title: New perspectives for natural antimicrobial peptides: application as antinflammatory drugs in a murine model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an ancient group of defense molecules. AMPs are widely distributed in nature (being present in mammals, birds, amphibians, insects, plants, and microorganisms). They display bactericidal as well as immunomodulatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of a combination of two AMPs (temporin B and the royal jellein I) against Staphylococcus epidermidis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The temporin B (TB-KK) and the royal jelleins I, II, III chemically modified at the C terminal (RJI-C, RJII-C, RJIII-C), were tested for their activity against 10 different Staphylococcus epidermidis strains, alone and in combination. Of the three royal jelleins, RJI-C showed the highest activity. Moreover, the combination of RJI-C and TB-KK (MIX) displayed synergistic activity. In vitro, the MIX displayed low hemolytic activity, no NO2- production and the ability to curb the synthesis of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ to the same extent as acetylsalicylic acid. In vivo, the MIX sterilized mice infected with Staphylococcus epidermidis in eleven days and inhibited the expression of genes encoding the prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (COX-2) and CD64, two important parameters of inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study shows that the MIX - a combination of two naturally occurring peptides - displays both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80134, Italy. capparel@unina.it
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capparelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Chiara
authors.forename: Nunzia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nocerino
authors.forename: Rosa Chiara
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Montella
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iannaccone
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fulgione
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romanelli
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avitabile
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blaiotta
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capuano
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D005839:Gentamicins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009566:Nitrates; D012333:RNA, Messenger