Design of Antisense (Complementary) Peptides as Selective Inhibitors of Cytokine Interleukin‐1

The ability of sense peptides (coded for by sense DNA) and corresponding antisense peptides (coded for by corresponding antisense DNA) to interact specifically was used to design antisense peptide inhibitors of interleukin‐1 isoforms IL‐1β and IL‐1α. These inhibitors appear to act as “mini receptors”, binding to both isoforms and thereby sterically blocking the normal interaction between interleukin‐1 and its receptors.