Effect of local application of the antimicrobial peptide IB-367 on the incidence and severity of oral mucositis in hamsters.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this animal study was to determine whether IB-367, an antimicrobial peptide, is able to ameliorate oral mucositis by reducing microflora densities on the mucosal surfaces of the mouth.


METHODS
Oral mucositis was induced in hamsters by intraperitoneal injection of 5-fluorouracil followed by superficial abrasion of the buccal mucosa. A test formulation was applied topically to the buccal mucosa 5 or 6 times per day starting 6 to 8 hours before abrasion.


RESULTS
Mucositis scores were significantly lower (P < .05) in hamsters given formulations containing 0.5 or 2.0 mg/mL of IB-367 than in placebo-treated controls. Treatment with IB-367 produced a more than 100-fold reduction in oral microflora densities. In a second experiment, treatment of hamsters with a formulation containing IB-367 at 0.12, 0.5 or 2.0 mg/mL resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in mucositis severity.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that reduction of local microflora densities through use of IB-367 may improve clinical outcomes in patients at risk for the development of oral mucositis.
Loury
D
D
IntraBiotics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Mountain View, Calif 94043-1833, USA.
Embree
J R
JR
Steinberg
D A
DA
Sonis
S T
ST
Fiddes
J C
JC
D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001407:Bacillus / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D010325:Pasteurella / Q000187:drug effects; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000187:drug effects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; C119872:antimicrobial peptide IB-367; D005472:Fluorouracil