Methods for inhibiting an inflammatory reaction in a mammal and pharmaceutical compositions are provided. The methods comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of a peptide of the formula: X.sup.1-X.sup.2-X.sup.3 wherein X.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of 2-amino-hexanoic acid; 2-amino-heptanoic acid; 2-amino-octanoic acid; cyclohexyl-substituted 2-amino-ethanoic acid, 2-amino-propanoic acid or 2-amino-butanoic acid and methionine; X.sup.2 is an acidic amino acid; and X.sup.3 is an aliphatic amino acid; or of a peptide of the formula: X.sup.4-X.sup.5 wherein X.sup.4 is an aromatic or aliphatic amino acid; and X.sup.5 is an acidic amino acid.