TRIPEPTIDES HAVING THE ABILITY TO INDUCE DIFFERENTIATION OF T-LYMPHOCYTES AND B-LYMPHOCYTES,THEIR PREPARATION AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING THEM

摘要

There are disclosed new biological active polypeptides: A-X-B wherein A is deamino-LYS or LYS; X is a suitable neutral aliphatic amino acid residue; e.g., one selected from the group consisting of SER, ALA, 2-Me-ALA, GLY, LEU, THR, D-SER, D-ALA, D-THR, allo-THR, D-LEU, and SAR; B is GLN-R', decarboxy-GLN, or and R' is a substituent which does not substantially affect the biological activity of the tripeptide. These polypeptides have the capability of inducing the differentiation of T-lymphocytes as measured by the acquisition of the thymic differentiation antigen Th-1, as well as B-lymphocytes as measured by the acquisition of the differentiation antigen Bu-1. The polypeptides are thus useful in thymic function and immunity areas such as in treatment for congenital absence of thymus. Also provided are therapeutic compositions and methods for use of the polypeptides.