title: Cathelicidin a potential therapeutic peptide for gastrointestinal inflammation and cancer.
abstract: Cathelicidins, are host defense peptides synthesized and stored in circulating leukocytes and numerous types of epithelial tissues in particular the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and skin. They have been known for their antimicrobial activities against a variety of microbes. Recently it was discovered that they have other significant biological functions and produce appealing pharmacological actions against inflammation and cancer in the GI tract through defined mechanisms. Experimental evidence shows that these actions could be tissue and disease specific and concentration dependent. This article reviews some of the physiological functions of cathelicidins and also their therapeutic potential in the treatment of inflammation and cancer and also the delivery system for this peptide as targeted therapy for various disorders in the GI tract both in animals and humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Jimmy Yip Chuen
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Zhi Jie
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: William Ka Kei
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chi Hin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D054804:Cathelicidins
keywords: Cancer; Cathelicidin; Gastrointestinal tract; Inflammation; Ulcer repair