Treating Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Peptide Therapeutic for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Application

Anti-claudin 5 peptide to improve lung barrier function for the treatment of alcohol-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Key Benefits

New target for treating ARDS.
Small inhibitory peptide to specifically target claudin-5.

Market Summary

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a rapidly progressive disease that causes fluid to leak into the lungs making breathing difficult. Roughly half of ICU patients who develop ARDS are alcoholics and, in alcoholic lung syndrome, alveolar tight junction leakiness correlates with increased cldn-5 expression. There is no direct cure for ARDS. Treatment, instead, involves supporting the patient while the lung heals, with a focus on maintaining blood oxygen levels. All ARDS patients require oxygen therapy, and most will additionally need ventilator support.

Technical Summary

Emory researchers have identified claudin-5 as an effective target for ARDS induced by alcohol consumption. In addition to identifying claudin-5 as a target, they have developed an inhibitory peptide selective for claudin-5. These inhibitory peptides can improve lung barrier function in patients and serve as a therapeutic for ARDS and other lung injuries associated with diminished lung barrier function. Emory researchers have shown that claudin-5 is necessary and sufficient to modulate barrier function in alveolar epithelial cells in vitro. The researchers have also shown that inhibition of claudin-5 interaction with claudin-5 inhibitory peptides can improve barrier function in alcohol induced ARDS and may be a potential therapeutic strategy.