Treatment of mucositis with kallikrein inhibitors

1. A method for treating mucositis, the method comprising administering an effective amount of an isolated inhibitor of kallikrein to a subject having mucositis or at risk for developing mucositis, wherein the inhibitor of kallikrein comprises a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence: Xaa1 Xaa2 Xaa3 Xaa4 Cys Xaa6 Xaa7 Xaa8 Xaa9 Xaa10 Xaa11 Gly Xaa13 Cys Xaa15 Xaa16 Xaa17 Xaa18 Xaa19 Xaa20 Xaa21 Xaa22 Xaa23 Xaa24 Xaa25 Xaa26 Xaa27 Xaa28 Xaa29 Cys Xaa31 Xaa32 Phe Xaa34 Xaa35 Gly Gly Cys Xaa39 Xaa40 Xaa41 Xaa42 Xaa43 Xaa44 Xaa45 Xaa46 Xaa47 Xaa48 Xaa49 Xaa50 Cys Xaa52 Xaa53 Xaa54 Cys Xaa56 Xaa57 Xaa58 (SEQ ID NO: 1),

wherein Xaa1, Xaa2, Xaa3, Xaa4, Xaa56, Xaa57 or Xaa58 are each individually any amino acid or absent;

Xaa10 is Asp;

Xaa11 is Asp;

Xaa13 is Pro;

Xaa15 is Arg;

Xaa16 is Ala;

Xaa17 is Ala;

Xaa18 is His;

Xaa19 is Pro;

Xaa21 is Trp;

Xaa22 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of: Tyr and Phe;

Xaa23 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of: Tyr and Phe;

Xaa31 is Glu;

Xaa32 is Glu;

Xaa34 is Ile;

Xaa35 is an Tyr;

Xaa39 is Glu;

Xaa40 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of: Gly and Ala;

Xaa43 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of: Asn and Gly;

Xaa45 is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of: Phe and Tyr; and wherein the polypeptide inhibits plasma kallikrein.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises: Met His Ser Phe Cys Ala Phe Lys Ala Asp Asp Gly Pro Cys Arg Ala Ala His Pro Arg Trp Phe Phe Asn Ile Phe Thr Arg Gln Cys Glu Glu Phe Be Tyr Gly Gly Cys Glu Gly Asn Gln Asn Arg Phe Glu Ser Leu Glu Glu Cys Lys Lys Met Cys Thr Arg Asp (amino acids 3-60 of SEQ ID NO:2).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide consists of: Met His Ser Phe Cys Ala Phe Lys Ala Asp Asp Gly Pro Cys Arg Ala Ala His Pro Arg Trp Phe Phe Asn Ile Phe Thr Arg Gln Cys Glu Glu Phe Be Tyr Gly Gly Cys Glu Gly Asn Gln Asn Arg Phe Glu Ser Leu Glu Glu Cys Lys Lys Met Cys Thr Arg Asp (amino acids 3-60 of SEQ ID NO:2).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises: Glu Ala Met His Ser Phe Cys Ala Phe Lys Ala Asp Asp Gly Pro Cys Arg Ala Ala His Pro Arg Trp Phe Phe Asn Ile Phe Thr Arg Gln Cys Glu Glu Phe Be Tyr Gly Gly Cys Glu Gly Asn Gln Asn Arg Phe Glu Ser Leu Glu Glu Cys Lys Lys Met Cys Thr Arg Asp (SEQ ID NO:2).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide consists of: Glu Ala Met His Ser Phe Cys Ala Phe Lys Ala Asp Asp Gly Pro Cys Arg Ala Ala His Pro Arg Trp Phe Phe Asn Ile Phe Thr Arg Gln Cys Glu Glu Phe Ile Tyr Gly Gly Cys Glu Gly Asn Gln Asn Arg Phe Glu Ser Leu Glu Glu Cys Lys Lys Met Cys Thr Arg Asp (SEQ ID NO:2).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mucositis is selected from the group consisting of oral, esophageal, pharyngeal and gastrointestinal mucositis.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mucositis is oral mucositis.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering palifermin.