The immunostimulatory effect of IL-1 beta in vivo is blocked by antisense peptides complementary to the loop sequence 163-171

Antisense (AS) peptides complementary to the b-bulge surface loop VQGEESNDK (Boraschi loop) of the cytokine interleukin-1b (IL-1b) have been shown to bind IL-1b at the Boraschi loop position, and to inhibit some of the IL-1b-mediated biological effects in vitro. Here we show that primary AS peptide FVITFFSLY inhibits IL-1b-mediated immunostimulation in vivo in a dose-dependent fashion, while inactive on IL-1b-induced inflammation, an effect that takes place independently of the Boraschi loop. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that an AS peptide has been used successfully in vivo. 2009 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.