Inhibitory effect of the antimicrobial peptide BLP-7 against Propionibacterium acnes and its anti-inflammatory effect on acne vulgaris. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Yun; Qiang, Yuanyuan; Cao, Kun; Zhang, Wei; Zhang, Guangxian
• Is Part Of: Toxicon. Volume 184(2020)
• Page Start: 109
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Propionibacterium acnes -- Acne -- Antimicrobial peptides -- BLP-7; Toxins -- Periodicals; Venom -- Periodicals; 615.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.06.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0041-0101

Abstract

Abstract: Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a Gram-positive commensal bacterium, which is involved in the pathogenesis and inflammation of acne vulgaris. An antimicrobial peptide named bombinin-like peptide 7 (BLP-7), which was determined from Bombina orientalis, has been shown to possess certain antibacterial activity. This study was carried out with synthesized BLP-7 on the basis of the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities against P. acnes in vitro and in vivo. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of BLP-7 against P. acnes is 5 μM. And BLP-7 exhibits strong resistance to heat, pH and salt concentration, but no significant cytotoxicity to normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). Using the co-culture of P. acnes and NHEKs, this study demonstrated that BLP-7 significantly reduced the production of interleukin (IL)-8 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), as well as the expression of these two pro-inflammatory cytokines at the transcriptional level. In a separate study, using the rat ear edema model, BLP-7 significantly suppressed P. acnes -induced skin inflammation, reducing the ear thickness by 54.21% of the negative control group. These results suggest that due to its anti- P. acnes and anti-inflammatory activities, BLP-7 could be used as a potential anti-acne agent. Highlights: The minimal inhibitory concentration of bombinin-like peptide 7 against Propionibacterium acnes is 5 μM. Bombinin-like peptide 7 exhibits strong resistance to heat, pH and salt concentration. Bombinin-like peptide 7 significantly reduced the production of two proinflammatory cytokines. Bombinin-like peptide 7 significantly suppressed Propionibacterium acnes -induced skin inflammation.