title: Cathelicidin-BF, a snake cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide, could be an excellent therapeutic agent for acne vulgaris.
abstract: Cathelicidins are a family of antimicrobial peptides acting as multifunctional effector molecules in innate immunity. Cathelicidin-BF has been purified from the snake venoms of Bungarus fasciatus and it is the first identified cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide in reptiles. In this study, cathelicidin-BF was found exerting strong antibacterial activities against Propionibacterium acnes. Its minimal inhibitory concentration against two strains of P. acnes was 4.7 µg/ml. Cathelicidin-BF also effectively killed other microorganisms including Staphylococcus epidermidis, which was possible pathogen for acne vulgaris. Cathelicidin-BF significantly inhibited pro-inflammatory factors secretion in human monocytic cells and P. acnes-induced O2.- production of human HaCaT keratinocyte cells. Observed by scanning electron microscopy, the surfaces of the treated pathogens underwent obvious morphological changes compared with the untreated controls, suggesting that this antimicrobial peptide exerts its action by disrupting membranes of microorganisms. The efficacy of cathelicidin-BF gel topical administering was evaluated in experimental mice skin colonization model. In vivo anti-inflammatory effects of cathelicidin-BF were confirmed by relieving P. acnes-induced mice ear swelling and granulomatous inflammation. The anti-inflammatory effects combined with potent antimicrobial activities and O2.- production inhibition activities of cathelicidin-BF indicate its potential as a novel therapeutic option for acne vulgaris.
authors.affiliation: Biotoxin Units of Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors.forename: Yipeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhiye
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Huijuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guang
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hailong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jianxu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dewen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Haining
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D054804:Cathelicidins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004423:Ear / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D054804:Cathelicidins; D016207:Cytokines; C533044:cathelicidin BF, Bungarus fasciatus; D013481:Superoxides