Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition is described as an admixture of a pharmacological carrier and a peptide having the formula f-Met-Leu-X. X is selected from the group consisting of Tyr, Tyr-Phe, Phe-Phe and Phe-Tyr. Also described are methods for inhibiting the degranulation of mast cells and for treating inflammation in a patient, for example, where the inflammation is a result of a disease selected from the group consisting of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and anaphylaxis. In addition, methods are described for inhibiting the release of cytokines in a patient, for inhibiting the release of histamines in a patient, for inhibiting the release leukotrienes in a patient, for reducing adhesion, migration and aggregation of lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils to a site of inflammation in a patient, for reducing the production of IgE antibodies at site of inflammation in a patient, and for inhibiting increased vascular permeability at site of inflammation in a patient.

Abstract: Methods for treating allergies, cutaneous inflammation, arthritis, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease and treating chronic inflammatory bowel disease are described. Also described is a method for inhibiting the infiltration of eosinophils into airways of a patient, a method for inhibiting the mucous release into airways of a patient, a method for blocking IgE activation of a lymphocyte, a method for stabilizing the cell membrane of a lymphocyte, thereby preventing their further involvement in the increased inflammatory response to an IgE antigen challenge, and a method for inhibiting the migration of T-cells. Such methods involve administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide having the formula f-Met-Leu-X, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Tyr, Tyr-Phe, Phe-Phe and Phe-Tyr.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition is described as an admixture of a pharmacological carrier and a peptide having the formula f-Met-Leu-X. X is selected from the group consisting of Tyr, Tyr-Phe, Phe-Phe and Phe-Tyr. Also described are methods for inhibiting the degranulation of mast cells and for treating inflammation in a patient, for example, where the inflammation is a result of a disease selected from the group consisting of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and anaphylaxis. In addition, methods are described for inhibiting the release of cytokines in a patient, for inhibiting the release of histamines in a patient, for inhibiting the release leukotrienes in a patient, for reducing adhesion, migration and aggregation of lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils to a site of inflammation in a patient, for reducing the production of IgE antibodies at site of inflammation in a patient, and for inhibiting increased vascular permeability at site of inflammation in a patient.