Current scenario of peptide-based drugs: the key roles of cationic antitumor and antiviral peptides

Abstract

Cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and host defense peptides (HDPs) show vast potential as peptide-based drugs. Great effort has been made in order to exploit their mechanisms of action, aiming to identify their targets as well as to enhance their activity and bioavailability. In this review, we will focus on both naturally occurring and designed antiviral and antitumor cationic peptides, including those here called promiscuous, in which multiple targets are associated with a single peptide structure. Emphasis will be given to their biochemical features, selectivity against extra targets, and molecular mechanisms. Peptides which possess antitumor activity against different cancer cell lines will be discussed, as well as peptides which inhibit virus replication, focusing on their applications for human health, animal health and agriculture, and their potential as new therapeutic drugs. Moreover, the current scenario for production and the use of nanotechnology as delivery tool for both classes of cationic peptides, as well as the perspectives on improving them is considered.

ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES IN SEMEN EXTENDERS: A VALUABLE REPLACEMENT OPTION FOR ANTIBIOTICS IN CRYOPRESERVATION- A Prospective Review

“…It also possesses various biological functions like inhibition of lipopolysaccharide related inflammatory, immunomodulation and immunosuppressant activity (Mulder et al, 2013). Along with the above mentioned functions, antibiotic resistance evolution in using conventional antibiotics makes cationic antimicrobial peptides a better replacement for conventional antibiotics in semen extenders for cryopreservation (Zasloff, 2016).…”

Anticancer Peptides: Prospective Innovation in Cancer Therapy

“…Reviews available in the literature provide detailed description of the many different mechanisms underlying cancer cell toxicity (Gaspar et al 2013;Harris et al 2013;Hoskin and Ramamoorthy 2008;Papo and Shai 2005;Mulder et al 2013). Studies on structureactivity relationship have shown that some ACPs share with AMPs the ability to disrupt cell membranes, causing poration or micellization, and additionally inducing necrosis and/or apoptosis (Bhutia and Maiti 2008;Papo and Shai 2005).…”

New edge of antibiotic development: antimicrobial peptides and corresponding resistance

“…Also know as anticancer peptides (ACP) and host defense peptides (HDP) they also represent important candidates as novel drugs and have been carefully addressed in the current issue. For instance, cationic peptides have been considered as anticancer agents for presenting numerous advantages over chemical agents such as higher specific cytotoxicity to tumor cells, lower side effects and easier absorption as recently listed (Mulder et al, 2013). Diverse studies have shown that cancer cells are more anionic than normal cells.…”