scholarly journals Alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone: An Emerging Anti-Inflammatory Antimicrobial Peptide

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhuri Singh ◽  
Kasturi Mukhopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptides ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Bacterial Pathogens ◽  
Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Antimicrobial Potential ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Infective Agent ◽  
Stimulating Hormone

The alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a neuropeptide belonging to the melanocortin family. It is well known for its anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects and shares several characteristics with antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). There have been some recent reports about the direct antimicrobial activity ofα-MSH against various microbes belonging to both fungal and bacterial pathogens. Similar toα-MSH’s anti-inflammatory properties, its C-terminal residues also exhibit antimicrobial activity parallel to that of the entire peptide. This review is focused on the current findings regarding the direct antimicrobial potential and immunomodulatory mechanism ofα-MSH and its C-terminal fragments, with particular emphasis on the prospects ofα-MSH based peptides as a strong anti-infective agent.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Properties of α-MSH and Related Synthetic Melanocortins

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1241-1246 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Catania ◽  
G. Colombo ◽  
C. Rossi ◽  
A. Carlin ◽  
A. Sordi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Peptides ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate ◽  
Adenosine Monophosphate ◽  
Natural Antimicrobial ◽  
Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Evolutionary Spectrum ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

The natural antimicrobial peptides are ancient host defense effector molecules, present in organisms across the evolutionary spectrum. Several properties of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) suggested that it could be a natural antimicrobial peptide. α-MSH is a primordial peptide that appeared during the Paleozoic era, long before adaptive immunity developed and, like natural antimicrobial molecules, is produced by barrier epithelia, immunocytes, and within the central nervous system. α-MSH was discovered to have antimicrobial activity against two representative pathogens,Staphylococcus aureusandCandida albicans. The candidacidal influences of α-MSH appeared to be mediated by increases in cell cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). The cAMP-inducing capacity of α-MSH likely interferes with the yeast's own regulatory mechanisms of this essential signaling pathway. It is remarkable that this mechanism of action in yeast mimics the influences of α-MSH in mammalian cells in which the peptide binds to G-protein-linked melanocortin receptors, activates adenylyl cyclase, and increases cAMP. When considering that most of the natural antimicrobial peptides enhance the local inflammatory reaction, the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of α-MSH confer unique properties to this molecule relative to other natural antimicrobial molecules. Synthetic derivatives, chemically stable and resistant to enzymatic degradation, could form the basis for novel therapies that combine anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone in Celiac Intestinal Mucosa

2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 208-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gualtiero Colombo ◽  
Roberto Buffa ◽  
Maria Teresa Bardella ◽  
Letizia Garofalo ◽  
Andrea Carlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Mucosa ◽  
Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Stimulating Hormone

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Peptide CMA3 Derived from the CA-MA Hybrid Peptide: Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Activities with Low Cytotoxicity and Mechanism of Action in Escherichia coli

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 495-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-kook Lee ◽  
Chang Ho Seo ◽  
Tudor Luchian ◽  
Yoonkyung Park
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Raw 264.7 Cells ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Low Cytotoxicity

ABSTRACTCA-MA is a hybrid antimicrobial peptide (AMP) derived from two naturally occurring AMPs, cecropin A and magainin 2. CA-MA shows strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria but also exhibits cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells. Our objective was to identify CA-MA analogues with reduced cytotoxicity by systematic replacement of amino acids with positively charged R groups (His and Lys), aliphatic R groups (Leu), or polar R groups (Glu). Among the CA-MA analogues studied (CMA1 to -6), CMA3 showed the strongest antimicrobial activity, including against drug-resistantEscherichia coliandPseudomonas aeruginosastrains isolated from hospital patients. CMA3 appeared to act by inducing pore formation (toroidal model) in the bacterial membrane. In cytotoxicity assays, CMA3 showed little cytotoxicity toward human red blood cells (hRBCs) or HaCaT cells. Additionally, no fluorescence was released from small or giant unilamellar vesicles exposed to 60 μM CMA3 for 80 s, whereas fluorescence was released within 35 s upon exposure to CA-MA. CMA3 also exerted strong lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-neutralizing activity in RAW 264.7 cells, and BALB/c mice exposed to LPS after infection byEscherichia colishowed improved survival after administration of one 0.5-mg/kg of body weight or 1-mg/kg dose of CMA3. Finally, in a mouse model of septic shock, CMA3 reduced the levels of proinflammatory factors, including both nitric oxide and white blood cells, and correspondingly reduced lung tissue damage. This study suggests that CMA3 is an antimicrobial/antiendotoxin peptide that could serve as the basis for the development of anti-inflammatory and/or antimicrobial agents with low cytotoxicity.

[d-Trp8]-γ-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Exhibits Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy in Mice Bearing a Nonfunctional MC1R (Recessive Yellow e/e Mouse)

2006 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 1850-1855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Getting ◽  
Connie W. Lam ◽  
Giovanna Leoni ◽  
Felicity N. E. Gavins ◽  
Paolo Grieco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Stimulating Hormone
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document