Methods of treatment using il-16 antagonist peptides

Abstract

The present invention has found that a series of peptides having sequences that substantially correspond to specific regions of the C-terminus of IL-16 can inhibit the activity of IL-16. The present invention has demonstrated that such IL-16-inhibiting peptides can be as short as 4 amino acid in length. Based on these discoveries, the present invention provides IL-16 antagonist peptides and the use thereof for the treatment of IL-16 mediated disorders such as certain inflammatory diseases.

1 . An IL-16 antagonist peptide. 
     
     
         2 . The IL-16 antagonist peptide of  claim 1 , comprising X aa0 RX aa1 X aa2  (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein X aa0  is Arg or Lys, and X aa1  and X aa2  are any amino acids. 
     
     
         3 . The IL-16 antagonist peptide of  claim 1 , comprising X aa1 X aa2 X aa0 R (SEQ ID NO:8), wherein X aa0  is Arg or Lys, and X aa1  and X aa2  are any amino acids. 
     
     
         4 . The IL-16 antagonist peptide of  claim 1 , comprising X aa1 X aa0 RX aa2  (SEQ ID NO:12), wherein X aa0  is Arg or Lys, and X aa1  and X aa2  are any amino acids. 
     
     
         5 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule coding for any one of the peptide of  claims 2 - 4 . 
     
     
         6 . An antibody raised against the peptide of any one of  claims 2 - 4 . 
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the peptide of any of  claims 2 - 4  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         8 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody of  claim 6 . 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating an IL-16 mediated disorder in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the peptide of any of  claims 2 - 4  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.