Identification of TNF-alpha binding peptides from a D-amino acid hexapeptide library that specifically inhibit TNF-alpha binding to recombinant p55 receptor.

Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with pleiotropic activity that binds to two transmembrane receptors. Its role in mediating the inflammatory response to injury or infection has been well documented and it has been shown to be a causative factor in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and septic shock. Using synthetic peptide libraries composed exclusively of D-amino acids, two distinct hexapeptide families that block the binding of TNF-alpha to its receptors were identified. In the deconvolution of the library, activity increased from submillimolar to the low micromolar range with the most active compound having an IC50 of 0.33 microM. With the aid of biotinylated constructs of these hexapeptides it was possible to demonstrate that their antagonistic effect is due to specific binding to TNF-alpha and not to its receptor.