Involvement of pro-enkephalin-derived peptides in immunity.
It is widely accepted that all organisms have processes that maintain their state of health. Failure of these processes, such as those involving the naturally occurring antibacterial peptides, may lead to pathological events. Recent results demonstrate that these peptides, such as peptide B, appear in invertebrates and vertebrates (including humans) immediately after tissue trauma, and maintain themselves for long durations (over 4h). Their degradation products lead to other inflammatory peptides, such as Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe. These newly described antibacterial peptides, which are released and not induced, are present on neuropeptide precursors such as proenkephalin. This is a new field of research, in that the same protein contains proposed neuropeptides, antibacterial peptides, and immune stimulatory peptides. The focus of this review is to describe how the pro-enkephalin derived peptides participate in immune processes.
Salzet
M
M
Laboratoire d'Endocrinologie des Annélides, UPRESA CNRS 8017, SN3, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, 59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France. michel.salzet@univ-lille1.fr
Tasiemski
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000276:immunology; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000276:immunology; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000276:immunology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000276:immunology*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000276:immunology
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004745:Enkephalins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D011498:Protein Precursors; C029992:proenkephalin; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine