Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects displayed by peptides derived from PKI55 protein, an endogenous protein kinase C inhibitor

We recently characterized the PKI55 protein as an endogenous protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor and investigated, in vitro, the potential anti-inflammatory actions of its N-terminal peptides 1–16(peptide 5), 1–8 (peptide 8) and 1–5 (peptide 9). We showed their ability to inhibit chemotaxis in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes activated by the N-formyl tripeptide for-Met-Leu- Phe-OMe. In this work, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and the analgesic effects of the selected peptides by in vivo experiments carried out in the mouse. The peptides 5, 8 and 9 (0.1 and 10 nmol i.c.v.) were effective in both the parameters chosen to test the anti-inflammatory activity, i.e., the xylene induced ear edema and the acetic acid-induced infiltration of neutrophils in the peritoneal cavity. In addition, they displayed analgesic effect, evaluated by the acetic acid-induced writhing test. All the peptides’ effects were shared by the reference compounds, dexamethasone and indomethacin (10 mg kg−1 i.p.), but not by the 9-scramble peptide (10 nmol i.c.v.). The peptide 9, which represents the shortest active sequence of the PKI55 protein, was tested in the ear edema model even following intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration and proved to be effective in the range doses 3–30 mg kg−1. Moreover, an increase in plasma corticosterone levels was detected in mice treated with the peptide 9, but not with the 9-scramble peptide (both at 10 nmol i.c.v.). The antiinflammatory and analgesic effects of the PKI55-derived synthetic peptides, possibly related both to PKC inhibition and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activation, deserve further investigation in view of potential therapeutic exploitation.