Epithalon inhibits tumor growth and expression of HER-2/neu oncogene in breast tumors in transgenic mice characterized by accelerated aging

Female transgenic FVB mice carrying breast cancer gene HER-2/neu were monthly injected with Vilon or Epithalon (1 g subcutaneously for 5 consecutive days) starting from the 2nd month of life. Epithalon markedly inhibited neoplasm development: the maximum size of breast adenocarcinomas was 33% lower than in the control (p<0.05). The intensity of HER-2/neu mRNA expression in breast tumors of Epithalon-treated mice was 3.7 times lower than in control animals. These results indicate that Epithalon inhibits breast tumor development in transgenic mice, which is probably related to suppression of HER-2/neu expression.     

Studies of the effects of Vilon and Epithalon on gene expression in mouse heart using DNA-microarray technology

Expression of 15,247 clones from a cDNA library in the heart of mice receiving Vilon and Epithalon was studied by DNA-microarray technology. We revealed 300 clones (1.94% of the total count), whose expression changed more than by 2 times. Vilon changed expression of 36 clones, while Epithalon modulated expression of 98 clones. Combined treatment with Vilon and Epithalon changed expression of 144 clones. Vilon alone or in combination with Epithalon activated expression of 157 clones (maximally by 6.13 times) and inhibited expression of 23 clones (maximally by 2.79 times). Epithalon alone or in combination with Vilon activated expression of 194 clones (maximally by 6.61 times) and inhibited expression of 48 clones (maximally by 2.71 times). Our results demonstrate the specific effects of Epithalon and Vilon on gene expression.     

Effect of Vilon and Epithalon on glucose and glycine absorption in various regions of small intestine in aged rats

Vilon (Lys-Glu) and Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) administered orally for 1 month improved transport characteristics of the small intestine in aged rats. Vilon enhanced passive glucose accumulation in the serous fluid in inverted sac made from the distal region of the small intestine, while Epithalon enhanced this process in the medial region. Vilon stimulated active glucose accumulation in the serous sac of the medial small intestine, Epithalon - in the proximal and distal small intestinal segments. Glycine absorption increased only in the proximal intestinal segment under the effect of Epithalon.     

Expression of Argyrophilic Proteins in the Nucleolar Organizer Regions of Human Thymocytes and Thymic Epitheliocytes under Conditions of Coculturing with Vilon and Epithalon Peptides

Vilon stimulated and Epithalon suppressed the expression of argyrophilic proteins in nucleolar organizer regions of thymocytes and epithelial cells, stimulating or reducing, respectively, the formation, assembly, and transport of ribosomes into the cytoplasm and thus determining the intensity of protein synthesis in these cells. A direct mitogenic effect of Vilon was also revealed: this peptide promoted thymocyte transformation into proliferating blast cells.     

Effects of short peptides on thymocyte blast transformation and signal transduction along the sphingomyelin pathway

Immunomodulating effects of synthetic peptides Vilon (Lys-Glu), Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), and Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) and possible involvement of the sphingomyelin signal transduction pathway in their effects in mouse thymocytes were studied. Vilon produced the most potent comitogenic effect on thymocyte proliferation and modulated comitogenic activity of interleukin-1b. Epithalon was less potent, while Cortagen produced no such effects. Vilon produced a more pronounced stimulatory effect on sphingomyelinase activity in mouse thymocyte membranes compared to Epithalon and Cortagen.     

Comparative analysis of the expression of c-Fos and interleukin-2 proteins in hypothalamus cells during various treatments

The aim of the present work was to perform a combined analysis of the degree of activation of the anterior hypothalamus of the rat and expression of the interleukin-2 gene during treatments of different types: mild stress (“handling”) and adaption to it, as well as intranasal administration of physiological saline and the peptides Vilon (Lys-Glu) and Epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly). Changes in the numbers of c-Fos-and IL-2-positive cells in structures of the lateral area (LHA) and anterior (AHN), supraoptic (SON), and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of the hypothalamus in Wistar rats. Ratios of the quantities of c-Fos-and IL-2-positive cells were determined in intact animals and after activation of brain cells initiated by different treatments; the influences of adaptation to handling on the nature of changes in the expression of these proteins was also studied. Combined analysis of the intensity of expression of these two proteins — c-Fos, a marker of neuron activation and a trans-factor for the IL-2 cytokine gene and other inducible genes, and IL-2 — in intact animals and after various treatments showed that the process of cell activation in most of the hypothalamic structures studied correlated with decreases in the quantity of IL-2-positive cells in these structures; different patterns of changes in the numbers of c-Fos-and IL-2-positive cells were seen in response to different treatments in conditions of stress and adaptation to it. __________ Translated from Rossiiskii Fiziologicheskii Zhurnal imeni I. M. Sechenova, Vol. 93, No. 2, pp. 150–160, February, 2007.     

In vitro effect of short peptides on expression of interleukin-2 gene in splenocytes

Synthetic peptides Vilon (Lys-Glu), Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), and Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro) in vitro activated interleukin-2 mRNA synthesis in splenocytes from CBA mice in the absence of specific inductors. The intensity of interleukin-2 mRNA synthesis in splenocytes depended on the type, concentration, and duration of treatment with the peptides. Vilon and Epithalon were most potent, while Cortagen produced a less pronounced effect on interleukin-2 mRNA synthesis.     

Effect of peptide Vilon on the content of transforming growth factor-β and permeability of microvessels during experimental chronic renal failure

We studied the effect of Vilon in rats 2, 4, and 6 months after the onset of chronic renal failure. Subcutaneous injection of Vilon significantly decreased serum concentration of transforming growth factor-β1 and permeability of mesenteric microvessels in rats 2 months after the onset of chronic renal failure. Our results indicate that the preparation produces a potent homeostatic effect in the early period of chronic renal failure.__________This revised version was published online in August 2005 with the addition of the issue titleTranslated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 139, No. 1, pp. 28–31, January, 2005     

Effect of the dipeptide vilon on activity of digestive enzyme in rats of various ages

Peroral administration of Vilon (Lys-Glu) to male and female Wistar rats aging 3 and 11 months changed activity of digestive enzymes (invertase, maltase, alkaline phosphatase, and amino- and dipeptidases) in various portions of the gastrointestinal tract. The increase in enzyme activity was most pronounced in 11-month-old animals, which diminished differences between rats of various ages. Our results indicate that Vilon produces positive effects on digestive enzyme activity during aging.     

赖氨酰谷氨酸二肽的抗肿瘤活性研究

目的研究二肽Lys-Glu(Vilon)的抗肿瘤活性。方法用液相法人工合成了抗肿瘤二肽Vilon,分子量为275.3。用细胞计数法和MTT法测定Vilon对人肠癌LOVO,人胃癌MKN45和人肝癌QGY77033种肿瘤细胞生长的抑制作用,以及对人体正常细胞生长的影响;并对其进行了体内实验。结果Vilon对体外培养的LOVO,MKN45和QGY7703细胞具有剂量依赖性抑制作用,但对人正常白细胞无明显抑制作用。体内抑瘤实验表明,Vilon对小鼠肝癌H22的生长有抑制作用,有效剂量为15mg.kg-1,当使用高剂量30mg.kg-1时,对小鼠移植性肿瘤肝癌H22的抑瘤率达0.60以上,且具有剂效关系。结论Vilon具有明显的体外、体内抗肿瘤活性。