ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIONS OF AN N-TERMINAL PEPTIDE FROM HUMAN LIPOCORTIN-1

An acetylated polypeptide corresponding to residues 2-26 of human lipocortin 1 was synthesized and the anti-inflammatory activity assessed in three models of acute inflammation in rat and mouse. In the carrageenin rat paw oedema test, the peptide produced a maximal inhibition of approximately 41% at the 3 h time point with a 10 mug dose. When rat paw oedema was induced by the injection of venom phospholipase A2, the peptide produced a significant inhibition (31%) at the top dose of 20 mug per paw. In the mouse air-pouch model, systemic treatment with the peptide produced a dramatic reduction in cytokine-induced leukocyte migration with an ID50 of approximately 40 mug per mouse. The N-terminal peptide 2-26 shares the actions of lipocortin 1 in these acute models of inflammation.