The present invention relates to the delivery of biologically active molecules, such as peptides, into the interior of cells by administering to the cells a complex comprising the molecule linked to an importation competent signal peptide. Such delivery can be utilized, for example, to treat and/or prevent inflammatory conditions, e.g., but not limited to, systemic inflammatory reactions such as endotoxic shock, localized inflammatory reactions such as inflammatory skin diseases and conditions, and inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune diseases.