Trimeric PEG-Conjugated Exendin-4 for the Treatment of Sepsis

Biomacromolecules. 2016 Mar 14;17(3):1160-9. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5b01756. Epub 2016 Mar 3.

Abstract

Exendin-4 (EX4), a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist that regulates blood glucose levels, has been used in the management of type-2 diabetes mellitus. EX4 can be PEGylated to improve its antidiabetic effects by enhancing its stability and extending the circulation half-life. Here, to determine whether PEGylated EX4 is effective for the treatment of sepsis, C-terminal thiol-specific PEGylated EX4s with linear maleimide-PEG-2K, -5K, -20K and trimeric maleimide-PEG-50K (hereafter referred to as EX4-2K, EX4-5K, EX4-20K, and EX4-50K, respectively) were prepared, and their antiseptic responses were investigated. These PEGylated EX4s reduced cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced organ injury by decreasing hyperpermeability, and suppressing interactions between leukocytes and endothelial cells. The binding avidity and stability of EX4-50K toward GLP-1R were superior to that of wild-type EX4, as was the circulation half-life of EX4-50K. In addition, the antiseptic effects of EX4-50K were superior to those of other PEGylated EX4s, which may be attributed to enhanced proteolytic stability, longer circulation half-life, and higher receptor-binding affinity of EX4-50K due to its trimeric PEG structure. Therefore, EX4-50K may decrease CLP-induced septic mortality in vivo. There are currently neither effective preventatives against nor treatment options for sepsis; our results show that EX4-50K has the potential to treat sepsis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Exenatide
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Maleimides / chemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Peptides / therapeutic use
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Stability
  • Sepsis / drug therapy*
  • Venoms / chemistry*
  • Venoms / pharmacology
  • Venoms / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Maleimides
  • Peptides
  • Venoms
  • maleimide
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Exenatide