FGF2-Binding Peptides Inhibit Angiogenesis Without Immune Impact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current therapies lack effective, non-immunogenic methods to inhibit the pro-angiogenic activity of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF2) without impacting innate immunity, as large molecules like PTX3 have unfeasible therapeutic applications due to their size and other activities.

Innovation Solution

Development of short FGF2-binding peptides, such as PTX3(82-110), PTX3(97-110), PTX3(97-107), and PTX3(100-104, which bind FGF2 and inhibit its interaction with endothelial cells, preventing angiogenesis without affecting innate immunity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If long PTX3 is used to bind FGF2 and inhibit its pro-angiogenic activity, then FGF2-dependent endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis are inhibited, but the large size and multiple activities of PTX3 make it unsuitable for therapeutic applications

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveFGF2 inhibition efficacyVSAvoidmolecule size and complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the long PTX3 molecule into smaller functional segments, specifically identifying and utilizing the N-terminal region (residues 1-178) and further refining to the critical FGF2-binding domain (residues 82-110). This segmentation allows the therapeutic agent to retain FGF2 inhibition efficacy while reducing the complexity and size issues of the full-length PTX3 molecule.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential FGF2-binding function from the complex PTX3 molecule by identifying and isolating the specific N-terminal region (residues 82-110) that contains the FGF2-binding epitope. This extracted peptide fragment maintains the desired therapeutic effect of inhibiting FGF2-mediated angiogenesis without the unwanted side effects and complexity of the full PTX3 molecule.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If short peptides are designed to bind FGF2, then therapeutic applicability is improved, but the ability to effectively inhibit FGF2 interaction with endothelial cells must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeptide sizeVSAvoidFGF2 binding affinity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by focusing on the specific region of PTX3 that possesses the critical FGF2-binding property. By identifying residues 82-110 as the essential binding domain and designing peptides centered around this region (with core sequence ESXARPCAPGAPAE where X is Arg or Lys), the invention concentrates the binding functionality in a localized short peptide sequence, achieving both reduced size and maintained affinity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If FGF2 pro-angiogenic activity is inhibited, then conditions like tumor metastasis and diabetic retinopathy are treated, but innate immunity function must not be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepro-angiogenic activityVSAvoidinnate immunity function
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of affecting immune function into a benefit by specifically designing peptides that target only the FGF2-binding site on PTX3. By focusing on the N-terminal region (residues 82-110) that is responsible for FGF2 binding but not for immune recognition functions, the invention achieves selective inhibition of pro-angiogenic activity while preserving innate immunity, effectively converting the challenge of specificity into a therapeutic advantage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

These peptides effectively inhibit FGF2-induced proliferation and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, offering a therapeutic potential for conditions like arthritic diseases, tumor metastasis, and diabetic retinopathy without immunogenic responses.

Implementation Method 1

synthetic peptides PTX3(82-110), PTX3(97-110), PTX3(97-107) and PTX3 (100-104) bind FGF2 and inhibit the interaction of FGF2 with whole long PTX3

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectProtein-peptide binding: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP1973944B1FGF2-binding peptides and uses thereof
Publication Date: 2016.05.11 SIGMA TAU IND FARMACEUTICHE RIUNITE SPA
  • EP1973944B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP1973944B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP1973944B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

FGF2-binding peptides are here described, which have been designed starting from the N-terminal region of PTX3, in particular spanning the PTX3(82-110) region. Synthetic peptides related to this sequence are able to bind FGF2 and to inhibit its pro-angiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo with no anticipated impact on innate immunity.