| abstract |
The present invention relates to non-activated Wnt inhibition polypeptides (WIPs) containing: (a) a protein transduction domain (PTD) which enables said WIPs to permeate a cell membrane without the aid of a cell membrane receptor; and (b) a Wnt antagonist domain which is inactive by itself, but is activated in mammalian cells and then secreted out of the cells to function to inhibit Wnt signal transduction. Also, the invention relates to a method for preparing said non-activated WIPs, and a pharmaceutical composition containing said WIPs as active ingredients. Said non- activated WIPs can be produced in large quantities through the culture of bacteria such as E coli., and are biochemically inactive before being administered into the human body, and thus the production cost thereof is only one several tenths of that of previously known active proteins (sFRPs, DKKs, etc.) having uses similar thereto, and the isolation/purification and handling/administration processes thereof are significantly simple and convenient. When said non-activated WIPs are administered in vivo, they will have the effects of inhibiting the invasive growth and metastasis of cancer cells and treating immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis by pharmacological mechanisms different from those of the previously known sFRPs or DKKs. |