The immune-stimulating peptide WKYMVm has therapeutic effects against ulcerative colitis.

Abstract

In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of an immune-stimulating peptide, WKYMVm, in ulcerative colitis. The administration of WKYMVm to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-treated mice reversed decreases in body weight, bleeding score and stool score in addition to reversing DSS-induced mucosa destruction and shortened colon. The WKYMVm-induced therapeutic effect against ulcerative colitis was strongly inhibited by a formyl peptide receptor (FPR) 2 antagonist, WRWWWW, indicating the crucial role of FPR2 in this effect. Mechanistically, WKYMVm effectively decreases intestinal permeability by stimulating colon epithelial cell proliferation. WKYMVm also strongly decreases interleukin-23 and transforming growth factor-β production in the colon of DSS-treated mice. We suggest that the potent immune-modulating peptide WKYMVm and its receptor FPR2 may be useful in the development of efficient therapeutic agents against chronic intestinal inflammatory diseases.

• Authors: Sang Doo Kim, Soonil Kwon, Sung Kyun Lee, Minsoo Kook, Ha Young Lee, Ki-Duk Song, Hak-Kyo Lee, Suk-Hwan Baek, Chan Bae Park, Yoe-Sik Bae
• Journal: Experimental & molecular medicine (Exp Mol Med) Vol. 45 Pg. e40 (Sep 13 2013) ISSN: 2092-6413 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24030327 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Interleukin-23
• Oligopeptides
• Receptors, Formyl Peptide
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-Met
• formyl peptide receptor 2, mouse
• tryptophyl-arginyl-tryptophyl-tryptophyl-tryptophyl-tryptophanamide

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Caco-2 Cells
• Cell Proliferation
• Colitis, Ulcerative (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Colon (pathology)
• Humans
• Interleukin-23 (genetics, metabolism)
• Intestinal Mucosa (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Oligopeptides (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Permeability
• Receptors, Formyl Peptide (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (genetics, metabolism)