Process to inhibit binding of the integrin alpha 4 beta 1 to VCAM-1 or fibronectin and cyclic peptides therefor

摘要

The present invention is directed to an isolated and purified cyclic peptide of from 5 to about 13 residues modeled after a portion of the CS1 peptide. A peptide of this invention preferably has the amino acid residue sequence of SEQ ID NO:2-14 or 16-42. The present invention is further directed to a process of selectively inhibiting the binding of alpha 4 beta 1 integrin to a protein such as VCAM-1, fibronectin or invasin. In accordance with that process, a cell that expresses alpha 4 beta 1 integrin is exposed to that protein in the presence of an effective inhibiting amount of such a peptide. The present invention is still further directed to a pharmaceutical composition containing a physiologically acceptable carrier and a cyclic peptide of the invention.