Opportunity

When the body’s immune system is activated, inflammation in the affected tissue can occur. However, in some diseases, including Hyper-IgE Syndrome or Job Syndrome, unwanted inflammatory responses occur to due to continuously activated immune responses and a decreased ability to regulate them. Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) are a part of the immune system that react to harmful pathogens and guide immune cells to their location. As a results, FPRs are highly involved in inflammatory responses and are capable of producing both pro and anti-inflammatory effects. There are three known FPRs in humans, all of which recognize a wide range of targets: FPR1, FPR2, and FPR3. While activation of FPRs leads to critical responses in an active immune system, unwanted FPR-mediated inflammatory responses are the root cause of several diseases, including respiratory conditions, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune disorders. Manipulating FPRs with modified peptides may have the potential to reduce inflammatory responses and improve the function of the respiratory system; doing so could have therapeutic applications in treating several inflammatory diseases, Hyper-IgE Syndrome, as well as lung conditions such as asthma or acute lung injury.

Breakthrough in Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutics

Researchers at the University of South Alabama have developed a compound (termed N-f-MLF) that works to abolish hyperinflammation mediated by FPR activation. Available in pharmaceutically-relevant concentrations, this compound inhibits the activity of FPRs to reduce inflammatory responses. While this discovery has the potential to treat the rare Hyper-IgE Syndrome, a pediatric autoimmune disorder, it can also treat a broad variety of inflammatory, respiratory, and autoimmune diseases. Its applications include but are not limited to the treatment of conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, eczema, acute lung injury, arthritis, psoriasis, and intestinal inflammatory diseases such as colitis.

Competitive Advantages

• Potential to reduce the effects of common and rare inflammatory diseases, such as Hyper-IgE Syndrome, eczema and arthritis;
• Demonstrated immune bioactivity at biologically relevant concentrations;
• Non-toxic: creates a targeted response.

Intellectual Property Status

Patent Pending