Cathelicidin-BF, a Snake Cathelicidin-Derived Antimicrobial Peptide, Could Be an Excellent Therapeutic Agent for Acne Vulgaris.

Yipeng Wang; Zhiye Zhang; Lingling Chen; Huijuan Guang; Zheng Li; Hailong Yang; Jianxu Li; Dewen You; Haining Yu; Ren Lai

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 &mgr;g/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. acnesinduced 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 antiinflammatory 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.

CATHELICIDINS; CATHELICIDIN antimicrobial peptide; ACNE; SKIN disease treatment; NATURAL immunity; REPTILES as laboratory animals; SNAKE venom; CUTIBACTERIUM acnes; STAPHYLOCOCCUS epidermidis; MONOCYTES; LABORATORY mice

PLoS ONE, 2011, Vol 6, Issue 7, p1

1932-6203

Academic Journal

10.1371/journal.pone.0022120