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.

Identification and Characterization of the First Cathelicidin from Sea Snakes with Potent Antimicrobial and Anti-inflammatory Activity and Special Mechanism

“…Antimicrobial Assay-To determine the antimicrobial potency of Hc-CATH, a 2-fold broth microdilution method was used as described in our previous work (24). 48 human pathogenic microbial strains (26 Gram-negative bacteria, 12 Grampositive bacteria, and 10 fungi) were used in the present assay, in which the standard strains were stored in our laboratory and the clinical strains were collected from local hospitals.…”

“…6, A and B, a 5-min incubation allowed Hc-CATH to rapidly bind to E. coli ATCC25922 and S. aureus ATCC25923 cells. It has been reported that many cathelicidins kill microbial cells through permeabilization of the cytoplasmic membrane (24,35). Permeabilization of the cytoplasmic membrane causes a disruption of microbial cell integrity, which results in an obvious cell morphological alteration and can be clearly observed by SEM.…”

Cathelicidin-BF, a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide from Bungarus fasciatus, Attenuates Disease in a Dextran Sulfate Sodium Model of Colitis

“…30,31 The researches about C-BF were mainly focused on the antibacterial function so far; however, the immunoregulatory and epithelial barrier protective functions of C-BF were rarely studied. Based on the studies of cathelicidin derived peptides, we speculated that exogenous cathelicidin-BF might influence the development and healing of mucosal damage and inflammation that occurs in UC.…”

Antimicrobial peptide Cathelicidin-BF prevents intestinal barrier dysfunction in a mouse model of endotoxemia

“…Its secondary structure is an amphipathic α-helical conformation. It has been shown to kill several microorganisms more efficiently than LL-37 and clindamycin do [21]. Moreover, C-BF is stable in mouse plasma for at least 2.5 h [22] and can relieve Propionibacterium acnes-induced mouse ear swelling and granulomatous inflammation [21].…”