COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING OR TREATING DISEASES, CONDITIONS, OR PROCESSES CHARACTERIZED BY ABERRANT FIBROBLAST PROLIFERATION AND EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX DEPOSITION
The described invention provides compositions and methods for reducing progression of a fibrosis in a tissue of a subject selected from liver, kidney or vascular fibrosis, the progression of the fibrosis being characterized by aberrant fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition in the tissue. The method includes administering a therapeutic amount of a pharmaceutical composition containing a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence YARAAARQARAKALARQLGVAA (SEQ ID NO: 1) or functional equivalent thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the therapeutic amount of the polypeptide is effective to reduce progression of the fibrosis, to treat remodeling of the tissue, or a combination thereof.