Inventors:
Gary J. Rosenthal - Chapel Hill NC
Emanuela Corsini - Durham NC
Benny Blaylock - Morrisville NC
Christine Comment - Carrboro NC
Michael Luster - New Hill NC
William Craig - Raleigh NC
Michael Taylor - Durham NC
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary, Department
of Health and Human Services - Washington DC
International Classification:
A61K 31415
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of treating diseases associated with elevated levels of interleukin 1 (IL-1) including inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, skin hypersensitivity and endotoxemia. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for the treatment of such diseases in warm-blooded animals, such as humans, which comprises the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of an aromatic diamidine, sufficient to inhibit IL-1 release from IL-1 producing cells. The aromatic diamidine can also be used to block interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor from cells producing these cytokines.