title: Direct inactivation of viruses by MCP-1 and MCP-2, natural peptide antibiotics from rabbit leukocytes.
abstract: Six homologous peptides were purified to homogeneity from rabbit granulocytes or alveolar macrophages and tested for their ability to inactivate herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Two of the peptides, MCP-1 and MCP-2, showed considerable in vitro neutralizing activity, whereas four structurally homologous peptides (NP-3a, NP-3b, NP-4, and NP-5) were relatively ineffective. Inactivation of HSV-1 by MCP-1 or MCP-2 depended on peptide concentration and on the time, temperature, and pH of the incubation. HSV-2, vesicular stomatitis virus, and influenza virus A/WSN were also susceptible to direct neutralization by MCP-1 or MCP-2, whereas cytomegalovirus, echovirus type 11, and reovirus type 3 were not. We speculate that MCP-1 and MCP-2, peptides that are abundant in rabbit granulocytes and lung macrophages, may contribute to antiviral defenses by mediating the direct inactivation of HSV-1 and selected other viruses.
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Lehrer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daher
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ganz
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Selsted
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D011506:Proteins