1. Characterization and functional analysis of cathelicidin-MH, a novel frog-derived peptide with anti-septicemic properties
- Author
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Jinwei Chai, Xin Chen, Tiaofei Ye, Baishuang Zeng, Qingye Zeng, Jiena Wu, Barbora Kascakova, Larissa Almeida Martins, Tatyana Prudnikova, Ivana Kuta Smatanova, Michail Kotsyfakis, and Xueqing Xu
- Subjects
antimicrobial peptides ,cathelicidin ,microhyla heymonsivogt ,inflammation ,sepsis ,Medicine ,Science ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides form part of the innate immune response and play a vital role in host defense against pathogens. Here we report a new antimicrobial peptide belonging to the cathelicidin family, cathelicidin-MH (cath-MH), from the skin of Microhyla heymonsivogt frog. Cath-MH has a single α-helical structure in membrane-mimetic environments and is antimicrobial against fungi and bacteria, especially Gram-negative bacteria. In contrast to other cathelicidins, cath-MH suppresses coagulation by affecting the enzymatic activities of tissue plasminogen activator, plasmin, β-tryptase, elastase, thrombin, and chymase. Cath-MH protects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis, effectively ameliorating multiorgan pathology and inflammatory cytokine through its antimicrobial, LPS-neutralizing, coagulation suppressing effects as well as suppression of MAPK signaling. Taken together, these data suggest that cath-MH is an attractive candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of septic shock.
- Published
- 2021
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