AcSDKP

AcSDKP

A tetrapeptide marketed as a nontoxic antiproliferative factor, which inhibits haematopoietic stem cells from entering the cell cycle, thereby protecting them from injury by cycle-active cytotoxic agents. AcSDKP inhibits in vitro growth of bone marrow progenitors (CFU-GM, CFU-E, BFU-E), minimising their proportion in the cell cycle. It is involved in regulating the immune response, blocking proliferation of normal lymphocytes, but not leukaemic cells, a selectivity which could provide a therapeutic handle for protecting normal marrow precursors during chemotherapy. AcSDKP also mediates angiogenesis, stimulating endothelial cell proliferation, migration and differentiation into capillaries at nanomolar concentrations. It also enhances the secretion of active matrix metalloproteinase-1.