JP4724824B2 - Use of rare sugars to suppress the proliferation of T lymphocytes - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique that utilizes the effect of suppressing the proliferation of T lymphocytes of rare sugars.

  Currently, with changes in the environment, dietary habits, and genetic background surrounding us, the immune system has been activated and reconstructed, which could not exist so far. Diseases associated with new immune system failures are increasing. In particular, atopic dermatitis and nasal allergies in children continue to increase.

Allergies are not inherently born. After contact with various substances, they become hypersensitive to certain substances (allergens). It is said that this sensitization is sensitized. Once sensitized, the next time you encounter an allergen, it causes a pathological allergic reaction. Macrophages exposed to allergens tell the T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes as stimuli that they have processed it. T lymphocytes stimulate B lymphocytes, which produce IgE antibodies. This antibody is ready to cause allergies when attached to mast cells (or basophils). This condition is called sensitized by allergens. The macrophages, lymphocytes, mast cells, and eosinophils all belong to blood cells called leukocytes.
When an allergen enters the sensitized area, chemical mediators such as histamine, leukotriene, and thromboxane are dispersed from mast cells. Lymphocytes also stimulate eosinophils, which secrete other chemical mediators such as IL-5. When a chemical transmitter is secreted, various inflammations occur around it. Inflammation is a condition in which redness, pain, swelling, and fever have occurred. Specifically, when cedar pollen enters the mucous membrane and eyes of the nose, it swells red and becomes hot and aching. This is an inflamed condition and is one of the symptoms of runny nose and eyes. When a tick enters the bronchus, the bronchial mucosa becomes swollen, frustrated and coughing. The same applies to urticaria. When an egg sensitized person eats an egg, the whole body is swollen and itchy as a mild symptom.

The allergy treatment using cedar pollinosis is summarized as follows.
1) Removal of allergens If you have been sensitized by cedar pollen, do not inhale it. Put on a mask to prevent inhalation, and the dried futon will beat well to keep pollen out of the house. It is also important to devise measures against tick and how to keep pets against asthma. If you are allergic to food, do not eat it if you can identify the causative food.
2) Antihistamines Reduces allergic symptoms by suppressing the action of histamine, the main chemical transmitter. This sticks to the site of action of histamine and keeps the histamine secreted from basophils from hanging around. It has an immediate effect and is mainly used as a drug, but injections and paints are also used. Drugs that are likely to cause drowsiness, but those that have little drowsiness have been developed recently.
3) Antiallergic agent A generic term for drugs that prevent allergic reactions by stopping routes other than antihistamines. Most drugs suppress the secretion of chemical mediators from basophils, but others suppress substances other than secreted histamine. In addition, there are drugs having an antihistamine action and antiallergic agents mainly having an antihistamine action. Anti-allergic agents are not immediately effective, and it is said that if hay fever is taken about 2 weeks before the pollen scatters, it will not become serious. There are nasal drops, eye drops, inhalants, etc. in addition to ingested drugs, which are also used in combination with relatively mild allergic symptoms and steroids.
4) Corticosteroids have various anti-inflammatory effects such as suppressing the production of chemical mediators leukotrienes and prostaglandins, suppressing the function of T lymphocytes, and reducing allergic reactions involving eosinophils. Yes. Drinking drugs are used as a last resort because they have various side effects when used for a long time. Recently, steroids have been developed that break down immediately after entering the body and have few side effects. In hay fever, it is actively used as a nose and eye drops, and as an inhaler in bronchial asthma, if it is moderate or higher. Even in bronchial asthma, inhaled steroids have become established as the center of treatment. Ointments are also used with caution as they are short-term, such as rashes, but they are long-term in atopic dermatitis.
5) Immunosuppressant
Examples include CyA (Cyclosporin A) and FK506 (Tacrolimus). Although it suppresses the route of eosinophils from T lymphocytes and works against various allergies, FK506 is only used for atopic dermatitis because it is a new type and its side effects are unknown.
6) Hyposensitization therapy This is a method of getting used to a small amount of allergen and getting out of the state of sensitization.

On the other hand, with the advancement of clinical immunology, the involvement of the immune system is considered completely, including many lifestyle-related diseases including arteriosclerotic lesions, modern diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, and various diseases caused by stress. It is becoming clear that the failure and change of the immune system are deeply involved in the pathogenesis and pathology of the diseases that have not been observed. The immune system is constructed from various immunocompetent cells and the like, and it has become clear that T lymphocytes play a central role among them. It has been clarified that abnormal function and activation (runaway) of T lymphocytes cause many immune-related diseases.
Among T lymphocytes, CD4-positive T lymphocytes (Th) are classified into Th1 and Th2 according to their cytokine production, and due to the change in their ratio, they are deeply involved in the pathogenesis of various immune related diseases such as allergic diseases and autoimmune diseases. Yes. Th1-type immune responses are deeply involved in organ-specific immune responses, and Th2-type immune responses are deeply involved in allergic diseases such as atopic diseases and nasal allergies. Especially in the induction of Th2-type immune response by allergic antigen sensitization, the importance of sugar chains on the antigen is a recent topic. In fact, in the clinical field, in recent years, drugs that control each produced cytokine are being developed.

Rare sugars (D-allose, D-psicose) have been reported to have a number of suppressive and regulatory effects on the immune system from previous studies, and the present invention provides immunosuppression with a new mechanism of action. The purpose is to provide drugs, immunomodulators, and antiallergic agents.
Another object of the present invention is to provide T lymphocyte proliferation suppression using the action of rare sugars (D-allose, D-psicose) to suppress T lymphocyte proliferation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a preventive and / or therapeutic drug for the progression of symptoms by suppressing the proliferation of T lymphocytes against immune-related diseases caused by abnormal T lymphocytes .

The gist of the present invention is the following T lymphocyte proliferation inhibitor (1) and (2).
(1) A T lymphocyte proliferation inhibitor comprising D-allose or D-allose and D-psicose as active ingredients.
(2) The above-mentioned (1), which is a prophylactic or therapeutic drug for the progression of symptoms by inhibiting the proliferation of T lymphocytes against autoimmune diseases or allergic diseases caused by abnormal T lymphocyte function and / or activity. T lymphocyte proliferation inhibitor.

In order to control immune runaway against immune related diseases, new drugs that act on the immune system, such as new immunosuppressants, immunomodulators, and antiallergic agents, are being developed one after another. However, the market for existing immunosuppressants, immunomodulators, and antiallergic agents continues to expand, but at present there are not enough drugs in terms of drug efficacy and side effects.
The present invention provides a T lymphocyte proliferation inhibitor containing D -allose , or D-allose and D-psicose as active ingredients, and a preventive or therapeutic agent for autoimmune diseases or allergic diseases having a new mechanism of action. can do.

  A “rare sugar” can be defined as a monosaccharide that exists only in trace amounts in nature. Also in the present invention, it is a rare sugar based on the above definition, preferably D-allose which is aldose or D-psicose which is ketose. There are seven types of monosaccharides present in nature: D-glucose, D-fructose, D-galactose, D-mannose, D-ribose, D-xylose, L-arabinose, and all other monosaccharides are rare. It is sugar. Sugar alcohol can be obtained by reducing monosaccharides, but D-sorbitol is relatively abundant in nature, but the others are quantitatively small, and these are also defined as rare sugars according to the present invention. These rare sugars have been difficult to obtain until now, but methods for producing rare sugars from monosaccharides present in large quantities in nature are being developed and can be produced using this technology.

Among the rare sugars, two rare sugars, D-allose and D-psicose, which are currently mass-produced will be explained.
D-allose (D-allohexose) used in the present invention is a D-form of allose classified as aldose (aldohexose), and is a hexose (C6H12O6) having a melting point of 178 ° C. D-allose can be produced by reducing D-alonic acid lactone with sodium amalgam, or by “Journal of Fermentation and Bioengineering (Journal of Fermentation and Bioengineering” 85, pp. 539 to 541 (1998), a method for synthesizing from D-psicose using L-rhamnose isomerase, and in recent years, described in JP-A-2002-17392 There is a production method in which D-xylose isomerase is allowed to act on a solution containing D-psicose to produce D-allose from D-psicose. The method for separating and recovering high-purity D-allose described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-95828, which is separately filed, is an enzyme reaction product obtained by converting a part of D-psicose into D-allose. When recovering D-allose from a mixed solution of 35% D-psicose and 15% D-allose, D-allose is crystallized by utilizing the hardly soluble property in ethanol and / or methanol. It is characterized by separating D-allose crystals. In the above method, “L-rhamnose isomerase” is exemplified as an enzyme used for converting D-psicose into D-allose by an enzymatic reaction. L-rhamnose isomerase is a known enzyme published in the above-mentioned 1998 literature, and an enzyme derived from Pseudomonas stutzerii is exemplified as a preferable one. The strain Pseudomonas stutzerii LL172a is a known bacterium described in the above-mentioned literature, and is preserved in the Ken Imorimori laboratory of the Department of Bioresources and Food Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University. The same Pseudomonas stutzerii can be obtained from the Institute for Fermentation. Pseudomonas stutzerii IFO 3773, Pseudomonas stutzerii IFO 13596 appear to have the same activity. L-rhamnose isomerase can be easily obtained from various microorganisms, and is inductively produced under culture conditions in which L-rhamnose is present. Usually, it can be obtained by culturing a microorganism capable of producing L-rhamnose isomerase. For example, when various microorganisms are cultured using L-rhamnose as a carbon source, L-rhamnose isomerase is produced in the microbial cells using L-rhamnose as an inducer. The use of a mutant strain that constitutively produces a large amount of enzyme is particularly advantageous because it does not require an expensive carbon source such as L-rhamnose. The L-rhamnose isomerase extracted from the obtained cultured microbial cells, or the microbial cells themselves are used. L-rhamnose isomerase does not necessarily have to be purified to a high purity depending on the purpose of use, and even a crude enzyme can be used. As a specific example of the crude enzyme, the above-mentioned microorganism having the ability to produce L-rhamnose isomerase itself, a culture of the microorganism, or a partially purified culture can be used. Thus, by using in the form of an immobilized enzyme or an immobilized microbial cell by a specific immobilization method, it is possible to construct a reactor that has a low liquid feeding pressure and can be used continuously for a long time. The above-described method for continuously producing high-purity D-allose allows desalting, deionization, concentration, and crystallization at the same time as the separation of D-allose. Integrated processing in one step. Therefore, a large amount of processing is possible in a short time.

  D-psicose used in the present invention is a D-form of psicose classified as a ketohexose belonging to a rare sugar and is a hexose (C6H12O6). Such D-psicose may be obtained by any means including those extracted from the natural world and those synthesized by chemical or biosynthesis methods. Relatively easily, for example, it may be prepared by a technique using epimerase (see JP-A No. 6-125776). The obtained D-psicose solution can be purified by a method such as deproteinization, decolorization, desalting, etc., if necessary, and concentrated to collect a syrup-like D-psicose product. 99% or more of a high-purity sample can be easily obtained by fractionating and purifying with. Such D-psicose can be used as a monosaccharide as it is, and is also expected to be used as various derivatives as required.

  Regarding the mixture of D-psicose, a complex crystalline saccharide containing D-psicose and D-fructose that has already been developed will be described (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-11090). In order to produce such a mixed carbohydrate, it is advantageous to prepare a mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose by allowing D-ketohexose 3-epimerase to act on D-fructose to undergo an epimerization reaction. it can. The proportions of D-psicose and D-fructose in the prepared sugar are usually about 20-25% and about 80-75%, respectively, per solid. If necessary, it is also optional to produce a mixed carbohydrate of this proportion of D-psicose and D-fructose by allowing D-ketohexose 3-epimerase to act on D-psicose. It is also possible to produce a mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose by epimerizing D-fructose using an inorganic and / or organic catalyst. In that case, since the purity of D-psicose is usually low, D-psicose is removed by adding D-psicose or removing D-fructose by solvent fractionation, membrane separation, column fractionation, yeast treatment, enzyme treatment, etc. It is also possible to increase the purity of. Of course, a mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose may be prepared by simply blending D-psicose and D-fructose in an arbitrary ratio.

Rare sugars have the effect of suppressing the proliferation of T lymphocytes. The inventors have discovered for the first time that rare sugars cause a decrease in proliferation in response to lymphocyte stimulation on human CD4-positive T lymphocytes. It was confirmed that rare sugars act on CD4-positive T lymphocytes, which play a central role in the immune system, and exert immunosuppressive effects.
The three major regulatory systems, nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system, are important for maintaining normal homeostasis in our bodies, and they are related and maintained in a complex manner. Each system has a common signaling substance and receptor, the immune system uses cytokines to affect the neuroendocrine system, and conversely, in the event of psychological or physical stress, the brain is endocrine or autonomic nervous system It is known that it affects the immune system and there are various reports on its mechanism, and its crosstalk is regarded as important. Among them, the immune system is said to be resistant, and plays an important role in the elimination of foreign substances such as pathogens entering the body and the monitoring mechanism of malignant tumors, and its homeostatic system is rapidly becoming clear. ing.
However, with changes in the environment, dietary habits, and genetic background surrounding us, the immune system has been activated and reconstructed, which could not exist until now, mainly allergic diseases besides classical immune diseases. Diseases associated with new immune system failures are increasing. In particular, atopic dermatitis and nasal allergies in children continue to increase.
At present, there are only very limited immunosuppressants and immunomodulators used for autoimmune diseases and allergic diseases. Therefore, the range of selection and indication is currently quite narrow, and the emergence of new immunosuppressive drugs and drugs with different mechanisms of action is the immunosuppressive therapy, including transplantation medicine, for which considerable needs are expected in the future. It is not an exaggeration to think that a new era will come in this field, and the social contributions that can be made are thought to be immeasurable.

The effect of suppressing the proliferation of T lymphocytes of rare sugars can be used as a T lymphocyte proliferation inhibitor or as a pharmaceutical product as a food for specified health use. For example, a composition containing D-psicose and / or a derivative thereof and / or a mixture thereof can be used as a food material that suppresses the proliferation of lymphocytes for foods. D-psicose sweetness is refined and refreshing, without the discomfort associated with bitterness and astringency like saccharin, but rather similar to the sweetness of fructose. The sweetness is about 70% of sucrose. The sweetness of D-psicose and complex crystalline saccharides containing D-psicose and D-fructose harmonizes well with other tastes of various substances such as acidity, salt to taste, astringency, umami, and bitterness. It can be advantageously used for sweetening and taste improvement of ordinary foods and beverages, and for quality improvement.
Although the compounding quantity in a foodstuff and a drink is not restrict | limited in particular, About 0.01 to 10 weight% is preferable. In the case of pharmaceuticals, they can be administered orally as capsules, powders, tablets and the like, and since they are soluble in water, it is possible to adopt administration methods such as intravenous injection and intramuscular injection in addition to oral administration. The dose varies depending on, for example, the degree of symptoms, body weight, age, sex, etc., and it is desirable to determine an appropriate amount according to the symptoms. The compounding amount in pharmaceuticals is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 0.01 to 2,000 mg for oral administration, 0.01 to 1,000 mg for intravenous administration, and about 0.01 to 1,000 mg for intramuscular administration per 1 kg body weight.
The rare sugar of the present invention is present in a trace amount in food materials, has high safety, and has a high utility value in terms of cost if mass production technology is developed. In the acute oral toxicity test, it was 5,000 mg / kg or more.
The functional food (such as food for specified health use) of the present invention is suitable for use in the fields of health food and preventive medicine for preventing specific diseases and the like. In health foods for preventing specific diseases, vitamins, carbohydrates, pigments, fragrances and the like that are usually added to foods can be appropriately added as optional ingredients in addition to the rare sugars that are essential ingredients. The food can be eaten in any form, liquid or solid. It can be eaten as a soft capsule encapsulated by gelatin or the like. Capsules are made, for example, with a gelatin film prepared by adding water to raw material gelatin and dissolving it, and adding a plasticizer (glycerin, D-sorbitol, etc.) thereto.

In the drug of the present invention, the rare sugar as an active ingredient is used not only as such but also as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. As the drug, a rare sugar can be used alone as a preparation, or a drug prepared by adding a pharmaceutically usable carrier or diluent can be used. Such formulations or pharmaceutical compositions can be administered by oral or parenteral routes. For example, solid or fluid (gel and liquid) formulations or pharmaceutical compositions for oral administration take the form of tablets, capsules, tablets, pills, powders, granules or gel preparations. The exact dosage of the formulation or pharmaceutical composition will vary with its intended use and treatment time, and will be the amount deemed appropriate by the attending physician or veterinarian. The dose and administration dose can be appropriately adjusted depending on the dosage form. As an oral solid preparation such as a tablet or an oral liquid, the daily dose may be divided into 1 to several times. In addition, for example, syrups, troches, chewable tablets, etc. that can be administered to infants and act locally, and also exert systemic effects by internal use, 1/2 to 1/10 of the daily dose is taken as a single dose. What is necessary is just to mix | blend and take, and the total dose may not be less than the daily dose in this case.
On the contrary, if the dosage is not unreasonable from the viewpoint of the dosage form, an amount corresponding to the daily dose may be formulated as a single dose. In preparing the preparation, diluents and excipients such as commonly used fillers, extenders, binders, disintegrants, surfactants, lubricants, coating agents, sustained release agents, etc. can be used. . In addition, if necessary, a solubilizer, buffer, preservative, solubilizer, tonicity agent, emulsifier, suspending agent, dispersant, thickener, gelling agent, curing agent, absorbent, An adhesive, an elastic agent, a plasticizer, an adsorbent, a fragrance, a coloring agent, a corrigent, an antioxidant, a moisturizer, a light-shielding agent, a brightener, an antistatic agent, and the like can be used.

A composition comprising D-psicose, D-allose and / or a derivative thereof and / or a mixture thereof in sweeteners, seasonings, food additives, food materials, foods and drinks, health foods and drinks, pharmaceuticals and feeds as described above The method of inclusion in the form of a product may be 0.1 wt% or more, preferably 0.5 wt% or more as D-psicose in the process until the product is completed, for example, mixing, kneading, Known methods such as dissolution, melting, dipping, infiltration, spraying, coating, coating, spraying, pouring, crystallization, and solidification are appropriately selected.
In the composition containing D-psicose, D-allose and / or a derivative thereof and / or a mixture thereof according to the present invention, D-psicose and the like are blended so as to be contained in an amount of 0.1 to 50% by weight. . Preferably it is 0.5-30 weight%, More preferably, it is 1-10 weight%. In the composition, if D-psicose or the like is less than 0.1% by weight, the T cell inhibitory action is not sufficient. In the composition, if D-psicose or the like exceeds 50% by weight, it is not preferable in an economical sense.

  Examples The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Suppressive and regulatory effects of rare sugars (D-allose, D-psicose) on the immune system are examined in vitro, focusing on T lymphocytes that play a central role in the immune system. We examine the mechanism and further analyze the effects on the entire immune system, and the present autoimmune disease model (arthritis model, systemic lupus erythematosus model) and allergic disease model (OVA-sensitized allergic rhinitis) To examine the usefulness of rare sugars (D-allose, D-psicose) for the treatment of model) and human immunological diseases.
[Research Methods]
We examine cell biological activity of human peripheral blood immunocompetent cells, especially rare saccharides (D-allose, D-psicose) mainly in T lymphocytes. The target immune cells are purified using negative selection using a magnetic device that has been performed by the present inventors.
a) Effect on proliferation activity of T lymphocytes Lymphocytes are stimulated by antigens and proliferated by stimulation centered on T cell receptors. In order to cause DNA synthesis during proliferation, the intracellular uptake of thymidine as a marker is measured, and the effect of rare sugars (D-allose, D-psicose) on the proliferation activity of lymphocytes, especially T lymphocytes, is examined. did. Anti-CD3 antibodies (OKT-3 and UCTH-1), which are T cell receptor stimulating antibodies, were used to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation, and ³ H-thymidine incorporation was used to measure proliferative activity.
〔Results and Discussion〕
(1) Effects of rare sugars on proliferation of human peripheral blood activated CD4 + T lymphocytes Effect of D-allose and D-psicose on proliferation of anti-CD3 antibody (UCTH-1) stimulated activated CD4 + T lymphocytes It was investigated.
Stimulate CD4 positive T lymphocytes (2 x 10 ⁵ ) with anti-CD3 antibody (2 μg / ml) in the presence of D-allose (13.5 mM), D-glucose (13.5 mM), D-psicose (13.5 mM) The cells were cultured for 72 hours in the absence. The proliferation ability was measured after adding thymidine for 4 hours and then measuring cellular uptake with a scintillation counter. The number of specimens measured was 6 specimens each. The results are shown in FIG.
(2) Effect of rare sugars on proliferation of human peripheral blood activated CD4 + T lymphocytes Effect of D-allose and D-psicose on proliferation of anti-CD3 antibody (OKT-3) stimulated activated CD4 + T lymphocytes It was investigated.
Stimulate CD4 positive T lymphocytes (2 x 10 ⁵ ) with anti-CD3 antibody (2 μg / ml) in the presence of D-allose (13.5 mM), D-glucose (13.5 mM), D-psicose (13.5 mM) The cells were cultured for 72 hours in the absence. The proliferation ability was measured after adding thymidine for 4 hours and then measuring cellular uptake with a scintillation counter. The number of specimens measured was 6 specimens each. The results are shown in FIG.
(3) Effect of rare sugars on proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells The effects of D-allose and D-psicose on proliferation of anti-CD3 antibody (UCTH-1) -stimulated activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were examined.
Stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (1 x 10 ⁵ ) with anti-CD3 antibody (2 μg / ml) in the presence of D-allose (13.5 mM), D-glucose (13.5 mM), D-psicose (13.5 mM) The cells were cultured for 72 hours in the absence. The proliferation ability was measured after adding thymidine for 4 hours and then measuring cellular uptake with a scintillation counter. The number of specimens measured was 6 specimens each. The results are shown in FIG.
(4) Human peripheral blood activation Effect of rare sugar on proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells Effect of D-allose and D-psicose on proliferation of anti-CD3 antibody (OKT-3) stimulation activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells Indicated.
Stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (1 x 10 ⁵ ) with anti-CD3 antibody (2 μg / ml) in the presence of D-allose (13.5 mM), D-glucose (13.5 mM), D-psicose (13.5 mM) The cells were cultured for 72 hours in the absence. The proliferation ability was measured after adding thymidine for 4 hours and then measuring cellular uptake with a scintillation counter. The number of specimens measured was 6 specimens each. The results are shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, i) both D-allose and D-psicose were found to have a growth inhibitory effect, but the inhibitory effect on PBMC was strongly inhibited by T and CD4 + T cells. It was. ii) The growth inhibitory effect of D-allose was superior to D-psicose. Concentration dependence was observed in the growth inhibitory effect of D-allose. iii) The growth inhibitory effect was carried out using two types of anti-CD3 antibodies, but the inhibitory effect was observed with TcR stimulation by either antibody.

b) Effect on surface marker expression related to T lymphocyte activation
T lymphocytes express various activation markers on the cell surface when proliferated upon stimulation. By measuring the expression frequency of this marker, the degree of lymphocyte activation can be examined. By examining the influence of rare sugars (D-allose, D-psicose) on the expression frequency of activation markers, the immunosuppressive effect of rare sugars (D-allose, D-psicose) can be evaluated. CD25 molecule and CD69 molecule were selected as the activation surface marker, and the frequency of the activation marker expression on the cell surface was examined by flow cytometry using each antibody.
〔Results and Discussion〕
The effect of D-allose on CD25 expression of CD4 positive T lymphocytes is shown in FIG.
The effect of D-allose on CD69 expression of CD4 positive T lymphocytes is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, i) the expression of CD25 was decreased in both D-allose and D-psicose, but D-allose was more prominent. ii) Neither D-allose nor D-psicose had any effect on CD69 expression.

c) Influence on apoptosis such as T lymphocytes Immunocompetent cells including lymphocytes maintain their immune regulation and homeostasis by causing self-programmed cell death called apoptosis. There are various mechanisms of apoptosis, such as what is called AICD (activation-dependent cell death) and FAS molecule-dependent apoptosis, and these two are important mechanisms of apoptosis of CD4-positive T lymphocytes. ing. We examined the effects of rare sugars (D-allose, D-psicose) on these two types of apoptosis. For AICD, peripheral blood CD4 positive T lymphocytes from healthy individuals were used to activate lymphocytes with anti-CD3 antibody, and the frequency of apoptosis was measured. FAS molecule-dependent apoptosis was examined by inducing apoptosis with an anti-FAS antibody using a human CD4-positive tumor cell line that strongly expresses a FAS molecule called CEM. For the measurement of apoptotic cells, changes in the amount of double-stranded DNA in the cells were measured by flow cytometry using the propidium iodide method, and the ratio of apoptotic cells was examined.

〔Results and Discussion〕
(1) Human peripheral blood activity
FIG. 7 shows the effect of D-allose on activated cell death of CD4 positive T lymphocytes by UCTH-1 antibody stimulation.
The effect of D-allose on FAS-dependent apoptosis in a T cell line is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, i) D-allose is 48 hours after stimulation against AICD (activation-induced cell death) of CD4 + T lymphocytes induced by TcR stimulation using UCTH-1 antibody. It had no effect. After 72 hours, AICD was suppressed. ii) D-allose had no effect on apoptosis induced by IgM class anti-Fas antibody in CEM (CD4 cell line), which is a T cell line by Fas antibody.

From the results of a), b) and c) above, it was revealed that rare saccharides, particularly D-allose, have a growth activity-inhibiting action in lymphocytes, particularly CD4-positive T lymphocytes (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3). , 4, 5, 6). This action is unlikely to be a cytoreductive effect of rare sugars (Figures 7 and 8). In the examination of the activation surface marker, although it shows an inhibitory effect on the expression of CD25, which is a marker of the second activation phase, it does not affect the expression of CD69, which is a marker of the first activation phase. Considering this, it is considered that the growth inhibitory action of D-allose has little influence on TcR signaling.
In any case, in this experiment, it was discovered for the first time that rare sugars cause a decrease in proliferation in response to lymphocyte stimulation of human CD4-positive T lymphocytes. In other words, it has been confirmed that rare sugars act on CD4-positive T lymphocytes, which play a central role in the immune system, and exert immunosuppressive effects. We plan to conduct administration experiments on disease model animals in parallel, and are already conducting administration experiments on normal animals and evaluating the effects on immune functions.

[Promising, practicality, developability]
At present, there are only very limited immunosuppressants and immunomodulators used for autoimmune diseases and allergic diseases. Therefore, the range of selection and indication is currently quite narrow, and the emergence of new immunosuppressive drugs and drugs with different mechanisms of action is the immunosuppressive therapy, including transplantation medicine, for which considerable needs are expected in the future. It is not an exaggeration to think that a new era will come in this field, and the social contributions that can be made are thought to be immeasurable.
In addition, environmental factors (environmental hormones, pollutants, etc.) are now deeply affecting our immune system, and genetic functions are not yet adaptable to changes in the environment. An increase in allergic diseases in children (bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, etc.) and abnormalities in the mechanism of acquiring natural innate immunity such as nasal allergies are phenotypes. In addition, the failure and involvement of the immune system is certainly seen as a major cause of the increase in chronic fatigue syndrome and lifestyle-related diseases. If the effect of rare sugars as an immunomodulator is established, unlike conventional drugs, it will be possible to utilize it as a sugar, that is, not as a drug, but in the form of food or luxury goods. . In addition to its use as an immunosuppressant, it also seems to have a great social effect (including economic effects) when used in the form of food and luxury goods.
At present, the importance of sugar chains on the surface of cells in the biological reactions through CELL TO CELL interaction, including the fields of immunity and allergy, and the sugar chains on the surface of proteins in foreign antigen proteins has been pointed out. If the effects of rare sugars on the immune system are further clarified, replacement of sugar chains on the cell surface or protein surface with rare sugars, etc., has never been considered in the field of immune control or cancer control. There is a possibility that a dream-like treatment will be realized. In addition, there is a possibility that it can be incorporated only in selected places in various sugar chains by taking advantage of the decisive characteristic of being sugar, and super-selective delivery can be considered for drug delivery. From the above, there is a long-term future in all fields.

Effects of rare sugars on proliferation of human peripheral blood activated CD4 + T lymphocytes Effects of rare sugars on proliferation of human peripheral blood activated CD4 + T lymphocytes Effects of rare sugars on proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells Human peripheral blood activation. Effects of rare sugars on the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Effect of D-allose on CD25 expression of CD4 positive T lymphocytes Effect of D-allose on CD69 expression of CD4 positive T lymphocytes Effect of D-allose on activated cell death of CD4 + T lymphocytes stimulated by UCTH-1 antibody Effect of D-allose on FAS-dependent apoptosis in T cell line. The cogen content was measured.

Claims (2)

A T-lymphocyte proliferation inhibitor containing D-allose or D-allose and D-psicose as active ingredients. The T lymphocyte according to claim 1, which is a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for the progression of symptoms by inhibiting the proliferation of T lymphocytes against autoimmune diseases or allergic diseases caused by abnormal T lymphocyte function and / or activity. Growth inhibitor.

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