Immunoregulatory compositions

Abstract

The invention relates to compounds exhibiting immunoregulatory activity as determined by measuring the compound's ability to modulate production of NO by a cell. Preferred compounds include or consist of a sequence AAL AAQ AAG AAV wherein AAL is a substituted or unsubstituted non-polar amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ala and Leu; wherein AAQ is a substituted or unsubstituted amino acid selected from the group consisting of Gln, Pro, and Ala; wherein AAG is a substituted or unsubstituted amino acid Gly, and wherein AAV is a substituted or unsubstituted non-polar amino acid selected from the group consisting of Val and Ala. In one embodiment, the compound consists of a tripeptide selected from the group AQG, MTR, VVC, and mixtures thereof.

1 . A composition including a purified or isolated oligopeptide consisting of no more than eight amino acids, and including the amino acid sequence consisting of AQGV (SEQ ID NO:2) or salt thereof; wherein said oligopeptide has immunoregulatory activity as determined by measuring the oligopeptide's ability to modulate production of NO by a cell.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the oligopeptide consists of no more than seven amino acids.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the oligopeptide consists of no more than six amino acids.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  together with together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent and/or excipient.