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Abstract Despite anti-TNF therapy advancements for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, the burden of diseases remains high. An 11-mer TNF peptide, TNF 70–80 , is known to stimulate selective functional responses compared to the parent TNF molecule. Here, we show that TNF 70–80 binds to the TNF receptor, activating p38 MAP kinase through TNF receptor-associated factor 2. Using truncated TNFR mutants, we identify the sequence in TNFRI which enables p38 activation by TNF 70–80 . Peptides with this TNFRI sequence, such as TNFRI 206–211 bind to TNF and inhibit TNF-induced p38 activation, respiratory burst, cytokine production and adhesion receptor expression but not F-Met-Leu-Phe-induced respiratory burst in neutrophils. TNFRI 206–211 does not prevent TNF binding to TNFRI or TNF-induced stimulation of ERK, JNK and NF-κB. TNFRI 206–211 inhibits bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced peritonitis, carrageenan-induced and antigen-induced paw inflammation, and respiratory syncytial virus-induced lung inflammation in mice. Our findings suggest a way of targeting TNF-p38 pathway to treat chronic inflammatory disorders.
Mukaro et al. (Wed,) studied this question.