ABSTRACT
Diacetyl-splenopentin (BCH 069) is a new pentapeptide of splenin modified by twofold acetylation. BCH 069 has thymopentin-like activity demonstrated by in vivo animal and in vitro human studies. Two groups of patients received 50 mg BCH 069 and placebo, respectively, by subcutaneous injection 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. The third group of patients received 50 mg BCH 069 by intravenous injection 3 times weekly for 6 weeks. The therapy was carried out during the peak of the pollen season. BCH 069 intravenous treatment was found to be significantly superior to placebo treatment in reducing clinical symptoms. Biochemical inflammatory signs were not observed. No increase of bronchomotoric reactivity was established in comparison to the placebo group. There was a significantly lower increase in gras-spollen specific IgE and IgG4 in the intravenous group of BCH 069. Subcutaneous therapy with BCH 069 was not effective. The study demonstrated that BCH 069 used intravenously induces clinical improvement in patients suffering from hay fever. Thus the possibility to influence hyperreactive conditions of the immune system has been confirmed. The study indicates that various application routes of BCH 069 have different effects on the immune system.
Subject(s)
Oligopeptides/therapeutic use , Peptide Fragments/therapeutic use , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/drug therapy , Humans , Immunoglobulin E/analysis , Immunoglobulin G/analysis , Injections, Intravenous , Injections, Subcutaneous , Oligopeptides/administration & dosage , Oligopeptides/pharmacology , Peptide Fragments/administration & dosage , Peptide Fragments/pharmacology , Poaceae , Pollen , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/immunology , Seasons , Triglycerides/bloodABSTRACT
BCH 069 is a new synthetic pentapeptide with thymic hormone-like activity. Two groups of patients received 50 mg BCH 069 or placebo by subcutaneous injection for 4 weeks 3 times weekly. The third group of patients received 50 mg BCH 069 by intravenous injection for 6 weeks 3 times weekly. The therapy was carried out during the peak of the pollen season. We observed the following clinical and biochemical activities of BCH 069: - flush symptom with a feeling of heat during intravenous administration of 50 mg/10 ml but not during 50 mg/20 ml, - decrease of triglyceride serum level, - decrease of SGOT- and SGPT serum levels, - increase of lipase serum level, - decrease of hemoglobin. - All changes of the biochemical parameters were not outside of the normal laboratory values. The disease-specific inflammatory changes were not seen in the intravenously treated group. The administration route is very important for the clinical side effect but not for drug induced biochemical changes. It can be concluded that BCH 069 is a well tolerated drug.
Subject(s)
Hypersensitivity/drug therapy , Oligopeptides/therapeutic use , Peptide Fragments/therapeutic use , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/drug therapy , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Alkaline Phosphatase/blood , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , C-Reactive Protein/metabolism , Drug Evaluation , Hematocrit , Humans , Immunoglobulins/metabolism , Lipase/blood , Lipid Metabolism , Oligopeptides/administration & dosage , Oligopeptides/adverse effects , Peptide Fragments/administration & dosage , Peptide Fragments/adverse effects , gamma-Glutamyltransferase/bloodABSTRACT
Desamino-cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-7) increased the gall-bladder pressure and decreased the gastric pressure following i.v. infusion in conscious dogs. In small intestine and Heidenhain pouch CCK-7 exerted an initial excitatory effect followed by an inhibitory effect on intraluminal pressure and peristalsis. In all organs the effect of CCK-7 on pressure was correlated with a change of spike discharge. CCK-7 is more potent on gastrointestinal motor activity than a Boots preparation of pancreozymin. The results suggest that CCK-7 at doses within the physiological range could be involved in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility.