EFFICACY OF THE HEMATOREGULATORY PEPTIDE SK-AND-F-107647 IN EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEMIC CANDIDA-ALBICANS INFECTIONS IN NORMAL AND IMMUNOSUPPRESSED MICE

SK&F 107647, a novel synthetic dimeric pentapeptide, has been shown to be a potent hematoregulatory agent. The potential for the hematoregul atory factors elicited by SK&F 107647 to confer protection in experime ntal models of systemic Candida albicans infection was evaluated in im munosuppressed and immunocompetent mice. Prophylactic treatment with r ecombinant human interleukin-1 (rhIL-1), recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF), or the hematoregulatory peptide SK&F 107647 significantly increased survival times in gamma irradiated immunosuppressed as well as non-irradiated immunocompetent mice chall enged with a lethal dose of C. albicans. Protection was also observed in athymic nu/nu ''nude'' mice. Additionally, significant increases in survival in non-irradiated immunocompetent mice dosed by oral gavage were observed. These results indicate that SK&F 107647 can significant ly enhance natural host resistance to experimental C. albicans infecti ons both in immunosuppressed and immunocompetent mice.