Immunomodulatory and Kidney-Protective Effects of the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Derivate EA-230.

The systemic inflammatory response following infectious or non-infectious insults is related to morbidity (including acute kidney injury) and mortality. Pregnancy is associated with immunotolerance and an increased glomerular filtration rate. EA-230, a linear tetrapeptide (Alanine-Glutamine-Glycine-Valine), derived from the β-chain of the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone, has shown immunomodulatory and renoprotective properties in several pre-clinical animal models of systemic inflammation. Furthermore, an excellent safety profile of EA-230 was observed in phase 1 studies in humans, and the immunomodulatory effects of EA-230 were recently demonstrated in a phase IIa study during human experimental endotoxemia. A prospective double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial in 180 patients undergoing elective CABG-surgery with or without valve surgery is currently conducted to investigate the immunomodulatory and renoprotective properties of EA-230.