Effective treatment of experimental uveitis with interleukin-1 blockers, CK 123 and CK 124.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) blockers are known to inhibit IL-1-induced uveitis. CK 123 and CK 124 are new IL-1 blockers which showed potent anti-uveitis actions that are more potent than the classic corticosteroid, prednisolone. In addition to anti-inflammation, CK 123 and CK 124 were also found to inhibit proliferation of fibroblast-like corneal and conjunctival cells, indicating that these compounds could be used not only as anti-uveitis agents but also as useful agents to prolong the functional period of aqueous humor outflow after trabeculectomy. It was also found that DNA and mRNA synthesis were markedly inhibited by CK 123 and CK 124, yet the protein synthesis was either untouched or enhanced.