Endogenous antimicrobial factors in the treatment of infectious diseases

Abstract

Nowadays, a number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains is increasing. It is a serious clinical problem and poses a threat to the effectiveness of conventional antibiotic therapy. Thus, scientists are constantly seeking new alternatives for treatment of infectious diseases. There are some natural endogenous factors, which possess antimicrobial activities against a large number of microorganisms, including both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, viruses and fungi. These factors are present in all eukaryotic organisms and constitute an essential element of their immune system. A large number of in vitro and in vivo models have been used to show the activity of antimicrobial factors, and only few studies have been conducted on people. Results indicate that administration of these molecules is therapeutically beneficial. This review summarizes knowledge of selected endogenous antimicrobial agents, such as cathelicidins, defensins, histatins, lysozyme and lactoferrin. We also discuss potential uses of these factors in the treatment of infectious diseases.

Phenotypic and transcriptomic characterization of canine myeloid-derived suppressor cells

“…To further drill down on potential evolutionarily conserved mechanisms, we asked whether there were genes commonly upregulated in the PMN-MDSCs of all three species; five such genes were identified. Four of the five genes have not previously been implicated in PMN-MDSC function, and three of them – LTF, LCN2, and CAMP – play an important antimicrobial role 86,87 . LCN2 and LTF are both iron-binding proteins, raising the question of whether iron is important for MDSC suppressive function.…”

Milk Proteins—Their Biological Activities and Use in Cosmetics and Dermatology

“…It is also produced in large quantities in neutrophils [ 42 ]. Lactoferrin demonstrates bactericidal, bacteriostatic, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, anticancer and antioxidant properties [ 41 , 100 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 ]. In addition, several clinical studies have confirmed that bovine lactoferrin is an immune modulator that stimulates the phagocytic activity of multinucleated leukocytes [ 107 ] and reduces the production of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in cell cultures [ 106 ].…”

Salivary protein roles in oral health and as predictors of caries risk

“…It has been found that lysozyme may bind, aggregate and destroy gram-positive bacteria and, to a lesser extent, gram-negative bacteria. Lysozyme hydrolyzes the linkages between b-(1,4)-linked N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid in the bacterial cell wall, thus neutralizing the pathogenicity of bacteria by degrading peptidoglycans [ 154 ].…”