Treating allergic reactions and inflammatory responses with tri-and dipeptides

A peptide of the formula (I):

• X-R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -R.sub.3 -Y
• wherein;
• X is selected from the group consisting of H and acetyl;
• R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of D or L-phenylalanine;
• tyrosine;
• tryptophan;
• phenylglycine;
• Nor-methylphenylalanine;
• cyclohexylalanine;
• and norleucine;
• R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of D or L-glutamate;
• and aspartate;
• R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of glycine;
• D or L-alanine;
• beta-alanine;
• valine;
• leucine;
• isoleucine;
• sarcosine;
• and gamma-aminobutyric acid or another aliphatic amino acid;
• and
• Y is NH.sub.2.

A peptide of the formula (II):

• X-R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -Y
• wherein;
• X is selected from the group consisting of H and acetyl;
• R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of D or L-phenylalanine;
• tyrosine;
• tryptophan;
• phenylglycine;
• Nor-methylphenylalanine;
• cyclohexylalanine;
• and norleucine;
• R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of D or L-glutamate;
• and aspartate;
• Y is NH.sub.2.

A peptide selected from the group consisting of:

• peptide #6 H-D-phe-D-glu-Gly-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #7 H-D-tyr-D-glu-Gly-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #8 H-D-trp-D-glu-Gly-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #9 H-D-NMef-D-glu-Gly-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #10 H-D-cha-D-glu-Gly-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #11 H-D-nle-D-asp-Gly-NH sub.2;
• peptide #17 H-D-phe-D-glu-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #18 H-D-tyr-D-glu-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #19 D-trp-D-glu-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #20 H-D-NMef-D-glu-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #21 H-D-cha-D-glu-NH.sub.2;
• and
• peptide #22 H-D-nle-D-asp-NH.sub.2.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one peptide selected from the group consisting of:

• peptide #6 H-D-phe-D-glu-Gly-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #7 H-D-tyr-D-glu-Gly-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #8 H-D-trp-D-glu-Gly-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #9 H-D-NMef-D-glu-Gly-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #10 H-D-cha-D-glu-Gly-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #11 H-D-nle-D-asp-Gly-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #17 H-D-phe-D-glu-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #18 H-D-tyr-D-glu-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #19 D-trp-D-glu-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #20 H-D-NMef-D-glu-NH.sub.2;
• peptide #21 H-D-cha-D-glu-NH.sub.2;
• and
• peptide #22 H-D-nle-D-asp-NH.sub.2;
• and a pharmaceutical carrier.