Characterization and functional analysis of cathelicidin-MH, a novel frog-derived peptide with anti-septicemic properties.
Chai, J., Chen, X., Ye, T., Zeng, B., Zeng, Q., Wu, J., Kascakova, B., Martins, L.A., Prudnikova, T., Smatanova, I.K., Kotsyfakis, M., Xu, X.(2021) Elife 10
- PubMed: 33875135 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.64411
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
7AL0 - PubMed Abstract: 
Antimicrobial peptides form part of the innate immune response and play a vital role in host defense against pathogens. Here we report a new antimicrobial peptide belonging to the cathelicidin family, cathelicidin-MH (cath-MH), from the skin of Microhyla heymonsivogt frog. Cath-MH has a single α-helical structure in membrane-mimetic environments and is antimicrobial against fungi and bacteria, especially Gram-negative bacteria. In contrast to other cathelicidins, cath-MH suppresses coagulation by affecting the enzymatic activities of tissue plasminogen activator, plasmin, β-tryptase, elastase, thrombin, and chymase. Cath-MH protects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis, effectively ameliorating multiorgan pathology and inflammatory cytokine through its antimicrobial, LPS-neutralizing, coagulation suppressing effects as well as suppression of MAPK signaling. Taken together, these data suggest that cath-MH is an attractive candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of septic shock.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.