Balraj Krishan Handa

Peptide based inhibitors of interleukin-8: structural simplification and enhanced potency

Abstract Important areas of a lead peptide inhibitor of IL-8 had been previously identified. Chemical modification led to the identification of key amide bonds which allowed the replacement of the central section of the peptide with modified amino acids and spacers. This approach led to inhibitors of lower molecular weight and of increased potency.

Identification and characterisation of an inhibitor of interleukin-8: a receptor based approach

Abstract Identification of the extracellular domains of the interleukin-8 (IL-8) receptor led to the synthesis of several peptide sequences. A peptide derived from a single subdomain was shown to inhibit IL-8 binding and to act as a functional antagonist. Ala-scan and truncation strategies identified key areas of this peptide for further work.