title: D-LysAsnProTyr tetrapeptide: a novel B-cell stimulant and stabilized bursin mimetic.
abstract: The tetrapeptide I (D-lysine-L-asparaginyl-L-prolyl-L-tyrosine or D-LysAsnProTyr), and analogue sequences, were synthesized and evaluated for the ability to stimulate immune cell subsets. These sequences were selected based on their perceived ability to readily adopt a beta-turn structure. In vitro immunological assays revealed a robust stimulation of mitogen activated B-cell proliferation and a modest to significant stimulation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Further, this in vitro stimulation of B-cells was accompanied by an in vivo expansion of B-cells in C57BL/6 mice, as demonstrated by immunophenotyping experiments. Interestingly, a conformational analysis of the low energy conformers of I and the endogenous B-cell stimulant bursin (LysHisGlyNH2) shows that these molecules can be superimposed. However, I displayed significantly enhanced physiological stability. For a number of reasons, I may be a particularly useful vaccine adjuvant.
authors.affiliation: BioChem. Pharma Inc., 275 Armand-Frappier Blvd., Laval, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DiMarco
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zacharie
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Penney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001216:Asparagine / Q000276:immunology; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008239:Lysine / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011392:Proline / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D009842:Oligopeptides; D014443:Tyrosine; C016281:bursopoietin; D001216:Asparagine; D011392:Proline; D008239:Lysine