Treatment of inflammation and/or endotoxic shock

1. A method of treating or ameliorating inflammation in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject an isolated peptide derived from the C-terminal end of a Chemerin protein, wherein the isolated peptide comprises a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 37 or 38.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isolated peptide is administered at a dose of between about 10 pg/kg and about 1 mg/kg.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isolated peptide is acetylated, acylated, alkylated, or glycosylated.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isolated peptide consists of the sequence of amino acids of SEQ ID NO:19.

5. A medical device, wound dressing or bandage impregnated with an isolated peptide derived from the C-terminal end of a Chemerin protein, wherein the isolated peptide comprises a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 37 or 38.

6. The medical device, wound dressing or bandage of claim 5 , wherein the isolated peptide is acetylated, acylated, alkylated, or glycosylated.

7. The medical device, wound dressing or bandage of claim 5 , wherein the isolated peptide consists of the sequence of amino acids of SEQ ID NO:19.

8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an isolated peptide consisting of the sequence of amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27 and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier or excipient.

9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the isolated peptide is acetylated, acylated, alkylated, or glycosylated.

10. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the isolated peptide consists of the sequence of amino acids of SEQ ID NO:19.

11. A method of treating or ameliorating inflammation in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject the composition of claim 8 .

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the isolated peptide is administered by parenteral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intraarterial, intralesional, intrarticular, topical, oral, rectal, or nasal administration.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the isolated peptide is administered by topical administration.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the isolated peptide consists of the sequence of amino acids of SEQ ID NO:19.

15. An isolated peptide consisting of the sequence of amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27.

16. The isolated peptide of claim 15 , wherein the isolated peptide is acetylated, acylated, alkylated, or glycosylated.

17. The isolated peptide of claim 15 consisting of the sequence of amino acids of SEQ ID NO:19.

18. An isolated peptide consisting of the sequence of amino acids of SEQ ID NO:19.

19. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an isolated peptide consisting of the sequence of amino acids of SEQ ID NO:19 and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier or excipient.

20. A method of treating or ameliorating inflammation or reducing the level of one or more inflammatory mediators in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject the composition of claim 19 .

21. A method of treating or ameliorating inflammation or reducing the level of one or more inflammatory mediators in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject an isolated peptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19.

22. A medical device, wound dressing or bandage impregnated with an isolated peptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19.