Synthetic Peptide LKEKK as Potential Antipsoriatic Drag

It has been established that the synthetic peptide LKEKK affects the ability of IL-12 to regulate the secretory activity of keratinocytes obtained from human psoriatic skin: in the concentration range of 100-1000 nM the peptide increases in a dose-dependent manner the production of IL-10 and IFN-γ as well as suppression of the production of IL- 17 induced by IL-12 in vitro. The peptide with the inverted sequence KKEKL was inactive, which indicates the high specificity of the peptide LKEKK action. An in vivo study of the peptide LKEKK activity in a model of imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis in mice showed that its daily application to the ear (150 500 µg) together with Aldara cream containing 5% IMQ for 6 days significantly suppresses the development of the inflammatory process.