A pharmaceutical formulation of a ²2 integrin agonist including an effective amount of a ²2 integrin agonist and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A method of activating ²2 integrins by interacting the ²2 integrins with a ²2 integrin agonist. A method of treating a patient by administering an effective amount of a ²2integrin agonist, and activating ²2 integrins. A method of treating inflammation by administering a ²2 integrin agonist to a patient with inflammation, activating ²2 integrins, and reducing inflammation. Methods of treating and/or preventing renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, reducing injury in a patient due to insertion of a stent, performing an assay for the identification of small molecule modulators of ²2 integrins, detecting a disease in a patient, and improving the general wellness of a patient.
