Peptide Therapy Improves Mobility in Older and Large Breed Canines: A Case Study

ABSTRACT

Senescence can be defined as the normal, time-dependent changes that arise during the later stages of life in every animal. Aging in pets gives rise to a range of symptoms that generally involves a decline in overall mobility and a decrease in overall activity. The severity and onset of these aging symptoms depend on a variety of factors including breed size, genetics, weight, general joint health, nutrition, environmental factors and lifestyle as well as normal wear and tear on joints. A regenerative therapy that targets inflammatory pathways and regeneration is presently lacking in canine therapeutics. Due to their stem cell origin, Nano Organo Peptides (NOP) have anti-inflammatory effects, as well as regenerative and reparative properties. Due to these properties, NOPs offer the potential to target a vast array of pre-clinical models. In this case study, our data demonstrated that NOP therapy was tolerated by two canine subjects and a significant improvement in their mobility and activity was observed.

KEYWORDS

Peptide therapy; Mobility; Motor function; Nano organo peptides (NOP); Anti-inflammatory; Regenerative; Aging dog therapeutics

INTRODUCTION

The incidence and severity of osteoarthritis can negatively impact the quality of life of aged dogs [1]. Osteoarthritis is more prevalent in older and larger breed dogs and the incidence and severity depends on the canine joints involved. Peptide therapy is the use of targeted signaling amino acid chains to instruct cells on the functions they need to perform [2]. As the aging process continues there is a higher incidence of joint damage. Currently, treatment options are limited. Anti-inflammatory medications exist to treat the inflammation but not the destructive underlying process in the joints. Biological therapies exist but are not intended for long term use. There is an unmet need to safely and effectively treat or delay joint damage in dogs.

Amino acids play a role in almost every system of the body, including muscle, connective tissue and nervous system function. Accordingly, the use of peptides may be beneficial in improving overall mobility. Peptides are metabolized into individual amino acids and are recycled by the body, unlike many drug therapies which are eliminated or can accumulate, causing toxicity or side effects. Peptides are linear polymers formed by a series of amino acid residues that are linked together with peptide bonds [3]. Whereas proteins typically contain between 50 and 2000 amino acid residues and have a mean molecular weight between 5.5 and 22kDa, peptides are composed of less than 50 resides and have a lower molecular weight than proteins. Short peptides have been demonstrated to play an important role in the modulation of transcription, transmission of biological information, and in restoring genetic alterations that occur with aging. These peptides are signaling molecules that act as regulatory factors through their interaction with DNA and histone proteins. Moreover, the physiological process of senescence is highly influenced by peptide regulation of homeostasis and is related to the aging of cells, tissues, and organs [4].

Nano Organo Peptides (NOP) are tiny molecules that are 3nm in size and have a molecular weight of less than 10kDA [5]. NOPs are procured from mammalian stem cells and are processed through a proprietary parallel-extraction process but are unique in that they undergo multiple ultrafiltrate steps through specialized Millipore filters to receive the cellular material within the cell, known as the molecular-level ultrafiltrates. NOP contents are extracted from organ specific cells with an initially high molecular mass and separated through by ultrafiltration through micro-Millipore filters that selectively allow substances with a molecular mass of less than 10kDa to pass. The low molecular weight and high solubility of NOPs permit them to be delivered sublingually and or by injection (subcutaneous or intramuscular). As a result, NOPs have been investigated for variety of applications including cosmetics [6] and regenerative organ repair [7]. In this case report, we hypothesized that the NOP properties of the peptide acting signaling agent would agonistically interact with the NOP receptor. Our results indicate an improvement in the mobility and activity levels observed as the ability to get up from a down position, desire to play and go outside in the canines tested.

CASE REPORT

Subject A is a female Shiloh Shepherd dog aged 9 years and 10/12 months and weighing 98 lbs. She began to demonstrate motor function deficits, which qualified her to participate in this study. She began having difficulty standing from a down or sitting position and was hesitant when climbing stairs. Assistance was also needed getting in and out of the owner’s vehicle, while in the past these activities were performed independently and with exuberance. Subject A also demonstrated lethargy and a canine ophthalmologist noted that her eyes did not look as bright as they had previously. Subject B is a female Shiloh Shepherd aged 9 years and 5 months and weighing approximately 100lbs. Similar to the reported behavioral changes observed in Subject A, Subject B also began having difficulties standing from a down position as well as climbing the stairs both ascending and descending. Her posterior legs began to cross over which would normally be indicative of degenerative myelopathy, a debilitating and slowly progressive spinal cord disease with a genetic basis. The dog had become lethargic and arthritic.

TREATMENT

NOP treatments were done in two phases over a course of 534 days with Certificates of Analysis outlining concentration, pH and sterility in Appendix 1.

Phase 1 ran from Day 1 to Day 15 and Phase 2 from Day 18 to 534. To understand the importance of phase-based treatment, we chose to treat Subject A in both phases, and Subject B in a single phase. Comparing the results from these two subjects will allow a phase comparison to gain a better understanding on the efficacy of the treatment in large breed senior dogs. The treatments used were based on observations of the canines’ behaviors and symptoms. In Phase 1, Subject A was given subcutaneous injections of NOPs derived from bone and placenta on Days 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 (Table 1).

In Phase 2, Subject A was given injections NOPs derived from bone, placenta, central nervous system (CNS), cartilage, liver, pancreas, muscle, synovial fluid and spinal cord given by intramuscular injection on Days 18, 24, 30, 33, 37, 77, 125, 133, 177, 290, 360, 386, 402, 443, 460, 502 and 534 (Table 2).

In Phase 1, Subject B was given injections of bone and placenta peptides subcutaneously (Table 3). In Phase 2, Subject B was given injections of bone, placenta, CNS, cartilage, liver, pancreas, muscle, synovial fluid and spinal cord peptides given intramuscularly (Table 4).

RESULTS

A Canine Mobility Assessment form was scored to assess the canines’ pain, discomfort and mobility in managing daily activity (Table 5). We assigned these values as an assessment point to quantify the baseline mobility and improvements if any.

Our results (Table 6) showed that the initial mobility score of the canines at baseline (Day 0) was 4 and after peptide treatment increased to 11 at Day 28 and then to 12 at Day 56. After 112 days (4 months), the mobility score further increased to 16, indicating improvements in the measures of mobility. We observed further improvements in mobility parameters with total mobility score of 20 by Day 224 (8 months), which represents a return to full mobility.

DISCUSSION

In this case study, we report the results of NOP injections into two canines, Subject A and Subject B to ascertain whether NOPs injections would be tolerated and cause an improvement in their mobility and activity. Both subjects appeared to be more energetic and able to get up from a sitting or down position, though there are no definitive markers available to quantify the results. Incidentally, we also observed that both subjects were also brought down to an optimal weight, which is better for joint and bone health, with no change in diet.

CONCLUSION

NOPs have been investigated for variety of applications including regenerative organ repair. In this case study, we report the results of NOP injections into two canines, Subject A and Subject B. Our results showed that the general activity of the dogs was significantly improved following peptide treatment within 1-2 months following peptide administration and return to normal level of mobility at 8 months. Though this case report cannot conclusively form conclusions due to only two canines used, it suggests that our therapy did not negatively impact the metabolic state and immune profile of the subjects, and hints at a level of safety with NOP therapy. Both subjects appeared to gain mobility and functionality, though there are no definitive markers available to quantify these results. Future studies are needed to assess functional outcomes of NOP therapy and increase the number of test subjects used.

REFERENCES

  1. Clutton RE (1988) The medical implications of canine obesity and their relevance to anaesthesia. British Veterinary Journal 144 (1): 21-28.
  2. Rychel JK (2010) Diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis. Topics in Companion Animal Medicine 25(1): 20-25.
  3. Berg JM, Tymoczko JL, Stryer L (2002) Primary structure: Amino acids are linked by peptide bonds to form polypeptide chains. Biochemistry.
  4. Caputi S, Trubiani O, Sinjari B, Trofimova S, Diomede F, et al. (2019) Effect of short peptides on neuronal differentiation of stem cells. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 33: 2058738419828613.
  5. Plus M, NOP (Nano Organo Peptides), MO (Mito Organelles) (2016) Organo-specific peptides in anti-ageing and therapeutic rejuvenation.
  6. Chan MK, Wong MB, Béguin A, Teppone M, Tukhvatullina D, et al. (2016) In efficacy of the MFIII placenta extracts softgels supplementation: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Basic Research Journal of Medicine and Clinical Sciences 5(4): 86-95.
  7. Chan MK, Michelle WB, Klokol D, Pong H, Wolodymyr C (2017) Biohormonal therapyin early management of premature menopause and andropause. International Journal of Current Medical and Pharmaceutical Research 3(1): 1278-1281.

Article Type

Case Report

Publication history

Received Date: June 27, 2022
Published: July 28, 2022

Address for correspondence

Augusta Wellington, BioPep 4621 Technology Dr, Golden, CO, USA

Copyright

©2022 Open Access Journal of Biomedical Science, All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means as per the standard guidelines of fair use. Open Access Journal of Biomedical Science is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

How to cite this article

Augusta W, Jonathan RTL, Alana W, Mike MKC, Michelle BFW, et al. Peptide Therapy Improves Mobility in Older and Large Breed Canines: A Case Study. 2022- 4(4) OAJBS. ID.000475.

Author Info

Augusta Wellington1*, Jonathan RT Lakey2,3, Alana Williams1, Mike MK Chan1, Michelle BF Wong1, Marcelle Gisain2, Caroline Mosessain2, Orn Adalsteinsson2 and Desiree CT Cox1

1BioPep Technology, USA
2European Wellness Group, Germany
3University of California, Irvine- Department of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, USA

Table 1: Phase 1 study design for subject A.

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Table 2: Phase 2 study design for subject A.

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Table 3: Phase 1 study design for subject B.

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Table 4: Phase 2 study design for subject B.

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Table 5: Canine Mobility assessment form.

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Table 6: Canine Mobility Assessment scores for Canines A and B through treatment period. Score 0 indicates no activity and scores 5 indicates full activity.

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Appendix 1: Canine Mobility Assessment scores for Canines A and B through treatment period. Score 0 indicates no activity and scores 5 indicates full activity.

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