The goal of this project is to develop improved antagonists of the biologically active nonapeptide bradykinin (BK) and the related kinins kallidin (Lys-BK) and Met-Lys-BK. These peptides are the mediators of the functions of the kallikrein-kinin system, which is important for regulation of blood pressure, blood clotting, secretion, the immune response, inflammation, pain, intestinal motility, reproduction, pulmonary function and central nervous system function. The kinins appear to be involved in the pathology of shock, edema, arthritis, asthma and rhinitis as well as the actions of toxins and venoms. We have developed specific, potent competitive antagonists of BK by making specific replacements of certain amino acids in the peptide sequence by unnatural amino acids; the critical change is replacement of 7-proline by D-phenylalanine. Further changes confer potency, organ specificity and enzyme resistance. We will synthesize new analogs of the inhibitors to find more potent and specific antagonists for studies of physiology and pathology. Peptides will be synthesized by automatic solid phase peptide synthesis and will be assayed here on isolated smooth muscles (rat uterus, guinea pig ileum) and in rat blood pressure and will be tested in a wide variety of systems in collaborative studies. Computer-assisted molecular graphics will be used to gain understanding of conformations of agonist and antagonist peptides and their interactions with membrane receptors. Energy minimization calculations will predict most probable arrangements of the atoms in space. New drugs for treatment of kinin-related pathologies should eventually come from these studies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37HL026284-13
Application #
3485868
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Project Start
1980-09-01
Project End
1996-08-31
Budget Start
1992-09-01
Budget End
1993-08-31
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Colorado Denver
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
065391526
City
Aurora
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80045
Stewart, John M; Gera, Lajos; Chan, Daniel C et al. (2005) Combination cancer chemotherapy with one compound: pluripotent bradykinin antagonists. Peptides 26:1288-91
Stewart, John M; Gera, Lajos; Chan, Daniel C et al. (2004) New lung cancer drugs from bradykinin antagonists. Chest 125:148S
Schroeder, Christian; Breit, Andreas; Boning, Hilke et al. (2003) Changes in amino-terminal portion of human B2 receptor selectively increase efficacy of synthetic ligand HOE 140 but not of cognate ligand bradykinin. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 284:H1924-32
Stewart, J M (2003) Bradykinin antagonists as anti-cancer agents. Curr Pharm Des 9:2036-42
Stewart, John M; Gera, Lajos; Chan, Daniel C et al. (2002) Bradykinin-related compounds as new drugs for cancer and inflammation. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 80:275-80
Taraseviciene-Stewart, Laimute; Gera, Lajos; Hirth, Peter et al. (2002) A bradykinin antagonist and a caspase inhibitor prevent severe pulmonary hypertension in a rat model. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 80:269-74
Stewart, J M; Gera, L; York, E J et al. (2001) Metabolism-resistant bradykinin antagonists: development and applications. Biol Chem 382:37-41
Reissmann, S; Pineda, F; Vietinghoff, G et al. (2000) Structure activity relationships for bradykinin antagonists on the inhibition of cytokine release and the release of histamine. Peptides 21:527-33
Larrivee, J F; Gera, L; Houle, S et al. (2000) Non-competitive pharmacological antagonism at the rabbit B(1) receptor. Br J Pharmacol 131:885-92
Stewart, J M; Gera, L; York, E J et al. (1999) Bradykinin antagonists: present progress and future prospects. Immunopharmacology 43:155-61

Showing the most recent 10 out of 44 publications