Effect of tetra-peptide isolated from interleukin 1 (IL-1) on corneal epithelial wound healing in the rabbit

To develop a new method for wound healing in case of injured corneal epithe lium, the effects of the tetrapeptide (Val-Leu-Leu-Lys), showing the consen sus sequence between human Interleukin (IL)-1 alpha and bovine parotid prot ein (parotin) on epithelial cell proliferation and elongation were analysed in vitro cell culture experiments on epithelial cells obtained from rabbit cornea. The peptide showed dose- dependent stimulatory effects on epitheli al cell proliferation and elongation at 10-100 mug ml(-1) compared with the control experiments. Furthermore, the peptide also exhibited a significant wound healing activity for the epithelial cells in an in situ experiment u sing mechanically injured rabbit cornea, while the higher concentration of the peptide (100 mug ml(-1)) showed greater efficient results than a previo usly known agent, sodium hyaluonate (0.3 %). In addition, no pyrogenic acti vity of this peptide was detected by the previously established progenecity test using rabbits. These results suggest that the tetrapeptide (Val-Leu-Leu-Lys) is a promisin g agent for wound healing in the case of injured corneal epithelium. the ca se of injured corneal epithelium. (C) 2001 Academic Press.