| abstract |
<B> FIBRIN AND / OR TRANSGLUTAMINASE BINDING INHIBITORS <D> Inhibitors that can be obtained from tissues or secretions of leeches typically of the order Rhychobdellida have the following terminal sequence: NH ~ 2 ~ -Lys-Leu-Leu-Pro-Cys -Lys-Glu-Y-His-Gln-Gly-Ile-Pro-Asn-Pro-Arg, where Y represents any amino acid sequence; or a salt, derivative or bioprecursor of the pharmaceutically acceptable sequence, or an analog or homologue thereof. Due to their extreme potency in the nanomolar range, inhibitors can be used to treat various diseases where protein cross-linking is important. The inhibitors can be used in the treatment of Crohn's disease, tumor implantation, arteriosclerosis, trombic microangiopathy, fibrous skin growth, acne, scarring, glomerulonephritis, cataracts or infection with microfilarial nematodes. In particular, inhibitors can be used to reduce vessel stability so that they are more subject to lysis by thrombolytic agents. |