Application of stichodactyla toxin in the treatment of autoimmune diseases

Stichodactyla helianthus (Ellis, 1768) je vrsta vlasulje prisutna u Karipskom moru. Sadrži neurotoksine koji prvenstveno služe za obranu od predatora. Proučavanje peptida ShK iz ove vrste pokazalo je da osim toksičnog učinka postoji i moguća terapeutska primjena. Stichodactyla toksin ShK djeluje tako da blokira Kv1.3 kanale i zbog toga može suzbiti imunološke odgovore bitne za patogenezu brojnih bolesti kao što su multipla skleroza, psorijaza, reumatoidni artritis, itd. Napravljeno je mnogo sintetičkih analoga ovoga spoja od kojih su najbitniji ShK-Dap22, ShK-F6CA, D-allo-ShK, ShK-170, ShK-192 te ShK-186 koji je pod nazivom dalazatid ušao u kliničko ispitivanje za liječenje plak psorijaze. Stichodactyla helianthus (Ellis, 1768) is a species of anemone present in the Caribbean Sea. It contains neurotoxins that are primarily used as a defense against predators. Investigation of the ShK peptide, derived from this species, showed that besides the toxic effect there is also a possible therapeutic application. Stichodactyla toxin ShK works by blocking Kv1.3 channels and therefore can suppress the immune responses essential for the pathogenesis of numerous diseases such as multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Many synthetic analogues of this compound have been made, the most important of which are ShK-Dap22, ShK-F6CA, D-allo-ShK, ShK-170, ShK-192, and ShK-186 now called dalazatide, which has entered clinical trials for treating plaque psoriasis.