5.5
4.6


X04391
CD5 antigen
0.22
0.13
7.2
16.7
2.7
7.7
6.1
5.9


AK000067
hypothetical
0.80
0.35
7.1
4.6
2.1
3.2
8.5
2.2



protein


AF053712
TNF superfamily
0.17
0.08
6.9
17.7
3.0
6.2
12.3
5.2



member 11


X58079
S100 calcium-
0.14
0.24
6.7
6.7
5.9
6.5
5.3
2.5



binding protein A1


M91036
hemoglobin
0.48
0.36
6.7
14.2
2.1
2.9
2.7
4.8



gamma A


AF055018
unknown
0.28
0.22
6.3
10.7
2.7
2.6
4.6
6.5


L17325
pre-T/NK cell
0.19
0.29
6.1
4.4
6.5
4.7
4.0
4.0



associated protein


D45399
phosphodiesterase
0.21
0.18
6.1
4.6
5.0
2.8
10.8
4.0


AB023188
KIAA0971 protein
0.29
0.13
5.9
10.6
3.6
3.4
10.6
7.2


NM_012177
F-box protein
0.26
0.31
5.9
5.5
3.8
2.8
3.0
6.8


D38550
E2F TF 3
0.43
0.39
5.8
3.4
2.1
4.5
2.5
2.4


AL050219
unknown
0.26
0.04
5.7
17.0
3.1
9.2
30.3
16.1


AL137540
unknown
0.67
0.79
5.5
3.2
3.9
10.9
2.9
2.3


D50926
KIAA0136 protein
0.57
0.21
5.4
5.6
2.0
3.3
4.4
3.2


AL137658
unknown
0.31
0.07
5.4
12.1
2.6
10.8
3.9
8.6


U21931
fructose-
0.48
0.14
5.4
4.1
2.9
3.6
6.0
3.2



bisphosphatase 1


AK001230
DKFZP586D211
0.43
0.26
5.0
4.6
2.1
2.2
2.5
2.7



protein


AL137728
unknown
0.67
0.47
5.0
5.9
2.2
6.8
5.9
2.1


AB022847
unknown
0.39
0.24
4.5
2.2
3.5
4.3
3.8
3.7


X75311
mevalonate kinase
0.67
0.22
4.3
4.0
2.0
8.3
4.0
5.1


AK000946
DKFZP566C243
0.36
0.29
4.1
3.8
3.9
5.4
25.8
2.7



protein


AB023197
KIAA0980 protein
0.25
0.30
4.0
8.3
2.1
8.8
2.2
4.9


AB014615
fibroblast growth
0.19
0.07
3.9
3.3
7.0
3.4
2.2
7.7



factor 8


X04014
unknown
0.29
0.16
3.8
2.5
2.2
3.0
5.5
3.1


U76368
solute carrier
0.46
0.17
3.8
3.8
2.8
3.2
4.2
3.0



family 7


AB032436
unknown
0.14
0.21
3.8
2.7
6.1
3.2
4.5
2.6


AB020683
KIAA0876 protein
0.37
0.21
3.7
4.2
2.2
5.3
2.9
9.4


NM_012126
carbohydrate
0.31
0.20
3.7
5.2
3.2
3.4
3.9
2.5



sulfotransferase 5


AK002037
hypothetical
0.08
0.08
3.7
17.1
4.6
12.3
11.0
8.7



protein


X78712
glycerol kinase
0.17
0.19
3.6
2.5
4.5
5.3
2.2
3.3



pseudogene 2


NM_014178
HSPC156 protein
0.23
0.12
3.5
8.4
2.9
6.9
14.4
5.5


AC004079
homeo box A2
0.31
0.11
3.5
7.0
2.1
2.0
7.3
9.1


AL080182
unknown
0.51
0.21
3.4
3.5
2.2
2.1
2.9
2.4


M91036
hemoglobin
0.22
0.02
3.4
26.3
5.8
6.8
30.4
21.6



gamma G


AJ000512
serum/glucocortico
0.27
0.43
3.3
2.1
4.9
2.3
3.9
2.7



id regulated kinase


AK002140
hypothetical
0.28
0.14
3.3
9.9
2.8
2.1
16.6
7.2



protein


AL137284
unknown
0.22
0.04
3.3
7.2
4.1
6.0
12.2
3.7


Z11898
POU domain
0.12
0.29
3.2
3.7
8.2
2.5
6.6
2.2



class 5 TF 1


AB017016
brain-specific
0.27
0.29
3.1
2.8
2.5
2.8
3.3
5.5



protein


X54673
Solute-carrier
0.34
0.08
2.9
12.0
2.2
10.4
7.4
5.9



family 6


AL033377
unknown
0.40
0.22
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.3
4.5
2.2


X85740
CCR4
0.34
0.05
2.6
2.3
2.6
2.5
12.5
5.2


AB010419
core-binding factor
0.59
0.20
2.5
12.8
2.0
2.8
2.9
5.9


AL109726
uknown
0.14
0.15
2.3
9.0
4.3
4.4
2.6
3.7


NM_012450
sulfate transporter 1
0.15
0.10
2.2
3.1
8.2
9.9
4.7
5.9


J04599
biglycan
0.39
0.30
2.1
3.3
6.6
2.2
2.7
5.4


AK000266
hypothetical
0.49
0.35
2.1
3.5
3.5
6.6
4.3
4.0



protein










[0132]

34





TABLE 33










Up-regulation of Polynucleotide expression in A549 cells induced by


Formula C Peptides.


The peptides at a concentration of 50 μg/ml were shown to increase the


expression of many polynucleotides. Peptide was incubated with the human A549


epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes


and hybridized to Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of polynucleotides in


control, unstimulated cells are shown in the second and third columns for labeling of


cDNA with the dyes Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. The “ID#: Control” columns refer to the


intensity of polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the


intensity of unstimulated cells.
















Accession

control-
control-
ID 19:
ID 20:
ID 21:
ID 22:
ID 23:
ID 24:


Number
Gene
Cy3
Cy5
control
control
control
control
control
control



















NM_014139
sodium channel
0.04
0.05
31.6
25.2
18.0
9.7
22.2
11.2



voltage-gated,


X84003
TATA box binding
0.47
0.07
31.8
12.7
2.5
2.8
18.0
14.2



protein


AF144412
lens epithelial cell
0.25
0.07
23.9
8.0
6.8
3.4
16.2
3.5



protein


AL080107
unknown
0.11
0.06
17.8
34.4
12.4
6.2
5.4
7.9


AF052116
unknown
0.34
0.07
15.5
3.9
9.2
3.0
6.9
2.7


AB033063
unknown
0.46
0.13
15.2
10.3
4.0
2.6
7.2
11.2


AK000258
hypothetical protein
0.27
0.07
13.9
8.0
3.5
3.4
26.5
11.5


NM_006963
zinc finger protein
0.10
0.08
12.8
6.8
6.2
5.9
17.2
1241.2


NM_014099
PRO1768 protein
0.30
0.06
12.3
17.4
5.4
5.4
19.5
3.4


AK000996
hypothetical protein
0.17
0.07
10.0
8.0
9.7
7.4
20.7
16.3


M81933
cell division cycle
0.13
0.21
8.8
7.8
19.6
15.6
4.8
3.8



25A


AF181286
unknown
0.05
0.22
8.8
2.7
12.0
35.6
5.9
2.3


AJ272208
IL-1R accessory
0.22
0.17
8.8
2.9
5.0
3.2
9.8
7.3



protein-like 2


AF030555
fatty-acid-Coenzyme
0.10
0.39
8.7
2.2
11.3
9.9
3.0
2.1



A ligase


AL050125
unknown
0.23
0.07
8.6
14.3
5.2
2.8
18.7
8.3


AB011096
KIAA0524 protein
0.21
0.08
8.5
24.4
4.7
6.8
10.4
7.5


J03068
N-acylaminoacyl-
0.54
0.21
8.3
2.4
2.2
4.1
3.0
6.0



peptide hydrolase


M33906
MHC class II, DQ
0.14
0.08
7.6
4.5
15.2
6.1
7.5
7.9



alpha 1


AJ272265
secreted
0.21
0.09
7.6
9.0
3.3
4.9
18.8
14.5



phosphoprotein


J00210
interferon alpha 13
0.41
0.07
7.2
15.0
2.8
3.1
11.0
4.3


AK001952
hypothetical protein
0.42
0.21
6.9
4.9
2.5
3.1
7.6
4.5


X54131
protein tyrosine
0.09
0.20
6.4
6.5
7.7
15.0
5.6
4.1



phosphatase,



receptor type,


AF064493
LIM binding domain 2
0.46
0.14
5.9
5.6
2.2
2.9
8.5
5.8


AL117567
DKFZP566O084
0.44
0.22
5.8
3.3
2.9
2.3
5.7
14.9



protein


L40933
phosphoglucomutase 5
0.16
0.03
5.6
11.0
4.8
3.5
8.5
76.3


M27190
regenerating islet-
0.19
0.28
5.3
3.0
3.8
3.6
5.8
3.6



derived 1 alpha


AL031121
unknown
0.24
0.09
5.3
3.8
3.2
3.9
3.0
27.9


U27655
regulator of G-
0.24
0.29
5.0
9.0
4.5
8.3
4.2
4.5



protein signalling


AB037786
unknown
0.12
0.03
4.7
54.1
2.8
2.3
2.2
11.0



myosin-binding
0.29
0.13
4.7
6.5
6.0
2.4
6.7
6.3



protein C


AB010962
matrix
0.08
0.12
4.7
6.2
2.4
4.7
10.9
4.2



metalloproteinase


AL096729
unknown
0.36
0.13
4.7
7.7
3.2
2.4
6.3
6.2


AB018320
Arg/Ab1-interacting
0.16
0.18
4.6
7.1
3.0
3.3
5.8
8.9



protein


AK001024
guanine nucleotide-
0.16
0.11
4.6
2.0
9.8
2.6
7.6
14.1



binding protein


AJ275355
unknown
0.15
0.08
4.6
17.3
5.4
9.2
5.1
5.5


U21931
fructose-
0.48
0.14
4.6
4.3
2.6
2.1
8.4
9.6



bisphosphatase 1


X66403
cholinergic receptor
0.17
0.19
4.4
9.0
10.9
9.3
5.1
6.7


X67734
contactin2
0.25
0.09
4.3
6.8
3.1
5.8
7.9
8.4


U92981
unknown
0.20
0.23
4.3
3.2
4.8
5.6
5.4
6.3


X68879
empty spiracles
0.05
0.08
4.3
2.0
12.3
2.7
5.6
4.7


AL137362
unknown
0.22
0.22
4.2
4.1
2.7
4.1
9.3
4.2


NM_001756
corticosteroid
0.28
0.13
4.1
10.6
3.9
2.7
10.3
5.5



binding globulin


U80770
unknown
0.31
0.14
4.1
4.1
23.3
2.7
7.0
10.1


AL109792
unknown
0.16
0.19
4.0
4.5
4.3
8.8
8.7
3.9


X65962
cytochrome P-450
0.33
0.05
3.8
25.3
5.7
5.1
19.8
12.0


AK001856
unknown
0.40
0.21
3.8
7.0
2.6
3.1
2.9
7.8


AL022723
MHC, class I, F
0.55
0.18
3.7
5.7
4.4
2.3
3.3
5.2


D38449
putative G protein
0.18
0.09
3.5
11.1
13.3
5.8
4.8
5.2



coupled receptor


AL137489
unknown
0.74
0.26
3.3
2.9
2.6
3.3
2.5
5.4


AB000887
small inducible
0.76
0.18
3.3
5.0
2.6
2.4
5.9
10.3



cytokine subfamily A


NM_012450
sulfate transporter 1
0.15
0.10
3.3
9.0
10.0
10.9
4.6
8.7


U86529
glutathione S-
0.55
0.15
3.2
6.8
4.4
2.3
9.3
5.1



transferase zeta 1


AK001244
unknown
0.79
0.31
3.2
5.5
2.3
2.3
3.9
2.8


AL133602
unknown
0.16
0.21
3.1
7.8
8.7
2.6
4.1
5.6


AB033080
cell cycle
0.31
0.31
3.1
4.6
3.0
3.5
2.2
4.2



progression 8 protein


AF023466
putative glycine-N-
0.27
0.18
3.1
5.0
4.2
7.4
10.1
3.8



acyltransferase


AL117457
cofilin 2
0.68
0.53
3.0
4.6
3.3
2.4
7.4
3.4


AC007059
unknown
0.37
0.35
3.0
5.7
3.1
2.4
2.6
2.4


U60179
growth hormone
0.34
0.21
2.9
3.5
2.3
3.1
8.0
4.7



receptor


M37238
phospholipase C,
0.60
0.36
2.9
2.0
3.2
2.1
2.9
4.6



gamma 2


L22569
cathepsin B
0.32
0.12
2.9
2.1
6.2
3.0
13.1
16.7


M80359
MAP/microtubule
0.37
0.76
2.9
3.1
6.1
7.6
2.1
3.3



affinity-regulating



kinase 3


S70348
Integrin beta 3
0.58
0.31
2.6
4.8
4.1
2.6
2.6
2.6


L13720
growth arrest-
0.36
0.26
2.4
2.5
6.8
4.8
3.9
3.7



specific 6


AL049423
unknown
0.33
0.30
2.4
3.7
3.8
2.8
2.9
3.4


AL050201
unknown
0.68
0.29
2.2
3.1
3.7
3.0
3.0
2.2


AF050078
growth arrest
0.87
0.33
2.1
8.4
2.5
2.2
2.6
4.4



specific 11


AK001753
hypothetical protein
0.53
0.28
2.1
5.0
2.2
2.8
3.6
4.6


X05323
unknown
0.39
0.13
2.1
7.8
2.6
2.4
21.5
3.5


AB014548
KIAA0648 protein
0.61
0.30
2.0
2.4
4.8
3.4
4.9
3.9










[0133]

35





TABLE 34










Up-regulation of Polynucleotide expression in A549 cells induced by


Formula D Peptides.


The peptides at a concentration of 50 μg/ml were shown to increase the


expression of many polynucleotides. Peptide was incubated with the human A549


epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes


and hybridized to Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of polynucleotides in


control, unstimulated cells are shown in the second and third columns for labeling of


cDNA with the dyes Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. The “ID#: Control” columns refer to the


intensity of polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the intensity


of unstimulated cells.
















Accession

control-
control-
ID 26:
ID 27:
ID 28:
ID 29:
ID 30:
ID 31:


Number
Gene
Cy3
Cy5
control
control
control
control
control
control



















U68018
MAD
0.13
0.71
11.2
2.2
8.0
2.3
6.7
25.6



homolog 2


NM_016015
CGI-68
0.92
1.59
2.3
2.3
3.5
3.7
3.4
22.9



protein


AF071510
lecithin retinol
0.07
0.05
15.4
10.3
5.3
44.1
2.1
21.2



acyltransferase


AC005154
unkown
0.17
1.13
2.7
7.2
12.6
6.4
3.3
20.6


M81933
cell division
0.13
0.21
4.3
3.1
3.2
4.3
5.6
18.2



cycle 25 A


AF124735
LIM HOX
0.17
0.21
2.1
4.4
5.9
5.2
7.6
17.0



gene 2


AL110125
unknown
0.30
0.08
5.0
2.7
6.8
10.2
2.8
12.0


NM_004732
potassium
0.15
0.16
7.6
4.0
3.4
2.2
2.9
11.4



voltage-gated



channel


AF030555
fatty-acid-
0.10
0.39
10.5
2.2
6.4
3.0
5.1
10.7



Coenzyme A



ligase_long-



chain 4


AF000237
1-
1.80
2.37
3.4
2.5
2.4
2.1
3.7
9.9



acylglycerol-



3-phosphate



O-



acyltransferase 2


AL031588
hypothetical
0.40
0.26
5.8
20.2
2.8
4.7
5.6
9.1



protein


AL080077
unknown
0.15
0.21
2.4
2.0
11.9
3.8
2.3
8.7


NM_014366
putative
0.90
2.52
2.4
4.3
2.4
2.6
3.0
8.6



nucleotide



binding



protein



estradiol-



induced


AB002359
phosphoribos
0.81
2.12
3.2
2.7
5.5
2.5
2.8
6.9



ylformylglyci



namidine



synthase


U33547
MHC class II
0.14
0.16
2.5
5.3
4.5
5.0
3.1
6.6



antigen HLA-



DRB6



mRNA


AL133051
unknown
0.09
0.07
7.7
6.3
5.4
23.1
5.4
6.5


AK000576
hypothetical
0.27
0.06
7.1
9.3
5.0
6.9
2.9
6.2



protein


AF042378
spindle pole
0.36
0.39
3.3
3.0
9.5
4.5
3.4
6.2



body protein


AF093265
Homer
0.67
0.53
2.7
13.3
6.5
5.0
2.9
6.2



neuronal



immediate



early gene_3


D80000
Segregation of
1.01
1.56
3.6
2.5
4.9
3.2
6.3
6.1



mitotic



chromosomes 1


AF035309
proteasome
3.61
4.71
2.7
6.6
5.2
4.9
2.7
6.0



26S subunit



ATPase 5


M34175
adaptor-
4.57
5.13
3.2
3.1
4.0
4.6
2.7
6.0



related protein



complex 2



beta 1 subunit


AB020659
KLAA0852
0.18
0.37
4.1
7.6
5.7
4.8
2.5
5.7



protein


NM_004862
LPS-induced
2.61
3.36
3.8
4.8
4.1
4.9
3.2
5.6



TNF-alpha



factor


U00115
zinc finger
0.51
0.07
18.9
2.2
3.5
7.2
21.2
5.6



protein 51


AF088868
fibrousheathin
0.45
0.20
4.7
10.0
3.2
6.4
6.0
5.6



II


AK001890
unknown
0.42
0.55
2.4
3.5
3.6
2.3
2.2
5.6


AL137268
KIAA0759
0.49
0.34
3.8
2.3
5.0
3.5
3.3
5.4



protein


X63563
polymerase II
1.25
1.68
2.5
8.1
3.4
4.8
5.2
5.4



polypeptide B


D12676
CD36 antigen
0.35
0.39
2.9
3.4
2.6
2.2
3.5
5.3


AK000161
hypothetical
1.06
0.55
3.4
8.7
2.1
6.7
2.9
5.1



protein


AF052138
unknown
0.64
0.51
2.9
2.8
2.7
5.2
3.6
5.0


AL096803
unknown
0.36
0.03
20.1
18.3
3.7
19.3
16.1
4.9


S49953
DNA-binding
0.70
0.15
3.7
4.0
2.1
6.6
4.0
4.8



transcriptional



activator


X89399
RAS p21
0.25
0.10
8.5
14.9
4.8
18.6
4.3
4.8



protein



activator


AJ005273
antigenic
0.70
0.10
7.6
11.1
2.8
9.9
12.0
4.6



determinant of



recA protein


AK001154
hypothetical
1.70
0.96
2.4
4.4
2.9
8.9
2.4
4.5



protein


AL133605
unknown
0.26
0.15
12.4
4.2
4.4
3.3
3.3
4.1


U71092
G protein-
0.53
0.06
19.0
9.1
2.2
12.0
3.3
4.1



coupled



receptor 24


AF074723
RNA
0.67
0.54
4.0
3.2
3.1
3.4
6.0
4.0



polymerase II



transcriptional



regulation



mediator


AL137577
unknown
0.32
0.12
31.4
6.2
5.3
10.1
25.3
3.9


AF151043
hypothetical
0.48
0.35
2.6
2.2
2.0
3.3
2.2
3.8



protein


AF131831
unknown
0.67
0.81
2.1
7.0
3.5
3.2
3.9
3.7


D50405
histone
1.52
2.62
3.1
7.2
2.9
4.1
2.8
3.7



deacetylase 1


U78305
protein
1.21
0.20
4.7
13.0
3.5
5.9
4.2
3.7



phosphatase



1D


AL035562
paired box
0.24
0.01
30.2
81.9
5.6
82.3
6.2
3.7



gene 1


U67156
mitogen-
1.15
0.30
6.6
3.0
2.2
2.3
2.5
3.6



activated



protein kinase



kinase kinase 5


AL031121
unknown
0.24
0.09
5.2
3.7
2.3
6.5
9.1
3.6


U13666
G protein-
0.34
0.14
3.8
5.4
3.1
3.3
2.8
3.6



coupled



receptor 1


AB018285
KIAA0742
0.53
0.13
14.9
13.9
5.9
18.5
15.2
3.5



protein


D42053
site-1 protease
0.63
0.40
2.6
7.1
5.6
9.2
2.6
3.5


AK001135
Sec23-
0.29
0.53
5.7
4.5
3.4
2.6
11.3
3.4



interacting



protein p125


AL137461
unknown
0.25
0.02
23.8
9.0
2.7
59.2
12.5
3.3


NM_006963
zinc finger
0.10
0.08
3.2
7.6
3.7
7.9
11.2
3.2



protein 22


AL137540
unknown
0.67
0.79
3.9
2.6
5.6
4.2
3.5
3.1


AL137718
unknown
0.95
0.18
4.7
8.0
4.0
13.3
3.0
3.1


AF012086
RAN binding
1.20
0.59
4.6
4.0
2.0
4.6
3.6
3.1



protein 2-like 1


S57296
HER2/neu
0.59
0.17
7.3
12.1
2.3
20.0
22.2
3.0



receptor


NM_013329
GC-rich
0.16
0.08
6.9
14.3
9.7
3.3
7.2
3.0



sequence



DNA-binding



factor



candidate


AF038664
UDP-
0.15
0.03
13.4
22.2
5.4
15.8
17.6
3.0



Gal: betaGlcN



Ac beta 1_4-



galactosyltransferase


AF080579


Homo sapiens


0.34
1.03
3.3
3.0
6.7
2.1
2.9
2.9



integral



membrane



protein


AK001075
hypothetical
0.67
0.10
2.1
2.6
2.6
8.9
2.2
2.9



protein


AB011124
KIAA0552
0.46
0.04
9.6
72.0
6.0
33.9
13.6
2.9



gene product


J03068
N-
0.54
0.21
2.2
5.0
2.4
5.2
3.6
2.8



acylaminoacyl-



peptide



hydrolase


D87120
osteoblast
0.87
0.87
2.2
2.0
4.7
2.3
2.0
2.8



protein


AB006537
IL-1R
0.17
0.07
2.9
7.0
14.5
5.3
6.6
2.8



accessory



protein


L34587
transcription
2.49
1.23
2.2
16.3
5.0
15.8
5.5
2.7



elongation



factor B


D31891
SET domain
1.02
0.29
3.9
6.0
4.3
4.9
6.6
2.7



bifurcated_1


D00760
proteasome
4.97
4.94
4.1
2.6
2.0
2.8
2.7
2.7



subunit_alpha



type_2


AC004774
distal-less
0.25
0.12
2.3
6.3
3.8
5.2
5.2
2.6



homeo box 5


AL024493
unknown
1.46
0.54
4.8
13.5
2.1
11.6
6.8
2.6


AB014536
copine III
1.80
1.29
3.2
9.5
3.8
6.8
2.6
2.6


X59770
IL-1R type II
0.59
0.16
9.6
4.7
3.9
3.2
4.9
2.5


AF052183
unknown
0.65
0.76
4.0
3.7
2.3
5.0
3.0
2.5


AK000541
hypothetical
0.92
0.27
4.5
13.9
3.6
18.1
4.3
2.5



protein


U88528
cAMP
1.37
0.86
3.1
5.4
2.1
2.8
2.1
2.4



responsive



element



binding



protein


M97925
defensin alpha
0.33
0.07
4.6
35.9
2.0
7.8
6.5
2.4



5_Paneth



cell-specific


NM_013393
cell division
1.38
0.94
3.1
5.8
2.1
4.2
2.6
2.3



protein FtsJ


X62744
MHC class II
0.86
0.32
4.0
4.7
2.3
2.9
6.1
2.3



DM alpha


AF251040
putative
0.64
0.30
6.7
3.4
2.9
3.9
5.7
2.2



nuclear



protein


AK000227
hypothetical
1.49
0.43
3.4
7.1
2.3
3.3
9.1
2.1



protein


U88666
SFRS protein
1.78
0.37
3.4
5.9
2.6
8.4
6.1
2.0



kinase 2










[0134]

36





TABLE 35










Up-regulation of Polynucleotide expression in A549 cells induced by


Formula E Peptides.


The peptides at a concentration of 50 μg/ml were shown to increase the


expression of many polynucleotides. Peptide was incubated with the human A549


epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes


and hybridized to Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of polynucleotides in


control, unstimulated cells are shown in the second and third columns for labeling of


cDNA with the dyes Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. The “ID#: Control” columns refer to the


intensity of polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the


intensity of unstimulated cells.
















Accession

control-
control-
ID 33:
ID 34:
ID 35:
ID 36:
ID 37:
ID 38:


Number
Gene
Cy3
Cy5
control
control
control
control
control
control



















AL049689
Novel human
0.25
0.05
2.7
26.5
3.3
21.7
5.4
37.9



mRNA


AK000576
hypothetical
0.27
0.06
3.0
19.1
3.9
23.0
3.1
28.3



protein


X74837
mannosidase,
0.10
0.07
5.6
10.0
10.8
12.3
12.0
19.9



alpha class 1A



member 1


AK000258
hypothetical
0.27
0.07
14.0
11.1
7.9
16.1
6.2
18.9



protein


X89067
transient receptor
0.20
0.14
3.7
2.2
2.4
2.6
8.0
18.1


AL137619
unknown
0.16
0.08
6.3
6.7
10.8
10.5
7.9
16.5


NM_003445
zinc finger
0.17
0.07
4.0
23.6
2.9
13.6
4.3
14.4



protein


X03084
complement
0.36
0.15
2.4
3.1
2.9
7.7
3.4
13.7



component 1


U27330
fucosyltransferase 5
0.39
0.08
2.4
2.5
2.6
12.1
3.5
13.0


AF070549
unknown
0.16
0.09
2.7
4.7
7.9
10.3
4.2
12.6


AB020335
sel-1-like
0.19
0.24
2.9
2.6
2.0
7.3
4.7
12.4


M26901
renin
0.09
0.12
14.9
2.2
7.3
12.0
20.8
12.0


Y07828
ring finger
0.09
0.06
9.0
26.6
8.9
16.0
3.6
11.6



protein


AK001848
hypothetical
0.21
0.07
6.2
8.2
2.7
5.2
5.5
10.9



protein


NM_016331
zinc finger
0.16
0.08
7.6
5.1
7.0
25.5
5.5
10.9



protein


U75330
neural cell
0.42
0.08
2.5
3.6
2.0
5.8
6.2
9.9



adhesion



molecule 2


AB037826
unknown
0.16
0.11
3.8
6.0
3.4
13.4
6.0
9.8


M34041
adrenergic alpha-
0.30
0.13
4.5
4.5
3.7
8.6
5.6
9.8



2B-receptor


D38449
putative G
0.18
0.09
2.3
25.8
11.7
2.3
3.2
9.5



protein coupled



receptor


AJ250562
transmembrane 4
0.13
0.10
10.0
8.4
2.2
8.1
16.3
9.1



superfamily



member 2


AK001807
hypothetical
0.18
0.12
4.2
5.3
4.6
3.2
4.0
8.3



protein


AL133051
unknown
0.09
0.07
5.1
13.6
6.0
9.1
2.2
8.2


U43843
Neuro-d4
0.61
0.10
2.0
6.4
2.3
16.6
2.2
8.1



homolog


NM_013227
aggrecan 1
0.28
0.15
7.5
3.1
2.5
6.9
8.5
7.8


AF226728
somatostatin
0.23
0.17
7.0
3.6
3.1
5.5
3.5
7.7



receptor-



interacting



protein


AK001024
guanine
0.16
0.11
3.9
12.3
2.7
7.4
3.3
7.0



nucleotide-



binding protein


AC002302
unknown
0.13
0.14
16.1
5.8
5.8
2.6
9.6
6.2


AB007958
unknown
0.17
0.27
2.0
2.3
11.3
3.3
3.0
6.1


AF059293
cytokine
0.19
0.22
3.6
2.5
10.2
3.8
2.7
5.9



receptor-like



factor 1


V01512
v-fos
0.27
0.21
6.7
3.7
13.7
9.3
3.7
5.4


U82762
sialyltransferase 8
0.23
0.15
3.2
6.5
2.7
9.2
5.7
5.4


U44059
thyrotrophic
0.05
0.13
22.9
7.1
12.5
7.4
9.7
5.4



embryonic factor


X05323
antigen identified
0.39
0.13
4.3
2.5
2.2
7.4
2.8
5.1



by monoclonal



antibody


U72671
ICAM 5,
0.25
0.14
5.3
2.7
3.7
10.0
3.2
4.8


AL133626
hypothetical
0.26
0.25
2.2
4.2
2.9
3.0
2.6
4.7



protein


X96401
MAX binding
0.31
0.29
6.9
2.3
4.9
3.1
2.9
4.6



protein


AL117533
unknown
0.05
0.26
8.2
2.7
11.1
2.5
11.9
4.5


AK001550
hypothetical
0.10
0.30
8.0
2.0
4.9
2.1
7.8
4.5



protein


AB032436


Homo sapiens


0.14
0.21
5.1
2.2
9.1
4.5
6.4
4.4



BNPI mRNA


AL035447
hypothetical
0.28
0.23
4.3
3.7
8.7
5.2
3.7
4.2



protein


U09414
zinc finger
0.28
0.25
4.0
2.2
4.7
3.3
7.2
4.2



protein


AK001256
unknown
0.09
0.08
5.3
6.5
31.1
12.7
6.4
4.1


L14813
carboxyl ester
0.64
0.21
2.7
6.2
3.1
2.1
3.4
3.9



lipase-like


AF038181
unknowan
0.06
0.18
34.1
6.4
4.5
8.7
11.3
3.9


NM_001486
glucokinase
0.21
0.08
3.0
2.2
6.5
12.4
5.7
3.9


AB033000
hypothetical
0.24
0.22
3.4
3.3
7.1
5.5
4.5
3.8



protein


AL117567
DKFZP566O084
0.44
0.22
2.2
2.7
3.9
4.0
4.5
3.7



protein


NM_012126
carbohydrate
0.31
0.20
5.5
5.4
3.8
5.5
2.6
3.5



sulfotransferase 5


AL031687
unknown
0.16
0.27
5.9
2.6
3.4
2.3
4.9
3.5


X04506
apolipoprotein B
0.29
0.32
5.4
4.4
6.9
5.5
2.1
3.5


NM_006641
CCR 9
0.35
0.11
3.3
3.3
2.2
16.5
2.3
3.5


Y00970
acrosin
0.12
0.14
8.2
8.8
3.1
6.2
17.5
3.4


X67098
rTS beta protein
0.19
0.26
2.4
3.1
7.8
3.5
4.4
3.3


U51990
pre-mRNA
0.56
0.19
2.2
3.0
2.8
13.7
2.9
3.0



splicing factor


AF030555
fatty-acid-
0.10
0.39
3.5
6.9
13.3
4.4
7.5
2.9



Coenzyme A


AL009183
TNFR
0.46
0.19
6.0
4.1
2.8
8.6
2.6
2.8



superfamily,



member 9


AF045941
sciellin
0.16
0.21
11.6
2.4
2.8
2.2
4.1
2.8


AF072756
A kinase anchor
0.33
0.07
2.5
5.3
3.9
32.7
2.3
2.7



protein 4


X78678
ketohexokinase
0.10
0.20
18.0
3.5
4.1
2.5
14.6
2.6


AL031734
unknown
0.03
0.39
43.7
2.3
41.7
4.0
10.8
2.5


D87717
KIAA0013 gene
0.35
0.42
4.2
2.3
3.6
2.6
2.9
2.5



product


U01824
solute carrier
0.42
0.29
4.8
2.3
4.2
7.1
4.2
2.4



family 1


AF055899
solute carrier
0.14
0.31
9.5
12.3
7.4
4.7
6.6
2.3



family 27


U22526
lanosterol
0.09
0.45
4.1
3.4
10.4
2.2
17.9
2.3



synthase


AB032963
unknown
0.19
0.34
6.3
6.1
2.9
2.1
5.7
2.2


NM_015974
lambda-crystallin
0.17
0.25
11.4
2.8
5.9
2.4
5.8
2.2


X82200
stimulated transacting
0.23
0.15
8.2
3.4
3.0
2.8
11.3
2.2



factor


AL137522
unknown
0.12
0.26
12.1
3.7
12.6
6.9
4.3
2.2


Z99916
crystallin, beta
0.28
0.65
2.5
2.1
3.6
2.2
2.6
2.1



B3


AF233442
ubiquitin specific
0.41
0.31
2.6
3.6
3.6
4.5
3.4
2.1



protease 21


AK001927
hypothetical
0.24
0.52
7.6
5.6
5.0
2.5
4.1
2.0



protein










[0135]

37





TABLE 36










Up-regulation of Polynucleotide expression in A549 cells induced by


Formula F Peptides.


The peptides at a concentration of 50 μg/ml were shown to increase the


expression of many polynucleotides. Peptide was incubated with the human A549


epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted into labeled cDNA probes


and hybridized to Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of polynucleotides in


control, unstimulated cells are shown in the second and third columns for labeling of


cDNA with the dyes Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. The “Ratio ID#: Control” columns refer


to the intensity of polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the


intensity of unstimulated cells.



















Ratio
Ratio
Ratio
Ratio
Ratio


Accession

control-
control-
ID 40:
ID 42:
ID 43:
ID 44:
ID 45:


Number
Gene
Cy3
Cy5
control
control
control
control
control


















AF025840
polymerase
0.34
0.96
3.4
2.0
2.0
2.1
4.3



epsilon 2


AF132495
CGI-133 protein
0.83
0.67
3.0
2.2
2.6
2.8
5.1


AL137682
hypothetical
0.73
0.40
2.0
5.3
4.8
2.9
8.2



protein


U70426
regulator of G-
0.23
0.25
3.1
3.0
5.3
3.1
12.2



protein signalling



16


AK001135
Sec23-interacting
0.29
0.53
3.2
2.6
3.3
14.4
5.2



protein p125


AB023155
KIAA0938 protein
0.47
0.21
2.7
4.8
8.1
4.2
10.4


AB033080
cell cycle
0.31
0.31
4.4
2.2
5.9
4.3
6.9



progression 8



protein


AF061836
Ras association
0.29
0.31
3.2
2.5
11.1
18.8
6.8



domain family 1


AK000298
hypothetical
0.48
0.27
3.3
2.2
7.1
5.6
7.7



protein


L75847
zinc finger protein
0.35
0.52
3.2
3.0
4.0
3.0
3.9


X97267
protein tyrosine
0.19
0.24
4.1
9.3
2.4
4.2
8.3



phosphatase


Z11933
POU domain class
0.09
0.23
8.7
2.5
3.6
4.3
8.2



3 TF 2


AB037744
unknown
0.37
0.57
2.6
2.9
2.7
3.0
3.1


U90908
unknown
0.12
0.16
11.8
7.7
3.4
7.8
11.2


AL050139
unknown
0.29
0.60
5.2
2.4
3.3
3.0
2.8


AB014615
fibroblast growth
0.19
0.07
5.4
3.5
8.5
3.2
22.7



factor 8


M28825
CD1A antigen
0.51
0.36
4.1
2.6
2.0
4.6
4.4


U27330
fucosyltransferase 5
0.39
0.08
3.3
2.1
24.5
8.2
19.3


NM_006963
zinc finger protein
0.10
0.08
10.4
12.6
12.3
29.2
20.5


AF093670
peroxisomal
0.44
0.53
4.0
2.6
2.6
4.3
2.9



biogenesis factor


AK000191
hypothetical
0.50
0.18
2.3
3.6
4.4
2.2
8.2



protein


AB022847
unknown
0.39
0.24
2.1
6.9
4.5
2.8
6.2


AK000358
microfibrillar-
0.28
0.28
5.7
2.0
3.5
5.2
5.2



associated protein 3


X74837
mannosidase
0.10
0.07
13.1
18.4
23.6
16.3
20.8



alpha class 1A


AF053712
TNF superfamily
0.17
0.08
11.3
9.3
13.4
10.6
16.6



member 11


AL133114
DKFZP586P2421
0.11
0.32
8.5
3.4
4.9
5.3
4.3



protein


AF049703
E74-like factor 5
0.22
0.24
5.1
6.0
3.3
2.7
5.4


AL137471
hypothetical
0.29
0.05
4.0
15.0
10.1
2.7
25.3



protein


AL035397
unknown
0.33
0.14
2.3
2.8
10.6
4.6
9.3


AL035447
hypothetical
0.28
0.23
3.8
6.8
2.7
3.0
5.7



protein


X55740
CD73
0.41
0.61
2.1
3.3
2.9
3.2
2.1


NM_004909
taxol resistance
0.20
0.22
3.9
2.9
6.5
3.2
5.6



associated gene 3


AF233442
ubiquitin specific
0.41
0.31
2.9
4.7
2.7
3.5
3.9



protease


U92980
unknown
0.83
0.38
4.2
4.1
4.8
2.3
3.1


AF105424
myosin heavy
0.30
0.22
2.8
3.3
4.4
2.3
5.3



polypeptide-like


M26665
histatin 3
0.29
0.26
7.9
3.5
4.6
3.5
4.5


AF083898
neuro-oncological
0.20
0.34
18.7
3.8
2.2
3.6
3.5



ventral antigen 2


AJ009771
ariadne
0.33
0.06
2.3
17.6
15.9
2.5
20.3



Drosophila



homolog of


AL022393
hypothetical
0.05
0.33
32.9
2.4
3.0
69.4
3.4



protein P1


AF039400
chloride channel
0.11
0.19
8.4
2.9
5.1
18.1
5.9



calcium activated



family member 1


AJ012008
dimethylarginine
0.42
0.43
5.1
3.3
3.2
6.2
2.6



dimethylaminohydrolase 2


AK000542
hypothetical
0.61
0.24
2.1
4.5
5.0
3.7
4.4



protein


AL133654
unknown
0.27
0.40
2.8
2.1
2.5
2.5
2.6


AL137513
unknown
0.43
0.43
6.4
3.2
3.8
2.3
2.3


U05227
GTP-binding
0.38
0.36
5.0
3.1
3.1
2.2
2.8



protein


D38449
putative G protein
0.18
0.09
5.8
6.7
6.7
9.1
10.4



coupled receptor


U80770
unknown
0.31
0.14
3.9
3.8
6.6
3.1
6.8


X61177
IL-5R alpha
0.40
0.27
2.6
4.4
9.8
8.1
3.6


U35246
vacuolar protein
0.15
0.42
5.8
2.8
2.6
4.5
2.2



sorting 45A


AB017016
brain-specific
0.27
0.29
6.0
2.6
3.4
3.1
3.1



protein p25 alpha


X82153
cathepsin K
0.45
0.20
4.2
5.2
4.8
4.4
4.6


AC005162
probable
0.12
0.28
11.9
3.4
6.8
18.7
3.2



carboxypeptidase



precursor


AL137502
unknown
0.22
0.16
3.9
4.9
7.3
3.9
5.3


U66669
3-
0.30
0.40
10.3
3.5
5.2
2.3
2.1



hydroxyisobutyryl-



Coenzyme A



hydrolase


AK000102
unknown
0.39
0.30
2.8
5.3
5.2
4.1
2.8


AF034970
docking protein 2
0.28
0.05
3.3
8.5
15.7
4.0
17.3


AK000534
hypothetical
0.13
0.29
6.8
2.3
4.0
20.6
2.9



protein


J04599
biglycan
0.39
0.30
4.0
3.7
4.0
4.8
2.8


AL133612
unknown
0.62
0.33
2.7
3.4
5.2
3.0
2.5


D10495
protein kinase C
0.18
0.10
12.0
20.7
8.7
6.8
8.1



delta


X58467
cytochrome P450
0.07
0.24
15.4
4.7
7.9
34.4
3.4


AF131806
unknown
0.31
0.25
2.6
3.4
5.7
7.0
3.2


AK000351
hypothetical
0.34
0.13
4.0
6.9
5.5
2.8
6.3



protein


AF075050
hypothetical
0.55
0.09
2.7
17.8
5.1
2.2
8.3



protein


AK000566
hypothetical
0.15
0.35
6.7
2.2
6.8
6.4
2.1



protein unknown


U43328
cartilage linking
0.44
0.19
2.5
6.2
6.9
7.8
3.8



protein 1


AF045941
sciellin
0.16
0.21
6.8
7.5
4.8
6.9
3.4


U27655
regulator of G-
0.24
0.29
5.5
4.9
2.9
4.9
2.4



protein signalling 3


AK000058
hypothetical
0.25
0.15
5.0
9.7
16.4
2.7
4.5



protein


AL035364
hypothetical
0.32
0.26
4.4
4.2
7.3
2.8
2.6



protein


AK001864
unknown
0.40
0.25
3.7
3.7
4.6
3.2
2.6


AB015349
unknown
0.14
0.24
10.5
2.8
3.7
8.0
2.7


V00522
MHC class II DR
0.62
0.22
4.8
3.9
4.7
2.5
3.0



beta 3


U75330
neural cell
0.42
0.08
2.1
9.6
13.2
3.3
7.8



adhesion molecule 2


NM_007199
IL-1R-associated
0.15
0.25
8.7
7.8
8.6
16.1
2.5



kinase M


D30742
calcium/calmodulin-
0.28
0.09
6.2
28.7
7.4
2.4
6.8



dependent



protein kinase IV


X05978
cystatin A
0.63
0.17
2.7
4.8
9.4
2.2
3.6


AF240467
TLR-7
0.11
0.10
13.8
13.3
4.7
7.7
4.9










[0136]

38





TABLE 37










Up-regulation of Polynucleotide expression in A549 cells induced by


Formula G and additional Peptides.


The peptides at a concentration of 50 μg/ml were shown to increase the


expression of many polynucleotides. Peptide was incubated with the human A549


epithelial cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted into labelled cDNA probes


and hybridised to Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of polynucleotides in


control, unstimulated cells are shown in the second and third columns for labelling of


cDNA with the dyes Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. The “Ratio ID#: Control” columns refer


to the intensity of polynucleotide expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the


intensity of unstimulated cells. Accession numbers and gene designations are U00115,


zinc finger protein; M91036, hemoglobin gamma G; K000070, hypothetical protein;


AF055899, solute carrier family 27; AK001490, hypothetical protein; X97674, nuclear


receptor coactivator 2; AB022847, unknown; AJ275986, transcription factor; D10495,


protein kinase C, delta; L36642, EphA7; M31166, pentaxin-related gene; AF176012,


unknown; AF072756, A kinase anchor protein 4; NM_014439, IL-1 Superfamily z;


AJ271351, putative transcriptional regulator; AK000576, hypothetical protein;


AJ272265, secreted phosphoprotein 2; AL122038, hypothetical protein; AK000307,


hypothetical protein; AB029001, KIAA1078 protein; U62437, cholinergic receptor;


AF064854, unknown; AL031588, hypothetical protein; X89399, RAS p21 protein


activator; D45399, phosphodiesterase; AB037716, hypothetical protein; X79981,


cadherin 5; AF034208, RIG-like 7-1; AL133355, chromosome 21 open reading frame 53;


NM_016281, STE20-like kinase; AF023614, transmembrane activator and CAML


interactor; AF056717, ash2-like; AB029039, KIAA1116 protein; J03634, inhibin, beta A;


U80764, unknown; AB032963, unknown; X82835, sodium channel, voltage-gated, type IX

















Accession
control-
control-
ID 53:
ID 54:
ID 47:
ID 48:
ID 49:
ID 50:
ID 51:
ID 52:


Number
Cy3
Cy5
control
control
control
control
control
control
control
control




















U00115
0.51
0.07
27.4
7.3
2.4
3.1
4.8
8.3
3.5
20.0


M91036
0.22
0.02
39.1
32.5
5.2
2.2
37.0
6.0
16.2
18.0


AK000070
0.36
0.18
3.8
7.6
2.6
15.1
12.2
9.9
17.2
15.3


AF055899
0.14
0.31
6.7
3.7
9.7
10.0
2.2
16.7
5.4
14.8


AK001490
0.05
0.02
14.1
35.8
3.2
28.6
25.0
20.2
56.5
14.1


X97674
0.28
0.28
3.2
3.7
4.0
10.7
3.3
3.1
4.0
13.2


AB022847
0.39
0.24
4.1
4.4
4.5
2.7
3.7
10.4
5.0
11.3


AJ275986
0.26
0.35
5.8
2.3
5.7
2.2
2.5
9.7
4.3
11.1


D10495
0.18
0.10
8.0
3.4
4.6
2.0
6.9
2.5
12.7
10.3


L36642
0.26
0.06
5.8
14.2
2.6
4.1
8.9
3.4
6.5
6.6


M31166
0.31
0.12
4.8
3.8
12.0
3.6
9.8
2.4
8.8
6.4


AF176012
0.45
0.26
3.1
2.9
2.8
2.6
2.3
6.9
3.0
5.8


AF072756
0.33
0.07
9.9
9.3
4.4
4.3
3.2
4.9
11.9
5.4


NM_014439
0.47
0.07
12.0
7.1
3.3
3.3
4.7
5.9
5.0
5.4


AJ271351
0.46
0.12
3.4
3.5
2.3
4.7
2.3
2.7
6.9
5.2


AK000576
0.27
0.06
7.4
15.7
2.9
4.7
9.0
2.4
8.2
5.1


AJ272265
0.21
0.09
6.2
7.9
2.3
3.7
10.3
4.5
4.6
4.7


AL122038
0.46
0.06
6.7
4.5
2.6
4.3
16.4
6.5
26.6
4.6


AK000307
0.23
0.09
3.7
4.0
4.3
3.2
5.3
2.9
13.1
4.4


AB029001
0.52
0.21
14.4
4.3
4.6
4.4
4.8
21.9
3.2
4.2


U62437
0.38
0.13
12.6
6.5
4.2
6.7
2.2
3.7
4.8
3.9


AF064854
0.15
0.16
2.6
2.9
6.2
8.9
14.4
5.0
9.1
3.9


AL031588
0.40
0.26
8.3
5.2
2.8
3.3
5.3
9.0
5.6
3.4


X89399
0.25
0.10
15.8
12.8
7.4
4.2
16.7
6.9
12.7
3.3


D45399
0.21
0.18
3.0
4.7
3.3
4.4
8.7
5.3
5.1
3.3


AB037716
0.36
0.40
5.1
7.5
2.6
2.1
3.5
3.1
2.4
2.8


X79981
0.34
0.10
4.7
7.2
3.2
4.6
6.5
5.1
5.8
2.7


AF034208
0.45
0.24
2.7
10.9
2.1
3.7
2.3
5.9
2.2
2.5


AL133355
0.22
0.23
2.3
3.4
7.3
2.7
3.3
4.3
2.8
2.5


NM_016281
0.40
0.19
6.6
10.6
2.1
2.8
5.0
11.2
10.6
2.5


AF023614
0.11
0.42
2.2
2.2
6.0
7.5
5.0
2.7
2.0
2.4


AF056717
0.43
0.62
4.3
3.2
5.1
4.0
4.6
9.7
3.1
2.2


AB029039
0.79
0.49
2.7
3.3
3.7
2.0
2.3
2.4
4.8
2.2


J03634
0.40
0.12
3.7
2.3
2.3
4.0
10.5
4.1
9.1
2.2


U80764
0.31
0.18
2.3
7.4
4.2
2.3
5.1
3.3
8.8
2.1


AB032963
0.19
0.34
4.0
7.3
5.0
3.0
2.9
6.7
3.8
2.1


X82835
0.25
0.38
2.0
2.7
2.9
7.7
3.3
3.1
3.5
2.0











EXAMPLE 5

[0137] Induction of Chemokines in Cell Lines, Whole Human Blood, and in Mice By Peptides


[0138] The murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7, THP-1 cells (human monocytes), a human epithelial cell line (A549), human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBEo14), and whole human blood were used. HBE cells were grown in MEM with Earle's. THP-1 cells were grown and maintained in RPMI 1640 medium. The RAW and A549 cell lines were maintained in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. The cells were seeded in 24 well plates at a density of 106 cells per well in DMEM (see above) and A549 cells were seeded in 24 well plates at a density of 105 cells per well in DMEM (see above) and both were incubated at 37° C. in 5% CO2 overnight. DMEM was aspirated from cells grown overnight and replaced with fresh medium. After incubation of the cells with peptide, the release of chemokines into the culture supernatant was determined by ELISA (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.).


[0139] Animal studies were approved by the UBC Animal Care Committee (UBC ACC # A01-0008). BALB/c mice were purchased from Charles River Laboratories and housed in standard animal facilities. Age, sex and weight matched adult mice were anaesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of Avertin (4.4 mM 2-2-2-tribromoethanol, 2.5% 2-methyl-2-butanol, in distilled water), using 200 μl per 10 g body weight. The instillation was performed using a non-surgical, intratracheal instillation method adapted from Ho and Furst 1973. Briefly, the anaesthetized mouse was placed with its upper teeth hooked over a wire at the top of a support frame with its jaw held open and a spring pushing the thorax forward to position the pharynx, larynx and trachea in a vertical straight line. The airway was illuminated externally and an intubation catheter was inserted into the clearly illuminated tracheal lumen. Twenty-μl of peptide suspension or sterile water was placed in a well at the proximal end of the catheter and gently instilled into the trachea with 200 μl of air. The animals were maintained in an upright position for 2 minutes after instillation to allow the fluid to drain into the respiratory tree. After 4 hours the mice were euthanaised by intraperitoneal injection of 300 mg/kg of pentobarbital. The trachea was exposed; an intravenous catheter was passed into the proximal trachea and tied in place with suture thread. Lavage was performed by introducing 0.75 ml sterile PBS into the lungs via the tracheal cannula and then after a few seconds, withdrawing the fluid. This was repeated 3 times with the same sample of PBS. The lavage fluid was placed in a tube on ice and the total recovery volume per mouse was approximately 0.5 ml. The bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was centrifuged at 1200 rpm for 10 min, the clear supernatant removed and tested for TNF-α and MCP-1 by ELISA.


[0140] The up-regulation of chemokines by cationic peptides was confirmed in several different systems. The murine MCP-1, a homologue of the human MCP-1, is a member of the β (C-C) chemokine family. MCP-1 has been demonstrated to recruit monocytes, NK cells and some T lymphocytes. When RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and whole human blood from 3 donors were stimulated with increasing concentrations of peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1, they produced significant levels of MCP-1 in their supernatant, as judged by ELISA (Table 36). RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with peptide concentrations ranging from 20-50 μg/ml for 24 hr produced significant levels of MCP-1 (200-400 pg/ml above background). When the cells (24h) and whole blood (4h) were stimulated with 100 μg/ml of LL-37, high levels of MCP-1 were produced.


[0141] The effect of cationic peptides on chemokine induction was also examined in a completely different cell system, A549 human epithelial cells. Interestingly, although these cells produce MCP-1 in response to LPS, and this response could be antagonized by peptide; there was no production of MCP-1 by A549 cells in direct response to peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1. Peptide SEQ ID NO: 1 at high concentrations, did however induce production of IL-8, a neutrophil specific chemokine (Table 37). Thus, SEQ ID NO: 1 can induce a different spectrum of responses from different cell types and at different concentrations. A number of peptides from each of the formula groups were tested for their ability to induce IL-8 in A549 cells (Table 38). Many of these peptides at a low concentration, 10 μg/ml induced IL-8 above background levels. At high concentrations (100 μg/ml) SEQ ID NO: 13 was also found to induce IL-8 in whole human blood (Table 39). Peptide SEQ ID NO: 2 also significantly induced IL-8 in HBE cells (Table 40) and undifferentiated THP-1 cells (Table 41).


[0142] BALB/c mice were given SEQ ID NO: 1 or endotoxin-free water by intratracheal instillation and the levels of MCP-1 and TNF-α examined in the bronchioalveolar lavage fluid after 3-4 hr. It was found that the mice treated with 50 μg/ml peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1 produced significantly increased levels of MCP-1 over mice given water or anesthetic alone (Table 42). This was not a pro-inflammatory response to peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1 since peptide did not significantly induce more TNF-α a than mice given water or anesthetic alone. peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1 was also found not to significantly induce TNF-α production by RAW 264.7 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages treated with peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1 (up to 100 μg/ml) (Table 43). Thus, peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1 selectively induces the production of chemokines without inducing the production of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α. This illustrates the dual role of peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1 as a factor that can block bacterial product-induced inflammation while helping to recruit phagocytes that can clear infections.
39TABLE 38Induction of MCP-1 in RAW 264.7 cells and whole human blood.RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells or whole human bloodwere stimulated with increasing concentrations of LL-37 for 4 hr.The human blood samples were centrifuged and the serum wasremoved and tested for MCP-1 by ELISA along with thesupernatants from the RAW 264.7 cells. The RAW cell datapresented in the mean of three or more experiments ± standarderror and the human blood data represents the mean ± standarderror from three separate donors.Monocyte chemoattractantPeptide, SEQ ID NO: 1protein (MCP)-1 (pg/ml)*(μg/ml)RAW cellsWhole blood0135.3 ± 16.3112.7 ± 43.310165.7 ± 18.2239.3 ± 113.350  367 ± 11.5  371 ± 105100  571 ± 17.4  596 ± 248.1


[0143]

40





TABLE 39










Induction of IL-8 in A549 cells and whole human blood.


A549 cells or whole human blood were stimulated with increasing


concentrations of peptide for 24 and 4 hr respectively.


The human blood samples were centrifuged and the serum was


removed and tested for IL-8 by ELISA along with the


supernatants from the A549 cells. The A549 cell data


presented is the mean of three or more experiments ± standard


error and the human blood data represents the mean ±


standard error from three separate donors.









Peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1
IL-8 (pg/ml)










(μg/ml)
A549 cells
Whole blood












0
  172 ± 29.1
 660.7 ± 126.6


1
 206.7 ± 46.1


10
 283.3 ± 28.4
 945.3 ± 279.9


20
  392 ± 31.7


50
 542.3 ± 66.2
1160.3 ± 192.4


100
1175.3 ± 188.3










[0144]

41





TABLE 40










Induction of IL-8 in A549 cells by Cationic peptides.


A549 human epithelial cells were stimulated with 10 μg


of peptide for 24 hr. The supernatant was


removed and tested for IL-8 by ELISA.










Peptide (10 ug/ml)
IL-8 (ng/ml)














No peptide
0.164



LPS, no peptide
0.26



SEQ ID NO: 1
0.278



SEQ ID NO: 6
0.181



SEQ ID NO: 7
0.161



SEQ ID NO: 9
0.21



SEQ ID NO: 10
0.297



SEQ ID NO: 13
0.293



SEQ ID NO: 14
0.148



SEQ ID NO: 16
0.236



SEQ ID NO: 17
0.15



SEQ ID NO: 19
0.161



SEQ ID NO: 20
0.151



SEQ ID NO: 21
0.275



SEQ ID NO: 22
0.314



SEQ ID NO: 23
0.284



SEQ ID NO: 24
0.139



SEQ ID NO: 26
0.201



SEQ ID NO: 27
0.346



SEQ ID NO: 28
0.192



SEQ ID NO: 29
0.188



SEQ ID NO: 30
0.284



SEQ ID NO: 31
0.168



SEQ ID NO: 33
0.328



SEQ ID NO: 34
0.315



SEQ ID NO: 35
0.301



SEQ ID NO: 36
0.166



SEQ ID NO: 37
0.269



SEQ ID NO: 38
0.171



SEQ ID NO: 40
0.478



SEQ ID NO: 41
0.371



SEQ ID NO: 42
0.422



SEQ ID NO: 43
0.552



SEQ ID NO: 44
0.265



SEQ ID NO: 45
0.266



SEQ ID NO: 47
0.383



SEQ ID NO: 48
0.262



SEQ ID NO: 49
0.301



SEQ ID NO: 50
0.141



SEQ ID NO: 51
0.255



SEQ ID NO: 52
0.207



SEQ ID NO: 53
0.377



SEQ ID NO: 54
0.133











[0145]

42





TABLE 41










Induction by Peptide of IL-8 in human blood.


Whole human blood was stimulated with increasing


concentrations of peptide for 4 hr. The human blood samples


were centrifuged and the serum was removed and tested


for IL-8 by ELISA. The data shown is the average 2 donors.










SEQ ID NO: 3 (μg/ml)
IL-8 (pg/ml)














0
85



10
70



100
323











[0146]

43





TABLE 42










Induction of IL-8 in HBE cells.


Increasing concentrations of the peptide were


incubated with HBE cells for 8 h, the supernantant


removed and tested for IL-8. The data is presented as


the mean of three or more experiments ± standard error.










SEQ ID NO: 2




(μg/ml)
IL-8 (pg/ml)














0
552 ± 90



0.1
 670 ± 155



1
 712 ± 205



10
941 ± 15



50
1490 ± 715











[0147]

44





TABLE 43










Induction of IL-8 in undifferentiated THP-1 cells.


The human monocyte THP-1 cells were incubated


with indicated concentrations of peptide for 8 hr.


The supernatant was removed and tested for IL-8 by ELISA.










SEQ ID NO: 3




(μg/ml)
IL-8 (pg/ml)














0
10.6



10
17.2



50
123.7











[0148]

45





TABLE 44










Induction of MCP-1 by Peptide, SEQ ID NO: 1 in mouse airway.


BALB/c mice were anaesthetised with avertin and


given intratracheal installation of peptide or water or


no installation (no treatment). The mice were monitored


for 4 hours, anaesthetised and the BAL fluid was


isolated and analyzed for MCP-1 and TNF-α


concentrations by ELISA. The data shown is the mean


of 4 or 5 mice for each condition ± standard error.











Condition
MCP-1 (pg/ml)
TNF-α (pg/ml)







Water
16.5 ± 5
664 ± 107



peptide
 111 ± 30
734 ± 210



Avertin
 6.5 ± 0.5
393 ± 129











[0149]

46





TABLE 45










Lack of Significant TNF-α induction by the Cationic


Peptides. RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were


incubated with indicated peptides (40 μg/ml)


for 6 hours. The supernatant was collected


and tested for levels of TNF-α by ELISA.


The data is presented as the mean of three or


more experiments + standard error.










Peptide Treatment
TNF-α (pg/ml)







Media background
  56 ± 8



LPS treatment, No peptide
15207 ± 186



SEQ ID NO: 1
 274 ± 15



SEQ ID NO: 5
 223 ± 45



SEQ ID NO: 6
 297 ± 32



SEQ ID NO: 7
 270 ± 42



SEQ ID NO: 8
 166 ± 23



SEQ ID NO: 9
 171 ± 33



SEQ ID NO: 10
 288 ± 30



SEQ ID NO: 12
 299 ± 65



SEQ ID NO: 13
 216 ± 42



SEQ ID NO: 14
 226 ± 41



SEQ ID NO: 15
 346 ± 41



SEQ ID NO: 16
 341 ± 68



SEQ ID NO: 17
 249 ± 49



SEQ ID NO: 19
 397 ± 86



SEQ ID NO: 20
 285 ± 56



SEQ ID NO: 21
 263 ± 8



SEQ ID NO: 22
 195 ± 42



SEQ ID NO: 23
 254 ± 58



SEQ ID NO: 24
 231 ± 32



SEQ ID NO: 26
 281 ± 34



SEQ ID NO: 27
 203 ± 42



SEQ ID NO: 28
 192 ± 26



SEQ ID NO: 29
 242 ± 40



SEQ ID NO: 31
 307 ± 71



SEQ ID NO: 33
 196 ± 42



SEQ ID NO: 34
 204 ± 51



SEQ ID NO: 35
 274 ± 76



SEQ ID NO: 37
 323 ± 41



SEQ ID NO: 38
 199 ± 38



SEQ ID NO: 43
 947 ± 197



SEQ ID NO: 44
 441 ± 145



SEQ ID NO: 45
 398 ± 90



SEQ ID NO: 48
 253 ± 33



SEQ ID NO: 49
 324 ± 38



SEQ ID NO: 50
 311 ± 144



SEQ ID NO: 53
 263 ± 40



SEQ ID NO: 54
 346 ± 86












EXAMPLE 6

[0150] Cationic Peptides Increase Surface Expression of Chemokine Receptors


[0151] To analyze cell surface expression of IL-8RB, CXCR-4, CCR2, and LFA-1, RAW macrophage cells were stained with 10 μg/ml of the appropriate primary antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) followed by FITC-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG [IL-8RB and CXCR-4 (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, West Grove, Pa.)] or FITC-conjugated donkey anti-goat IgG (Santa Cruz). The cells were analyzed using a FACscan, counting 10,000 events and gating on forward and side scatter to exclude cell debris.


[0152] The polynucleotide array data suggested that some peptides up-regulate the expression of the chemokine receptors IL-8RB, CXCR-4 and CCR2 by 10, 4 and 1.4 fold above unstimulated cells respectively. To confirm the polynucleotide array data, the surface expression was examined by flow cytometry of these receptors on RAW cells stimulated with peptide for 4 hr. When 50 μg/ml of peptide was incubated with RAW cells for 4 hr, IL-8RB was upregulated an average of 2.4-fold above unstimulated cells, CXCR-4 was up-regulated an average of 1.6-fold above unstimulated cells and CCR2 was up-regulated 1.8-fold above unstimulated cells (Table 46). As a control CEMA was demonstrated to cause similar up-regulation. Bac2A was the only peptide to show significant up-regulation of LFA-1 (3.8 fold higher than control cells).
47TABLE 46Increased surface expression of CXCR-4, IL-8RBand CCR2 in response to peptides.RAW macrophage cells were stimulated withpeptide for 4 hr. The cells were washed andstained with the appropriate primary andFITC-labeled secondary antibodies.The data shown represents the average (foldchange of RAW cells stimulated withpeptide from media) ± standard error.Concen-trationFold Increase in Protein ExpressionPeptide(μg/ml)IL-8RBCXCR-4CCR2SEQ ID101.01.01.0NO: 1SEQ ID501.3 ± 0.051.3 ± 0.031.3 ± 0.03NO: 1SEQ ID1002.4 ± 0.61.6 ± 0.231.8 ± 0.15NO: 1SEQ ID1002.0 ± 0.6Not Done4.5NO: 3CEMA501.6 ± 0.11.5 ± 0.21.5 ± 0.151003.6 ± 0.8Not Done4.7 ± 1.1



EXAMPLE 7

[0153] Phosphorylation of Map Kinases by Cationic Peptides


[0154] The cells were seeded at 2.5×105-5×105 cells/ml and left overnight. They were washed once in media, serum starved in the morning (serum free media−4 hrs). The media was removed and replaced with PBS, then sat at 37° C. for 15 minutes and then brought to room temp for 15 minutes. Peptide was added (concentrations 0.1 μg/ml-50 μg/ml) or H2O and incubated 10 min. The PBS was very quickly removed and replaced with ice-cold radioimmunoprecipitation (RIPA) buffer with inhibitors (NaF, B-glycerophosphate, MOL, Vanadate, PMSF, Leupeptin Aprotinin). The plates were shaken on ice for 10-15 min or until the cells were lysed and the lysates collected. The procedure for THP-1 cells was slightly different; more cells (2×106) were used. They were serum starved overnight, and to stop the reaction 1 ml of ice-cold PBS was added then they sat on ice 5-10 min, were spun down then resuspended in RIPA. Protein concentrations were determined using a protein assay (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.). Cell lysates (20 μg of protein) were separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to nitrocellulose filters. The filters were blocked for 1 h with 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl (TBS)/5% skim milk powder and then incubated overnight in the cold with primary antibody in TBS/0.05% Tween 20. After washing for 30 min with TBS/0.05% Tween 20, the filters were incubated for 1 h at room temperature with 1 μg/ml secondary antibody in TBS. The filters were washed for 30 min with TBS/0.05% Tween 20 and then incubated 1 h at room temperature with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated sheep anti-mouse IgG (1:10,000 in TBS/0.05% Tween 20). After washing the filters for 30 min with TBS/0. 1% Tween 20, immunoreactive bands were visualized by enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) detection. For experiments with peripheral blood mononuclear cells: The peripheral blood (50-100 ml) was collected from all subjects. Mononuclear cells were isolated from the peripheral blood by density gradient centrifugation on Ficoll-Hypaque. Interphase cells (mononuclear cells) were recovered, washed and then resuspended in recommended primary medium for cell culture (RPMI-1640) with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) and 1% L-glutamine. Cells were added to 6 well culture plates at 4×106 cells/well and were allowed to adhere at 37° C. in 5% CO2 atmosphere for 1 hour. The supenatant medium and non-adherent cells were washed off and the appropriate media with peptide was added. The freshly harvested cells were consistently >99% viable as assessed by their ability to exclude trypan blue. After stimulation with peptide, lysates were collected by lysing the cells in RIPA buffer in the presence of various phosphatase- and kinase-inhibitors. Protein content was analyzed and approximately 30 μg of each sample was loaded in a 12% SDS-PAGE gel. The gels were blotted onto nitrocellulose, blocked for 1 hour with 5% skim milk powder in Tris buffered saline (TBS) with 1% Triton X 100. Phosphorylation was detected with phosphorylation-specific antibodies.


[0155] The results of peptide-induced phosphorylation are summarized in Table 46. SEQ ID NO: 2 was found to cause dose dependent phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2 in the mouse macrophage RAW cell line and the HBE cells. SEQ ID NO: 3 caused phosphorylation of MAP kinases in THP-1 human monocyte cell line and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in the mouse RAW cell line.
48TABLE 47Phosphorylation of MAP kinases in response to peptides.MAP kinasephosphorylatedCell LinePeptidep38ERK1/2RAW 264.7SEQ ID NO: 3+SEQ ID NO: 2++HBESEQ ID NO: 3+SEQ ID NO: 2++THP-1SEQ ID NO: 3++SEQ ID NO: 2


[0156]

49





TABLE 48










Peptide Phosphorylation of MAP kinases in human


blood monocytes. SEQ ID NO: 1 at 50 μg/ml) was


used to promote phosphorylation.










p38 phosphorylation
ERK1/2 phosphorylation












15 minutes
60 minutes
15 minutes
60 minutes







+

+
+












EXAMPLE 8

[0157] Cationic Peptides Protect Against Bacterial Infection by Enhancing the Immune Response


[0158] BALB/c mice were given 1×105 Salmonella and cationic peptide (200 μg) by intraperitoneal injection. The mice were monitored for 24 hours at which point they were euthanized, the spleen removed, homogenized and resuspended in PBS and plated on Luria Broth agar plates with Kanamycin (50 μg/ml). The plates were incubated overnight at 37° C. and counted for viable bacteria (Table 49 and 50). CD-1 mice were given 1×108 S. aureus in 5% porcine mucin and cationic peptide (200 μg) by intraperitoneal injection (Table 51). The mice were monitored for 3 days at which point they were euthanized, blood removed and plated for viable counts. CD-1 male mice were given 5.8×106 CFU EHEC bacteria and cationic peptide (200 μg) by intraperitoneal (IP) injection and monitored for 3 days (Table 52). In each of these animal models a subset of the peptides demonstrated protection against infections. The most protective peptides in the Salmonella model demonstrated an ability to induce a common subset of genes in epithelial cells (Table 53) when comparing the protection assay results in Tables 50 and 51 to the gene expression results in Tables 31-37. This clearly indicates that there is a pattern of gene expression that is consistent with the ability of a peptide to demonstrate protection. Many of the cationic peptides were shown not to be directly antimicrobial as tested by the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) assay (Table 54). This demonstrates that the ability of peptides to protect against infection relies on the ability of the peptide to stimulate host innate immunity rather than on direct antimicrobial activity.
50TABLE 49Effect of Cationic Peptides on Salmonella Infection inBALB/c mice. The BALB/c mice were injected IP withSalmonella and Peptide, and 24 h later the animalswere euthanized, the spleen removed, homogenized,diluted in PBS and plate counts were done todetermine bacteria viabilityViable BacteriaStatistical Peptidein the SpleenSignificance (pTreatment(CFU/ml)value)Control2.70 ± 0.84 × 105SEQ ID NO: 11.50 ± 0.26 × 1050.12SEQ ID NO: 62.57 ± 0.72 × 1040.03SEQ ID NO: 133.80 ± 0.97 × 1040.04SEQ ID NO: 174.79 ± 1.27 × 1040.04SEQ ID NO: 271.01 ± 0.26 × 1050.06


[0159]

51





TABLE 50










Effect of Cationic Peptides on Salmonella Infection in


BALB/c mice. The BALB/c mice were injected


intraperitoneally with Salmonella and Peptide,


and 24 h later the animals were euthanized, the


spleen removed, homogenized, diluted in PBS


and plate counts were done to determine


bacteria viability.










Peptide Treatment
Viable Bacteria in the Spleen (CFU/ml)







Control
1.88 ± 0.16 × 104



SEQ ID NO: 48
1.98 ± 0.18 × 104



SEQ ID NO: 26
 7.1 ± 1.37 × 104



SEQ ID NO: 30
5.79 ± 0.43 × 103



SEQ ID NO: 37
1.57 ± 0.44 × 104



SEQ ID NO: 5
2.75 ± 0.59 × 104



SEQ ID NO: 7
 5.4 ± 0.28 × 103



SEQ ID NO: 9
1.23 ± 0.87 × 104



SEQ ID NO: 14
2.11 ± 0.23 × 103



SEQ ID NO: 20
2.78 ± 0.22 × 104



SEQ ID NO: 23
6.16 ± 0.32 × 104











[0160]

52





TABLE 51










Effect of Cationic Peptides in a Murine S. aureus


infection model. CD-1 mice were given 1 × 108


bacteria in 5% porcine mucin via intraperitoneal (IP)


injection. Cationic peptide (200 μg) was given via


a separate IP injection. The mice were monitored


for 3 days at which point they were euthanized,


blood removed and plated for viable counts. The


following peptides were not effective in controlling




S. aureus
infection: SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 26












# Mice Survived (3 days)/




Total mice in


Treatment
CFU/ml (blood)
group





No Peptide
7.61 ± 1.7 × 103
6/8


SEQ ID NO: 1
0
4/4


SEQ ID NO: 27
2.25 ± 0.1 × 102
3/4


SEQ ID NO: 30
1.29 ± 0.04 × 102
4/4


SEQ ID NO: 37
9.65 ± 0.41 × 102
4/4


SEQ ID NO: 5
3.28 ± 1.7 × 103
4/4


SEQ ID NO: 6
1.98 ± 0.05 × 102
3/4


SEQ ID NO: 7
 3.8 ± 0.24 × 103
4/4


SEQ ID NO: 9
2.97 ± 0.25 × 102
4/4


SEQ ID NO: 13
4.83 ± 0.92 × 103
3/4


SEQ ID NO: 17
 9.6 ± 0.41 × 102
4/4


SEQ ID NO: 20
3.41 ± 1.6 × 103
4/4


SEQ ID NO: 23
4.39 ± 2.0 × 103
4/4










[0161]

53





TABLE 52










Effect of Peptide in a Murine EHEC infection model.


CD-1 male mice (5 weeks old) were given 5.8 × 106


CFU EHEC bacteria via intraperitoneal (IP) injection.


Cationic peptide (200 μg) was given via a separate IP


injection. The mice were monitored for 3 days.











Treatment
Peptide
Survival (%)















control
none
25



SEQ ID NO: 23
200 μg
100











[0162]

54





TABLE 53










Up-regulation of patterns of gene expression in A549 epithelial cells


induced by peptides that are active in vivo.


The peptides SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 13 at


concentrations of 50 μg/ml were each shown to increase the expression of a pattern of


genes after 4 h treatment. Peptide was incubated with the human A549 epithelial cells for


4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted into labelled cDNA probes and hybridised to


Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of polynucleotides in control,


unstimulated cells are shown in the second columns for labelling of cDNA (average of


Cy3 and Cy5). The Fold Up regulation column refers to the intensity of polynucleotide


expression in peptide-simulated cells divided by the intensity of unstimulated cells. The


SEQ ID NO: 37 peptide was included as a negative control that was not active in the


murine infection models.









Fold Up regulation of Gene Expression



relative to Untreated Cells













Unstimulated
SEQ ID
SEQ ID
SEQ ID
SEQ ID


Target (Accession number)
Cell Intensity
NO: 30
NO: 7
NO: 13
NO: 37















Zinc finger protein (AF061261)
13
2.6
9.4
9.4
1.0


Cell cycle gene (S70622)
1.62
8.5
3.2
3.2
0.7


IL-10 Receptor (U00672)
0.2
2.6
9
4.3
0.5


Transferase (AF038664)
0.09
12.3
9.7
9.7
0.1


Homeobox protein (AC004774)
0.38
3.2
2.5
2.5
1.7


Forkhead protein (AF042832)
0.17
14.1
3.5
3.5
0.9


Unknown (AL096803)
0.12
4.8
4.3
4.3
0.6


KIAA0284 Protein (AB006622)
0.47
3.4
2.1
2.1
1.3


Hypothetical Protein (AL022393)
0.12
4.4
4.0
4.0
0.4


Receptor (AF112461)
0.16
2.4
10.0
10.0
1.9


Hypothetical Protein (AK002104)
0.51
4.7
2.6
2.6
1.0


Protein (AL050261)
0.26
3.3
2.8
2.8
1.0


Polypeptide (AF105424)
0.26
2.5
5.3
5.3
1.0


SPR1 protein (AB031480)
0.73
3.0
2.7
2.7
1.3


Dehydrogenase (D17793)
4.38
2.3
2.2
2.2
0.9


Transferase (M63509)
0.55
2.7
2.1
2.1
1.0


Peroxisome factor (AB013818)
0.37
3.4
2.9
2.9
1.4










[0163]

55





TABLE 54










Most cationic peptides studied here and especially the cationic


peptides effective in infection models are not significantly


antimicrobial. A dilution series of peptide was incubated with the


indicated bacteria overnight in a 96-well plate. The lowest


concentration of peptide that killed the bacteria was used as the


MIC. The symbol > indicates the MIC is too large to measure.


An MIC of 8 μg/ml or less was considered clinically meaningful


activity. Abbreviations: E. coli, Escherichia coli; S. aureus,




Staphylococcus aureus
; P. aerug, Pseudomonas aeruginosa;





S. Typhim
, Salmonella enteritidis ssp. typhimurium; C. rhod,





Citobacter rhodensis
; EHEC, Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli.










MIC (μg/ml)
















E.




S.




P.




S.






Peptide


coli




aureus




aerug.




typhim.




C. rhod.


EHEC
















Polymyxin
0.25
16
0.25
0.5
0.25
0.5


Gentamicin
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.5


SEQ ID NO: 1
32
>
96
64
8
4


SEQ ID NO: 5
128
>
>
>
64
64


SEQ ID NO: 6
128
>
>
128
64
64


SEQ ID NO: 7
>
>
>
>
>
>


SEQ ID NO: 8
>
>
>
>
>
>


SEQ ID NO: 9
>
>
>
>
>
>


SEQ ID NO: 10
>
>
>
>
>
64


SEQ ID NO: 12
>
>
>
>
>
>


SEQ ID NO: 13
>
>
>
>
>
>


SEQ ID NO: 14
>
>
>
>
>
>


SEQ ID NO: 15
128
>
>
>
128
64


SEQ ID NO: 16
>
>
>
>
>
>


SEQ ID NO: 17
>
>
>
>
>
>


SEQ ID NO: 19
8
16
16
64
4
4


SEQ ID NO: 2
4
16
32
16
64


SEQ ID NO: 20
8
8
8
8
16
8


SEQ ID NO: 21
64
64
96
64
32
32


SEQ ID NO: 22
8
12
24
8
4
4


SEQ ID NO: 23
4
8
8
16
4
4


SEQ ID NO: 24
16
16
4
16
16
4


SEQ ID NO: 26
0.5
32
64
2
2
0.5


SEQ ID NO: 27
8
64
64
16
2
4


SEQ ID NO: 28
>
>
>
64
64
128


SEQ ID NO: 29
2
>
>
16
32
4


SEQ ID NO: 30
16
>
128
16
16
4


SEQ ID NO: 31
>
>
128
>
>
64


SEQ ID NO: 33
16
32
>
16
64
8


SEQ ID NO: 34
8
>
>
32
64
8


SEQ ID NO: 35
4
128
64
8
8
4


SEQ ID NO: 36
32
>
>
32
32
16


SEQ ID NO: 37
>
>
>
>
>
>


SEQ ID NO: 38
0.5
32
64
4
8
4


SEQ ID NO: 40
4
32
8
4
4
2


SEQ ID NO: 41
4
64
8
8
2
2


SEQ ID NO: 42
1.5
64
4
2
2
1


SEQ ID NO: 43
8
128
16
16
8
4


SEQ ID NO: 44
8
>
128
128
64
64


SEQ ID NO: 45
8
>
128
128
16
16


SEQ ID NO: 47
4
>
16
16
4
4


SEQ ID NO: 48
16
>
128
16
1
2


SEQ ID NO: 49
4
>
16
8
4
4


SEQ ID NO: 50
8
>
16
16
16
8


SEQ ID NO: 51
4
>
8
32
4
8


SEQ ID NO: 52
8
>
32
8
2
2


SEQ ID NO: 53
4
>
8
8
16
8


SEQ ID NO: 54
64
>
16
64
16
32











EXAMPLE 9

[0164] Use of Polynucleotides Induced by Bacterial Signalling Molecules in Diagnostic/Screening


[0165]

S. typhimurium
LPS and E. coli 0111:B4 LPS were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, Mo.). LTA (Sigma) from S. aureus, was resuspended in endotoxin free water (Sigma). The Limulus amoebocyte lysate assay (Sigma) was performed on LTA preparations to confirm that lots were not significantly contaminated by endotoxin (i.e. <1 ng/ml, a concentration that did not cause significant cytokine production in the RAW cell assay). The CpG oligodeoxynucleotides were synthesized with an Applied Biosystems Inc., Model 392 DNA/RNA Synthesizer, Mississauga, ON., then purified and resuspended in endotoxin-free water (Sigma). The following sequences were used CpG: 5′-TCATGACGTTCCTGACGTT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 57) and nonCpG: 5′-TTCAGGACTTTCCTCAGGTT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 58). The nonCpG oligo was tested for its ability to stimulate production of cytokines and was found to cause no significant production of TNF-α or IL-6 and therefore was considered as a negative control. RNA was isolated from RAW 264.7 cells that had been incubated for 4h with medium alone, 100 ng/ml S. typhimurium LPS, 1 μg/ml S. aureus LTA, or 1 μM CpG (concentrations that led to optimal induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in RAW cells). The RNA was used to polynucleotiderate cDNA probes that were hybridized to Clontech Atlas polynucleotide array filters, as described above. The hybridization of the cDNA probes to each immobilized DNA was visualized by autoradiography and quantified using a phosphorimager. Results from at least 2 to 3 independent experiments are summarized in Tables 55-59. It was found that LPS treatment of RAW 264.7 cells resulted in increased expression of more than 60 polynucleotides including polynucleotides encoding inflammatory proteins such as IL-1 β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MIP-2α, CD40, and a variety of transcription factors. When the changes in polynucleotide expression induced by LPS, LTA, and CpG DNA were compared, it was found that all three of these bacterial products increased the expression of pro-inflammatory polynucleotides such as iNOS, MIP-1α, MIP-2α, IL-1β, IL-15, TNFR1 and NF-κB to a similar extent (Table 57). Table 57 describes 19 polynucleotides that were up-regulated by the bacterial products to similar extents in that their stimulation ratios differed by less than 1.5 fold between the three bacterial products. There were also several polynucleotides that were down-regulated by LPS, LTA and CpG to a similar extent. It was also found that there were a number of polynucleotides that were differentially regulated in response to the three bacterial products (Table 58), which includes many of these polynucleotides that differed in expression levels by more than 1.5 fold between one or more bacterial products). LTA treatment differentially influenced expression of the largest subset of polynucleotides compared to LPS or CpG, including hyperstimulation of expression of Jun-D, Jun-B, Elk-1 and cyclins G2 and A1. There were only a few polynucleotides whose expression was altered more by LPS or CpG treatment. Polynucleotides that had preferentially increased expression due to LPS treatment compared to LTA or CpG treatment included the cAMP response element DNA-binding protein 1 (CRE-BPI), interferon inducible protein 1 and CACCC Box-binding protein BKLF. Polynucleotides that had preferentially increased expression after CpG treatment compared to LPS or LTA treatment included leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and protease nexin 1 (PN-1). These results indicate that although LPS, LTA, and CpG DNA stimulate largely overlapping polynucleotide expression responses, they also exhibit differential abilities to regulate certain subsets of polynucleotides.


[0166] The other polynucleotide arrays used are the Human Operon arrays (identification number for the genome is PRHU04-S1), which consist of about 14,000 human oligos spotted in duplicate. Probes were prepared from 5 μg of total RNA and labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 labeled dUTP. In these experiments, A549 epithelial cells were plated in 100 mm tissue culture dishes at 2.5×106 cells/dish, incubated overnight and then stimulated with 100 ng/ml E. coli O111:B4 LPS for 4 h. Total RNA was isolated using RNAqueous (Ambion). DNA contamination was removed with DNA-free kit (Ambion). The probes prepared from total RNA were purified and hybridized to printed glass slides overnight at 42° C. and washed. After washing, the image was captured using a Perkin Elmer array scanner. The image processing software (Imapolynucleotide 5.0, Marina Del Rey, Calif.) determines the spot mean intensity, median intensities, and background intensities. An “in house” program was used to remove background. The program calculates the bottom 10% intensity for each subgrid and subtracts this for each grid. Analysis was performed with Polynucleotidespring software (Redwood City, Calif.). The intensities for each spot were normalized by taking the median spot intensity value from the population of spot values within a slide and comparing this value to the values of all slides in the experiment. The relative changes seen with cells treated with LPS compared to control cells can be found in the Tables below. A number of previously unreported changes that would be useful in diagnosing infection are described in Table 60.


[0167] To confirm and assess the functional significance of these changes, the levels of selected mRNAs and proteins were assessed and quantified by densitometry. Northern blots using a CD 14, vimentin, and tristetraprolin-specific probe confirmed similar expression after stimulation with all 3 bacterial products (Table 60). Similarly measurement of the enzymatic activity of nitric oxide synthetase, iNOS, using Griess reagent to assess levels of the inflammatory mediator NO, demonstrated comparable levels of NO produced after 24 h, consistent with the similar up-regulation of iNOS expression (Table 59). Western blot analysis confirmed the preferential stimulation of leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF, a member of the IL-6 family of cytokines) by CpG (Table 59). Other confirmatory experiments demonstrated that LPS up-regulated the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 as assessed by ELISA, and the up-regulated expression of MEP-2α, and IL-1β mRNA and down-regulation of DP-1 and cyclin D MRNA as assessed by Northern blot analysis. The analysis was expanded to a more clinically relevant ex vivo system, by examining the ability of the bacterial elements to stimulate pro-inflammatory cytokine production in whole human blood. It was found that E. coli LPS, S. typhimurium LPS, and S. aureus LTA all stimulated similar amounts of serum TNF-α, and IL-1β. CpG also stimulated production of these cytokines, albeit to much lower levels, confirming in part the cell line data.
56TABLE 55Polynucleotides Up-regulated by E. coli O111: B4 LPSin A549 Epithelial Cells.E. coli O111: B4 LPS (100 ng/ml) increased theexpression of many polynucleotides in A549 cells asstudied by polynucleotide microarrays. LPS wasincubated with the A549 cells for 4 h and the RNA wasisolated. 5 μg total RNA was used to make Cy3/Cy5labelled cDNA probes and hybridised onto HumanOperon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of unstimulatedcells is shown in the second column of Table 55. The“Ratio: LPS/control” column refers to the intensityof polynucleotide expression in LPS simulated cellsdivided by in the intensity of unstimulated cells.Control: Ratio:AcessionMedia onlyLPS/NumberGeneIntensitycontrolD87451ring finger protein 10715.8183.7AF061261C3H-type zinc finger protein565.936.7D17793aldo-keto reductase family 1,220.135.9member C3M14630prothymosin, alpha168.231.3AL049975Unknown145.662.3L04510ADP-ribosylation factor139.9213.6domain protein 1, 64 kDU10991G2 protein101.7170.3U39067eukaryotic translation61.015.9initiation factor 3, subunit 2X03342ribosomal protein L3252.610.5NM_004850Rho-associated, coiled-coil48.111.8containing protein kinase 2AK000942Unknown46.98.4AB040057serine/threonine protein42.144.3kinase MASKAB020719KIAA0912 protein41.89.4AB007856FEM-1-like death receptor41.215.7binding proteinJ02783procollagen-proline, 2-36.114.1oxoglutarate 4-dioxygenaseAL137376Unknown32.517.3AL137730Unknown29.411.9D25328phosphofructokinase, platelet27.38.5AF047470malate dehydrogenase 2,25.28.2NADM86752stress-induced-22.95.9phosphoprotein 1M90696cathepsin S19.66.8AK001143Unknown19.16.4AF038406NADH dehydrogenase17.771.5AK000315hypothetical protein17.317.4FLJ20308M54915pim-1 oncogene16.011.4D29011proteasome subunit, beta15.341.1type, 5AK000237membrane protein of15.19.4cholinergic synaptic vesiclesAL034348Unknown15.115.8AL161991Unknown14.28.1AL049250Unknown12.75.6AL050361PTD017 protein12.613.0U74324RAB interacting factor12.35.2M22538NADH dehydrogenase12.37.6D87076KIAA0239 protein11.66.5NM_006327translocase of inner11.510.0mitochondrial membrane 23(yeast) homologAK001083Unknown11.18.6AJ001403mucin 5, subtype B,10.853.4tracheobronchialM64788RAP1, GTPase activating10.77.6protein 1X06614retinoic acid receptor, alpha10.75.5U85611calcium and integring binding10.38.1proteinU23942cytochrome P450, 5110.110.2AL031983Unknown9.7302.8NM_007171protein-O-9.56.5mannosyltransferase 1AK000403hypothetical protein9.566.6FLJ20396NM_002950ribophorin I9.335.7L05515cAMP response element-8.96.2binding protein CRE-BPaX83368phosphoinositide-3-kinase,8.727.1catalytic, gamma polypeptideM30269nidogen (enactin)8.75.5M91083chromosome 11 open reading8.26.6frame 13D29833salivary proline-rich protein7.75.8AB024536immunoglobulin superfamily7.68.0containing leucine-rich repeatU39400chromosome 11 open reading7.47.3frame 4AF028789unc119 (C.elegans) homolog7.427.0NM_003144signal sequence receptor,7.35.9alpha (translocon-associatedprotein alpha)X52195arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase-7.313.1activating proteinU43895human growth factor-6.96.9regulated tyrosine kinasesubstrateL25876cyclin-dependent kinase6.710.3inhibitor 3L04490NADH dehydrogenase6.611.1Z18948S100 calcium-binding protein6.311.0D10522myristoylated alanine-rich6.15.8protein kinase C substrateNM_014442sialic acid binding Ig-like6.17.6lectin 8U81375solute carrier family 296.06.4AF041410malignancy-associated5.95.3proteinU24077killer cell immunoglobulin-5.814.4like receptorAL137614hypothetical protein4.86.8NM_002406mannosyl (alpha-1,3-)-4.75.3glycoprotein beta-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferaseAB002348KIAA0350 protein4.77.6AF165217tropomodulin 4 (muscle)4.612.3Z14093branched chain keto acid4.65.4dehydrogenase E1, alphapolypeptideU82671caltractin3.844.5AL050136Unknown3.65.0NM_005135solute carrier family 123.65.0AK001961hypothetical protein3.65.9FLJ11099AL034410Unknown3.221.3S74728antiquitin 13.19.2AL049714ribosomal protein L343.019.5pseudogene 2NM_014075PRO0593 protein2.911.5AF189279phospholipase A2, group IIE2.837.8J03925integrin, alpha M2.79.9NM_012177F-box protein Fbx52.626.2NM_004519potassium voltage-gated2.621.1channel, KQT-like subfamily,member 3M28825CD1A antigen, a polypeptide2.616.8X16940actin, gamma 2, smooth2.411.8muscle, entericX03066major histocompatibility2.236.5complex, class II, DO betaAK001237hypothetical protein2.118.4FLJ10375AB028971KIAA1048 protein2.09.4AL137665Unknown2.07.3


[0168]

57





TABLE 56










Polynucleotides Down-regulated by E. coli O111: B4


LPS in A549 Epithelial Cells.




E. coli
O111: B4 LPS (100 ng/ml) decreased the



expression of many polynucleotides in A549 cells


as studied by polynucleotide microarrays. LPS was


incubated with the A549 cells for 4 h and the RNA


was isolated. 5 μg total RNA was used to make


Cy3/Cy5 labeled cDNA probes and hybridized onto


Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The intensity of


unstimulated cells is shown in the second column of the


Table. The “Ratio: LPS/control” column refers


to the intensity of polynucleotide expression in LPS


simulated cells divided by in the intensity of


unstimulated cells.












Control:





Media




only
Ratio:


Accession

Inten-
LPS/


Number
Gene
sity
control













NM_017433
myosin IIIA
167.8
0.03


X60484
H4 histone family member E
36.2
0.04


X60483
H4 histone family member D
36.9
0.05


AF151079
hypothetical protein
602.8
0.05


M96843
inhibitor of DNA binding 2, dominant
30.7
0.05



negative helix-loop-helix protein


S79854
deiodinase, iodothyronine, type III
39.4
0.06


AB018266
matrin 3
15.7
0.08


M33374
NADH dehydrogenase
107.8
0.09


AF005220


Homo sapiens
mRNA for

105.2
0.09



NUP98-HOXD13



fusion protein, partial cds


Z80783
H2B histone family, member L
20.5
0.10


Z46261
H3 histone family, member A
9.7
0.12


Z80780
H2B histone family, member H
35.3
0.12


U33931
erythrocyte membrane protein band 7.2
18.9
0.13



(stomatin)


M60750
H2B histone family, member A
35.8
0.14


Z83738
H2B histone family, member E
19.3
0.15


Y14690
collagen, type V, alpha 2
7.5
0.15


M30938
X-ray repair complementing defective
11.3
0.16



repair in Chinese hamster cells 5


L36055
eukaryotic translation initiation
182.5
0.16



factor 4E binding protein 1


Z80779
H2B histone family, member G
54.3
0.16


AF226869
5(3)-deoxyribonucleotidase; RB-
7.1
0.18



associated KRAB repressor


D50924
KIAA0134 gene product
91.0
0.18


AL133415
vimentin
78.1
0.19


AL050179
tropomyosin 1 (alpha)
41.6
0.19


AJ005579
RD element
5.4
0.19


M80899
AHNAK nucleoprotein
11.6
0.19


NM_004873
BCL2-associated athanogene 5
6.2
0.19


X57138
H2A histone family, member N
58.3
0.20


AF081281
lysophospholipase I
7.2
0.22


U96759
von Hippel-Lindau binding protein 1
6.6
0.22


U85977
Human ribosomal protein L12
342.6
0.22



pseudogene, partial cds


D13315
glyoxalase I
7.5
0.22


AC003007
Unknown
218.2
0.22


AB032980
RU2S
246.6
0.22


U40282
integrin-linked kinase
10.1
0.22


U81984
endothelial PAS domain protein 1
4.7
0.23


X91788
chloride channel,
9.6
0.23



nucleotide-sensitive, 1A


AF018081
collagen, type XVIII, alpha 1
6.9
0.24


L31881
nuclear factor I/X (CCAAT-binding
13.6
0.24



transcription factor)


X61123
B-cell translocation gene 1, anti-
5.3
0.24



proliferative


L32976
mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase
6.3
0.24



kinase 11


M27749
immunoglobulin lambda-like
5.5
0.24



polypeptide 3


X57128
H3 histone family, member C
9.0
0.25


X80907
phosphoinositide-3-kinase, regulatory
5.8
0.25



subunit, polypeptide 2


Z34282


H. sapiens
(MAR11) MUC5AC mRNA

100.6
0.26



for mucin (partial)


X00089
H2A histone family, member M
4.7
0.26


AL035252
CD39-like 2
4.6
0.26


X95289
PERB11 family member in MHC class I
27.5
0.26



region


AJ001340
U3 snoRNP-associated 55-kDa protein
4.0
0.26


NM_014161
HSPC071 protein
10.6
0.27


U60873
Unknown
6.4
0.27


X91247
thioredoxin reductase 1
84.4
0.27


AK001284
hypothetical protein FLJ10422
4.2
0.27


U90840
synovial sarcoma, X breakpoint 3
6.6
0.27


X53777
ribosomal protein L17
39.9
0.27


AL035067
Unknown
10.0
0.28


AL117665
DKFZP586M1824 protein
3.9
0.28


L14561
ATPase, Ca++ transporting, plasma
5.3
0.28



membrane 1


L19779
H2A histone family, member O
30.6
0.28


AL049782
Unknown
285.3
0.28


X00734
tubulin, beta, 5
39.7
0.29


AK001761
retinoic acid induced 3
23.7
0.29


U72661
ninjurin 1
4.4
0.29


S48220
deiodinase, iodothyronine, type I
1,296.1
0.29


AF025304
EphB2
4.5
0.30


S82198
chymotrypsin C
4.1
0.30


Z80782
H2B histone family, member K
31.9
0.30


X68194
synaptophysin-like protein
7.9
0.30


AB028869
Unknown
4.2
0.30


AK000761
Unknown
4.3
0.30










[0169]

58





TABLE 57










Polynucleotides expressed to similar extents after stimulation by the


bacterial products LPS, LTA, and CpG DNA.


Bacterial products (100 ng/ml S. typhimurium LPS, 1 μg/ml S. aureus LTA or 1 μM


CpG) were shown to potently induce the expression of several polynucleotides.


Peptide was incubated with the RAW cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted


into labeled cDNA probes and hybridized to Atlas arrays. The intensity of control,


unstimulated cells is shown in the second column. The “Ratio LPS/LTA/CpG: Control”


column refers to the intensity of polynucleotide expression in bacterial product-simulated


cells divided by the intensity of unstimulated cells.













Control
Ratio
Ratio
Ratio



Accession
Unstim.
LPS:
LTA:
CpG:


number
Intensity
Control
Control
Control
Protein/polynucleotide















M15131
20
82
80
55
IL-1β


M57422
20
77
64
90
tristetraprolin


X53798
20
73
77
78
MIP-2α


M35590
188
50
48
58
MIP-1β


L28095
20
49
57
50
ICE


M87039
20
37
38
45
iNOS


X57413
20
34
40
28
TGFβ


X15842
20
20
21
15
c-rel proto-oncopolynucleotide


X12531
489
19
20
26
MIP-1α


U14332
20
14
15
12
IL-15


M59378
580
10
13
11
TNFR1


U37522
151
6
6
6
TRAIL


M57999
172
3.8
3.5
3.4
NF-κB


U36277
402
3.2
3.5
2.7
I-κB (alpha subunit)


X76850
194
3
3.8
2.5
MAPKAP-2


U06924
858
2.4
3
3.2
Stat 1


X14951
592
2
2
2
CD18


X60671
543
1.9
2.4
2.8
NF-2


M34510
5970
1.6
2
1.4
CD14


X51438
2702
1.3
2.2
2.0
vimentin


X68932
4455
0.5
0.7
0.5
c-Fms


Z21848
352
0.5
0.6
0.6
DNA polymerase


X70472
614
0.4
0.6
0.5
B-myb










[0170]

59





TABLE 58










Polynucleotides that were differentially regulated by the bacterial


products LPS, LTA, and CpG DNA.


Bacterial products (100 ng/ml S. typhimurium LPS, 1 μg/ml S. aureus LTA or 1 μM


CpG) were shown to potently induce the expression of several polynucleotides.


Peptide was incubated with the RAW cells for 4 h and the RNA was isolated, converted


into labeled cDNA probes and hybridized to Atlas arrays. The intensity of control,


unstimulated cells is shown in the second column. The “Ratio LPS/LTA/CpG: Control”


column refers to the intensity of polynucleotide expression in bacterial product-simulated


cells divided by the intensity of unstimulated cells.













Unstim.
Ratio
Ratio
Ratio



Accession
Control
LPS:
LTA:
CpG:


number
Intensity
Control
Control
Control
Protein/polynucleotide















X72307
20
1.0
23
1.0
hepatocyte growth factor


L38847
20
1.0
21
1.0
hepatoma transmembrane kinase







ligand


L34169
393
0.3
3
0.5
thrombopoietin


J04113
289
1
4
3
Nur77


Z50013
20
7
21
5
H-ras proto-oncopolynucleotide


X84311
20
4
12
2
Cyclin A1


U95826
20
5
14
2
Cyclin G2


X87257
123
2
4
1
Elk-1


J05205
20
18
39
20
Jun-D


J03236
20
11
19
14
Jun-B


M83649
20
71
80
42
Fas 1 receptor


M83312
20
69
91
57
CD40L receptor


X52264
20
17
23
9
ICAM-1


M13945
573
2
3
2
Pim-1


U60530
193
2
3
3
Mad related protein


D10329
570
2
3
2
CD7


X06381
20
55
59
102
Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)


X70296
20
6.9
13
22
Protease nexin 1 (PN-1)


U36340
20
38
7
7
CACCC Box-binding protein







BKLF


S76657
20
11
6
7
CRE-BPI


U19119
272
10
4
4
interferon inducible protein 1










[0171]

60





TABLE 59










Confirmation of Table 57 and 58 Array Data.









Relative levels











Product
Untreated
LPS
LTA
CpG





CD14a
1.0
2.2 ± 0.4
1.8 ± 0.2
1.5 ± 0.3


Vimentina
1.0
 1.2 ± 0.07
 1.5 ± 0.05
 1.3 ± 0.07


Tristetraprolina
1.0
5.5 ± 0.5
5.5 ± 1.5
9.5 ± 1.5


LIFb
1.0
2.8 ± 1.2
2.7 ± 0.6
5.1 ± 1.6


NOc
8 ± 1.5
 47 ± 2.5
20 ± 3 
 21 ± 1.5








a
Total RNA was isolated from unstimulated RAW macrophage cells and cells treated for 4 hr with 100 ng/ml S. typhimurium LPS, 1 μg/ml S. aureus LTA, 1 μM CpG DNA or media alone and Northern blots were performed the membrane was probed for GAPDH, CD14, vimentin, and tristetraprolin as described previously [Scott et al]. The hybridization intensities of the Northern blots were compared to GAPDH to look for




# inconsistencies in loading. These experiments were repeated at least three times and the data shown is the average relative levels of each condition compared to media (as measured by densitometry) ± standard error.





b
RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with 100 ng/ml S. typhimurium LPS, 1 μg/ml S. aureus LTA, 1 μM CpG DNA or media alone for 24 hours. Protein lysates were prepared, run on SDS PAGE gels and western blots were performed to detect LIF (R&D Systems). These experiments were repeated at least three times and the data shown is the relative levels of LIF compared to media (as measured by densitometry) ± standard error.







c
Supernatant was collected from RAW macrophage cells treated with 100 ng/ml S. typhimurium LPS, 1 μg/ml S. aureus LTA, 1 μM CpG DNA, or media alone for 24 hours and tested for the amount of NO formed in the supernatant as estimated from the accumulation of the stable NO metabolite nitrite with the Griess reagent as described previously [Scott, et al]. The data shown is the average of three experiments ± standard error.









[0172]

61





TABLE 60










Pattern of Gene expression in A549 Human Epithelial cells


up-regulated by bacterial signalling molecules (LPS).




E. coli
O111: B4 LPS (100 ng/ml) increased the expression of many



polynucleotides in A549 cells as studied by polynucleotide


microarrays. LPS was incubated with the A549 cells for 4 h


and the RNA was isolated. 5 μg total RNA was used to


make Cy3/Cy5 labelled cDNA probes and hybridised onto


Human Operon arrays (PRHU04). The examples of


polynucleotide expression changes in LPS simulated cells


represent a greater than 2-fold intensity level change of


LPS treated cells from untreated cells.








Accession Number
Gene





AL050337
interferon gamma receptor 1


U05875
interferon gamma receptor 2


NM_002310
leukemia inhibitory factor receptor


U92971
coagulation factor II (thrombin) receptor-like 2


Z29575
tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily



member 17


L31584
Chemokine receptor 7


J03925
cAMP response element-binding protein


M64788
RAP1, GTPase activating protein


NM_004850
Rho-associated kinase 2


D87451
ring finger protein 10


AL049975
Unknown


U39067
eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3, subunit 2


AK000942
Unknown


AB040057
serine/threonine protein kinase MASK


AB020719
KIAA0912 protein


AB007856
FEM-1-like death receptor binding protein


AL137376
Unknown


AL137730
Unknown


M90696
cathepsin S


AK001143
Unknown


AF038406
NADH dehydrogenase


AK000315
hypothetical protein FLJ20308


M54915
pim-1 oncogene


D29011
proteasome subunit, beta type, 5


AL034348
Unknown


D87076
KIAA0239 protein


AJ001403
mucin 5, subtype B, tracheobronchial


J03925
integrin, alpha M











EXAMPLE 10

[0173] Altering Signaling to Protect Against Bacterial Infections


[0174] The Salmonella Typhimurium strain SL1344 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; Manassas, Va.) and grown in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth. For macrophage infections, 10 ml LB in a 125 mL flask was inoculated from a frozen glycerol stock and cultured overnight with shaking at 37° C. to stationary phase. RAW 264.7 cells (1×105 cells/well) were seeded in 24 well plates. Bacteria were diluted in culture medium to give a nominal multiplicity of infection (MOI) of approximately 100, bacteria were centrifuged onto the monolayer at 1000 rpm for 10 minutes to synchronize infection, and the infection was allowed to proceed for 20 min in a 37° C., 5% CO2 incubator. Cells were washed 3 times with PBS to remove extracellular bacteria and then incubated in DMEM+10% FBS containing 100 μg/mnl gentarnicin (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) to kill any remaining extracellular bacteria and prevent re-infection. After 2 h, the gentamicin concentration was lowered to 10 μg/ml and maintained throughout the assay. Cells were pretreated with inhibitors for 30 min prior to infection at the following concentrations: 50 μM PD 98059 (Calbiochem), 50 μM U 0126 (Promega), 2 mM diphenyliodonium (DPI), 250 μM acetovanillone (apocynin, Aldrich), 1 mM ascorbic acid (Sigma), 30 mM N-acetyl cysteine (Sigma), and 2 mM NG-L-monomethyl arginine (L-NMMA, Molecular Probes) or 2 mM NG-D-monomethyl arginine (D-NMMA, Molecular Probes). Fresh inhibitors were added immediately after infection, at 2 h, and 6-8 h post-infection to ensure potency. Control cells were treated with equivalent volumes of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) per mL of media. Intracellular survival/replication of S. Typhimurium SL1344 was determined using the gentamicin-resistance assay, as previously described. Briefly, cells were washed twice with PBS to remove gentamicin, lysed with 1% Triton X-100/0.1% SDS in PBS at 2 h and 24 h post-infection, and numbers of intracellular bacteria calculated from colony counts on LB agar plates. Under these infection conditions, macrophages contained an average of 1 bacterium per cell as assessed by standard plate counts, which permitted analysis of macrophages at 24 h post-infection. Bacterial filiamentation is related to bacterial stress. NADPH oxidase and iNOS can be activated by MEK/ERK signaling. The results (Table 61) clearly demonstrate that the alteration of cell signaling is a method whereby intracellular Salmonella infections can be resolved. Thus since bacteria to up-regulate multiple genes in human cells, this strategy of blocking signaling represents a general method of therapy against infection.
62TABLE 61Effect of the Signaling Molecule MEK on IntracellularBacteria in IFN-γ-primed RAW cells.TreatmentaEffectb0NoneMEKDecrease bacterial filamentation (bacterial stress)cinhibitorIncrease in the number of intracellular S. TyphimuriumU 0126MEK Decrease bacterial filamentation (bacterial stress)cinhibitorIncrease in the number of intracellular S. TyphimuriumPD 98059NADPHDecrease bacterial filamentation (bacterial stress)coxidaseIncrease in the number of intracellular S. Typhimuriuminhibitord



EXAMPLE 11

[0175] Anti-Viral Activity


[0176] SDF-1, a C-X-C chemokine is a natural ligand for HIV-1 coreceptor-CXCR4. The chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR5 are considered to be potential targets for the inhibition of HIV-1 replication. The crystal structure of SDF-1 exhibits antiparallel β-sheets and a positively charged surface, features that are critical in binding to the negatively charged extracellular loops of CXCR4. These findings suggest that chemokine derivatives, small-size CXCR4 antagonists, or agonists mimicking the structure or ionic property of chemokines may be useful agents for the treatment of X4 HIV-1 infection. It was found that the cationic peptides inhibited SDF-1 induced T-cell migration suggesting that the peptides may act as CXCR4 antagonists. The migration assays were performed as follows. Human Jurkat T cells were resuspended to 5×106/ml in chemotaxis medium (RPMI 1640/10 mM Hepes/0.5% BSA). Migration assays were performed in 24 well plates using 5 μm polycarbonate Transwell inserts (Costar). Briefly, peptide or controls were diluted in chemotaxis medium and placed in the lower chamber while 0.1 ml cells (5×106/ml) was added to the upper chamber. After 3 hr at 37° C., the number of cells that had migrated into the lower chamber was determined using flow cytometry. The medium from the lower chamber was passed through a FACscan for 30 seconds, gating on forward and side scatter to exclude cell debris. The number of live cells was compared to a “100% migration control” in which 5×105 /ml cells had been pipetted directly into the lower chamber and then counted on the FACscan for 30 seconds. The results demonstrate that the addition of peptide results in an inhibition of the migration of Human Jurkat T-cells (Table 62) probably by influencing CXCR4 expression (Tables 63 and 64).
63TABLE 62Peptide inhibits the migration of human Jurkat-T cells:Migration (%)PositiveSDF-1SDF-1 + SEQ 1DNegativeExperimentcontrol(100 ng/ml)1 (50 μg/ml)control1100%32%0%<0.01%2100%40%0%    0%


[0177]

64





TABLE 63










Corresponding polynucleotide array data to Table 56:












Poly-

Ratio



Polynucleotide /
nucleotide
Unstimulated
peptide:
Accession


Protein
Function
Intensity
Unstimulated
Number





CXCR-4
Chemokine
36
4
D87747



receptor










[0178]

65





TABLE 64










Corresponding FACs data to Tables 62 and 63:













Fold Increase in Protein




Concentration
Expression



Peptide
(μg/ml)
CXCR-4







SEQ ID NO: 1
 10
No change



SEQ ID NO: 1
 50
1.3 ± 0.03



SEQ ID NO: 1
100
1.6 ± 0.23



SEQ ID NO: 3
100
1.5 ± 0.2 











[0179] Although the invention has been described with reference to the presently preferred embodiment, it should be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims.


Claims
  • 1. A method of identifying a polynucleotide or pattern of polynucleotides regulated by one or more sepsis or inflammatory inducing agents and inhibited by a cationic peptide comprising contacting the polynucleotide or polynucleotides with one or more sepsis or inflammatory inducing agents, contacting the polynucleotide or polynucleotides with a cationic peptide either simultaneously or immediately thereafter, and determining a change in expression, wherein a change is indicative of a polynucleotide or pattern of polynucleotides that is regulated by a sepsis or inflammatory inducing agent and reduced by a cationic peptide.
  • 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sepsis or inflammatory inducing agent is LPS, LTA or CpG DNA, bacterial components or whole cells, or related agents.
  • 3. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the level of expression of the polynucleotide prior to and following contacting with the sepsis or inflammatory inducing agent.
  • 4. A polynucleotide or polynucleotide pattern identified by the method of claim 1.
  • 5. A polynucleotide of claim 3, wherein the polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide involved in an inflammatory or septic response.
  • 6. A method of identifying an agent that blocks sepsis or inflammation comprising combining a polynucleotide of claim 5 with an agent, wherein expression of the polynucleotide in the presence of the agent is modulated as compared with expression in the absence of the agent and wherein the modulation in expression affects the inflammatory or septic response.
  • 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the effect is inhibition of the inflammatory or septic response.
  • 8. An agent identified by the method of claim 6.
  • 9. The agent of claim 8, wherein the agent is a peptide, peptidomimetic, chemical compound, nucleic acid molecule or a polypeptide.
  • 10. The agent of claim 8, wherein the peptide is selected from SEQ ID NO:4-54.
  • 11. A method of identifying a pattern of polynucleotide expression for inhibition of an inflammatory or septic response comprising: contacting cells with LPS, LTA, CpG DNA and/or intact bacteria or bacterial components in the presence or absence of a cationic peptide; detecting a pattern of polynucleotide expression for the cells in the presence and absence of the peptide, wherein the pattern in the presence of the peptide represents inhibition of an inflammatory or septic response.
  • 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising contacting cells with one or more compounds suspected of inhibiting an inflammatory or septic response and identifying a compound that provides a pattern of polynucleotide expression similar to a pattern obtained with a cationic peptide that inhibits an inflammatory or septic response.
  • 13. A compound identified by the method of claim 11.
  • 14. A method of identifying an agent that enhances innate immunity comprising: contacting a polynucleotide or polynucleotides that encode a polypeptide involved in innate immunity, with an agent of interest, wherein expression of the polynucleotide in the presence of the agent is modulated as compared with expression of the polynucleotide in the absence of the agent and wherein the modulated expression results in enhancement of innate immunity.
  • 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the agent does not stimulate a septic reaction.
  • 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the agent inhibits the inflammatory or septic response.
  • 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the agent blocks the inflammatory or septic response.
  • 18. The method as in any of claims 16 or 17, wherein the agent increases the expression of an anti-inflammatory encoding polynucleotide.
  • 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the anti-inflammatory gene is selected from a subset that includes IL-1 R antagonist homolog 1 (AI167887), IL-10 R beta (AA486393), IL-10 R alpha (U00672), TNF Receptor member 1B (AA150416), TNF receptor member 5 (H98636), TNF receptor member 11b (AA194983), IK cytokine down-regulator of HLA II (R39227), TGFB inducible early growth response 2 (AI473938), CD2 (AA927710), glucocorticoid-related polynucleotides (AK000892), or IL-10 (M5 762720.
  • 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the agent inhibits the expression of TNF-alpha.
  • 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the agent inhibits the expression of interleukins.
  • 22. The method of claim 23, wherein the interleukin is IL-8.
  • 23. The method of claim 16, wherein the agent is a peptide.
  • 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the peptide is selected from SEQ ID NO: 4-54.
  • 25. An agent identified by the method of claim 14.
  • 26. An agent of claim 25, wherein the agent is a peptide, peptidomimetic, chemical compound, or a nucleic acid molecule.
  • 27. A method of identifying a pattern of polynucleotide expression for identification of a compound that selectively enhances innate immunity comprising: detecting a pattern of polynucleotide expression for cells contacted in the presence and absence of a cationic peptide, wherein the pattern in the presence of the peptide represents stimulation of innate immunity; detecting a pattern of polynucleotide expression for cells contacted in the presence of a test compound, wherein a pattern with the test compound that is similar to the pattern observed in the presence of the cationic peptide, is indicative of a compound that enhances innate immunity.
  • 28. A compound identified by the method of claim 27.
  • 29. The method of claim 27, wherein the compound does not stimulate a septic reaction.
  • 30. The method of claim 27, wherein the polynucleotide expression pattern includes expression of pro-inflammatory polynucleotides.
  • 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the pro-inflammatory polynucleotides include ring finger protein 10 (D87451), serine/threonine protein kinase MASK (AB040057), KIAA0912 protein (AB020719), KIAA0239 protein (D87076), RAP1, GTPase activating protein 1 (M64788), FEM-1-like death receptor binding protein (AB007856), cathepsin S (M90696), hypothetical protein FLJ20308 (AK000315), pim-1 oncogene (M54915), proteasome subunit beta type 5 (D29011), KIAA0239 protein (D87076), mucin 5 subtype B tracheobronchial (AJ001403), cAMP response element-binding protein CREBPa, integrin alpha M (J03925), Rho-associated kinase 2 (NM—004850), PTD017 protein (AL050361) unknown genes (AK00143, AK034348, AL049250, AL16199, AL031983), retinoic acid receptor (X06614), G protein-coupled receptors (Z94155, X81892, U52219, U22491, AF015257, U66579) chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 7 (L31584), tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 17 (Z29575), interferon gamma receptor 2 (U05875), cytokine receptor-like factor I (AF059293), class I cytokine receptor (AF053004), coagulation factor II (thrombin) receptor-like 2 (U92971), leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (NM—002310), interferon gamma receptor 1 (AL050337) or any combination thereof.
  • 32. The method of claim 27, wherein the expression pattern includes expression of polynucleotides encoding chemokines.
  • 33. The method of claim 27, wherein the expression pattern includes expression of cell differentiation factors.
  • 34. The method of claim 27, wherein the polynucleotide expression pattern includes expression of cell surface receptors.
  • 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the cell surface receptors include chemokine receptors or integrin receptors.
  • 36. A method of identifying an agent that is capable of selectively enhancing innate immunity comprising: contacting a cell containing a polynucleotide or polynucleotides that encode a polypeptide involved in innate immunity, with an agent of interest, wherein expression of the polynucleotide or polynucleotides in the presence of the agent is modulated as compared with expression in the absence of the agent and wherein the modulated expression results in enhancement of innate immunity.
  • 37. The method of claim 26 in which the pattern of expression is utilized in screening for compounds that enhance innate immunity.
  • 38. A compound of claim 28, wherein the compound stimulates chemokine or chemokine receptor expression.
  • 39. A compound of claim 38, wherein the chemokine or chemokine receptor is CXCR4, CCR5, CCR2, CCR6, MIP-1 alpha, IL-8, MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, or MCP-5.
  • 40. A compound of claim 28, wherein the compound is a peptide, peptidomimetic, chemical compound, or a nucleic acid molecule.
  • 41. A method of identifying an agent that is capable of both suppressing or blocking septic or inflammatory responses and enhancing innate immunity comprising: contacting a cell containing i) a polynucleotide or polynucleotides that encode a polypeptide capable of suppressing inflammatory or septic responses and ii) a polynucleotide or polynucleotides that encode a polypeptide involved in innate immunity, with an agent of interest, wherein expression of in the presence of the agent is modulated as compared with expression of the polynucleotide or polynucleotides in the absence of the agent and wherein the modulated expression results in suppression of inflammatory or septic responses and enhancement of innate immunity.
  • 42. A method for inferring a state of infection in a mammalian subject from a nucleic acid sample of the subject comprising identifying in the nucleic acid sample a polynucleotide expression pattern exemplified by an increase in polynucleotide expression of at least 2 polynucleotides in Table 55 as compared to a non-infected subject.
  • 43. A method for inferring a state of infection in a mammalian subject from a nucleic acid sample of the subject comprising identifying in the nucleic acid sample a polynucleotide expression pattern exemplified by a decrease in polynucleotide expression of at least 2 polynucleotides in Table 56 as compared to a non-infected subject.
  • 44. A method for inferring a state of infection in a mammalian subject from a nucleic acid sample of the subject comprising identifying in the nucleic acid sample a polynucleotide expression pattern exemplified by a polynucleotide expression of at least 2 polynucleotides in Table 57 as compared to a non-infected subject.
  • 45. The method of any of claims 30, 31 or 32, wherein the state of infection is due to a bacteria, virus, fungus or parasitic agent.
  • 46. The method of any of claims 30, 31 or 32, wherein the state of infection is due to a Gram positive or Gram negative bacteria.
  • 47. A polynucleotide expression pattern of a subject having a state of infection identified by the method of claim 31.
  • 48. A cationic peptide that is an antagonist of CXCR-4.
  • 49. A method of identifying a cationic peptide that is an antagonist of CXCR-4 comprising contacting T cells with SDF-1 in the presence of absence of a test peptide and measuring chemotaxis, wherein a decrease in chemotaxis in the presence of the test peptide is indicative of a peptide that is an antagonist of CXCR-4.
  • 50. An isolated cationic peptide comprising the general formula X1X2X3IX4PX4IPX5X2X1 (SEQ ID NO: 4), wherein X1 is one or two of R, L or K, X2 is one of C, S or A, X3 is one of R or P, X4 is one of A or V and X5 is one of V or W.
  • 51. The cationic peptide of claim 38, wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: LLCRIVPVIPWCK (SEQ ID NO: 5), LRCPIAPVIPVCKK (SEQ ID NO: 6), KSRIVPAIPVSLL (SEQ ID NO: 7), KKSPIAPAIPWSR (SEQ ID NO: 8), RRARWVPAIPVARR (SEQ ID NO: 9) and LSRIAPAIPWAKL (SEQ ID NO: 10).
  • 52. The peptide of claim 38, wherein the peptide has anti-inflammatory activity.
  • 53. The peptide of claim 38, wherein the peptide has anti-sepsis activity.
  • 54. An isolated cationic peptide comprising the general formula X1LX2X3KX4X2X5X3PX3X1 (SEQ ID NO: 11), wherein X1 is one or two of D, E, S, T or N, X2 is one or two of P, G or D, X3 is one of G, A, V, L, I or Y, X4 is one of R, K or H and X5 is one of S, T, C, M or R.
  • 55. The cationic peptide of claim 42, wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: DLPAKRGSAPGST (SEQ ID NO: 12), SELPGLKHPCVPGS (SEQ ID NO: 13), TTLGPVKRDSIPGE (SEQ ID NO: 14), SLPII(HDRLPATS (SEQ ID NO: 15), ELPLKRGRVPVE (SEQ ID NO: 16) and NLPDLKKPRVPATS (SEQ ID NO: 17).
  • 56. The peptide of claim 42, wherein the peptide has anti-inflammatory activity.
  • 57. The peptide of claim 42, wherein the peptide has anti-sepsis activity.
  • 58. An isolated cationic peptide comprising the general formula X1X2X3X4WX4WX4X5K (SEQ ID NO: 18), wherein X1 is one to four chosen from A, P or R, X2 is one or two aromatic amino acids (F, Y and W), X3 is one of P or K, X4 is one, two or none chosen from A, P, Y or W and X5 is one to three chosen from R or P.
  • 59. The cationic peptide of claim 46, wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: RPRYPWWPWWPYRPRK (SEQ ID NO: 19), RRAWWKAWWARRK (SEQ ID NO: 20), RAPYVYPWAWARPRK (SEQ ID NO: 21), RPAWKYWWPWPWPRRK (SEQ ID NO: 22), RAAFKWAWAWWRRK (SEQ ID NO: 23) and RRRWKWAWPRRK (SEQ ID NO: 24).
  • 60. The peptide of claim 46, wherein the peptide has anti-inflammatory activity.
  • 61. The peptide of claim 46, wherein the peptide has anti-sepsis activity.
  • 62. An isolated cationic peptide comprising the general formula X1X2X3X4X1VX3X4RGX4X3X4X1X3X1 (SEQ ID NO: 25) wherein X1 is one or two of R or K, X2 is a polar or charged amino acid (S, T, M, N, Q, D, E, K, R and H), X3 is C, S, M, D or A and X4 is F, I, V, M or R.
  • 63. The cationic peptide of claim 50, wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: RRMCIHVCVRGVCRRKCRK (SEQ ID NO: 26), KRSCFKVSMRGVSRRRCK (SEQ ID NO: 27), KKDAIKKVDIRGMDMRRAR (SEQ ID NO: 28), RKMVKVDVRGIMIRKDRR (SEQ ID NO: 29), KQCVKVAMRGMALRRCK (SEQ ID NO: 30) and RREAIRRVAMRGRDMKRMRR (SEQ ID NO: 31).
  • 64. The peptide of claim 50, wherein the peptide has anti-inflammatory activity.
  • 65. The peptide of claim 50, wherein the peptide has anti-sepsis activity.
  • 66. An isolated cationic peptide comprising the general formula X1X2X3X4X1VX5X4RGX4X5X4X1X3X1 (SEQ ID NO: 32), wherein X1 is one or two of R or K, X2 is a polar or charged amino acid (S, T, M, N, Q, D, E, K, R and H), X3 is one of C, S, M, D or A, X4 is one of F, I, V, M or Rand X5 is one of A, I, S, M, D or R.
  • 67. The cationic peptide of claim 54, wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: RTCVKRVAMRGIIRKRCR (SEQ ID NO: 33), KKQMMKRVDVRGISVKRKR (SEQ ID NO: 34), KESIKVIIRGMMVRMKK (SEQ ID NO: 35), RRDCRRVMVRGIDIKAK (SEQ ID NO: 36), KRTAIKKVSRRGMSVKARR (SEQ ID NO: 37) and RHCIRRVSMRGIIMRRCK (SEQ ID NO: 38).
  • 68. The peptide of claim 54, wherein the peptide has anti-inflammatory activity.
  • 69. The peptide of claim 54, wherein the peptide has anti-sepsis activity.
  • 70. An isolated cationic peptide comprising the general formula KX1KX2FX2KMLMX2ALKKX3 (SEQ ID NO: 39), wherein X1 is a polar amino acid (C, S, T, M, N and Q); X2 is one of A, L, S or K and X3 is 1-17 amino acids chosen from G, A, V, L, I, P, F, S, T, K and H.
  • 71. The cationic peptide of claim 58, wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: KCKLFKKMLMLALKKVLTTGLPALKLTK (SEQ ID NO: 40), KSKSFLKMLMKALKKVLTTGLPALIS (SEQ ID NO: 41), KTKKFAKMLMMALKKVVSTAKPLAILS (SEQ ID NO: 42), KMKSFAKMLMLALKKVLKVLTTALTLKAGLPS (SEQ ID NO: 43), KNKAFAKMLMKALKKVTTAAKPLTG (SEQ ID NO: 44) and KQKLFAKMLMSALKKKTLVTTPLAGK (SEQ ID NO: 45).
  • 72. The peptide of claim 58, wherein the peptide has anti-inflammatory activity.
  • 73. The peptide of claim 58, wherein the peptide has anti-sepsis activity.
  • 74. An isolated cationic peptide comprising the general formula KWKX2X1X1X2X2XX2X2X1X1X2X2IFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 46), wherein X1 is a hydrophobic amino acid and X2 is a hydrophilic amino acid.
  • 75. The cationic peptide of claim 62, wherein the peptide is selected from the group consisting of: KWKSFLRTFKSPVRTIFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 47), KWKSYAHTIMSPVRLIFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 48), KWKRGAHRFMKFLSTIFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 49), KWKKWAHSPRKVLTRIFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 50), KWKSLVMMFKKPARRIFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 51) and KWKHALMKAHMLWHMIFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 52).
  • 76. The peptide of claim 62, wherein the peptide has anti-inflammatory activity.
  • 77. The peptide of claim 62, wherein the peptide has anti-sepsis activity.
  • 78. An isolated cationic peptide comprising the sequence KWKSFLRTFKSPVRTVFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 53).
  • 79. An isolated cationic peptide comprising the sequence KWKSYAHTIMSPVRLVFHTALKPISS (SEQ ID NO: 54).
  • 80. The method of claim 28, wherein the agent is a Zinc finger protein (AF061261); Cell cycle gene (S70622); IL-10 Receptor U00672); Transferase (AF038664); Homeobox protein (AC004774); Forkhead protein (AF042832); Unknown (AL096803); KIAA0284 Protein (AB006622); Hypothetical Protein (AL022393); Receptor (AF112461); Hypothetical Protein (AK002104); Protein (AL050261); Polypeptide (AF105424); SPR1 protein (AB031480); Dehydrogenase (D17793); Transferase (M63509); and Peroxisome factor (AB013818).
  • 81. The polynucleotide expression pattern of a subject having a state of infection identified by claim 56 wherein the genes upregulated are Accession number D87451 -ring finger protein 10; Accession number AL049975, Unknown; Accession number U39067, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit 2; Accession number AK000942, Unknown; Accession number AB040057, serine/threonine protein kinase MASK; Accession number AB020719, KIAA0912 protein; Accession number AB007856, FEM-1-like death receptor binding protein; Accession number AL137376, Unknown; Accession number AL137730, Unknown; Accession number M90696, cathepsin S; Accession number AK00143, Unknown; Accession number AF038406, NADH dehydrogenase; Accession number AK000315, hypothetical protein FLJ20308; Accession number M54915, pim-1 oncogene; Accession number D29011, proteasome subunit beta type 5; Accession number AL034348, Unknown; Accession number D87076, KIAA0239 protein; Accession number AJ001403, tracheobronchial mucin 5 subtype B; Accession number J03925, integrin alpha M, Rho-associated kinase 2 (NM—004850), PTD017 protein (AL050361) unknown genes (AK00143, AK034348, AL049250, AL16199, AL031983), retinoic acid receptor (X06614), G protein-coupled receptors (Z94155, X81892, U52219, U22491, AF015257, U66579) chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 7 (L31584), tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 17 (Z29575), interferon gamma receptor 2 (U05875), cytokine receptor-like factor 1 (AF059293), class I cytokine receptor (AF053004), coagulation factor 11 (thrombin) receptor-like 2 (U92971), leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (NM—002310), interferon gamma receptor 1 (AL050337), or any combination thereof.
  • 82. The method of claim 32, wherein the chemokines include CXCR4, CXCR1, CXCR2, CCR2, CCR4, CCR5, CCR6, MIP-1 alpha, MDC, MIP-3 alpha, MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, MCP-5, and RANTES.
  • 83. The method of claim 33, wherein the cell differentiation factors include TGFβ inducible early growth response 2 (AI473938), zinc finger proteins (AF061261, U00115, X78924), and transcription factors (U31556, ALI37681, X68560).
  • 84. A compound of claim 38, wherein the compound modifies kinase activity.
  • 85. A compound of claim 84, wherein the kinase is selected from MAP kinase kinase 3 (D87116), MAP kinase kinase 6 (H07920), MAP kinase kinase 5 (W69649), MAP kinase 7 (H39192), MAP kinase 12 (AI936909), MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3 (W68281), or MAP kinase kinase 1 (L11284).
  • 86. A compound of claim 21, wherein the compound decreases proteasome subunit expression.
  • 87. A compound of claim 86, wherein the proteasome subunit includes polynucleotides with accession numbers D11094, L02426, D00763, AB009398, AF054185, M34079, M34079, or AL031177.
  • 88. An isolated cationic peptide that reduces polynucleotide expression of SDF-1 receptor.
RELATED APPLICATION DATA

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/336,632, filed Dec. 3, 2001, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60336632 Dec 2001 US