两栖类动物Cathelicidins家族 抗菌肽研究进展

两栖类动物皮肤裸露和湿润的特性易于微生物的生长,它们为了抵御病原微生物的侵袭,在长期自然进化过程中形成了以抗菌肽(AMPs)为主要防御机制的免疫系统。抗菌肽广泛分布于动物、植物、微生物中,是生物用于抵御细菌、真菌、病毒和原虫等病原体侵袭的重要武器之一,在进化上是一类非常古老而有效的天然防御物质。Cathelicidins是脊椎动物特有的重要抗菌肽家族之一,除具有高效广谱的抗菌活性,还具有如抗炎、抗氧化、伤口修复、抑制组织损伤和促进血管生成等多种重要活性,因此Cathelicidins家族抗菌肽已成为抗感染多肽类新药的研发热点。本文将从两栖类动物Cathelicidins家族抗菌肽的一般特点、来源分布、生物合成与结构、生物学活性、作用机制及应用前景等几个方面,综合阐述国内外的研究动态。

Research Progress of Cathelicidins Family Antimicrobial Peptides in Amphibians

The bare and moist characteristics of amphibian skin makes it prone to microbial infection. In order to resist the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms, amphibians form an immune system with antimicrobial peptides as the main defense effector during the long-term natural evolution. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are widely distributed in animals, plants and microorganisms, which are pivotal weapons for host to resist bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa. AMPs represent very ancient and effective natural defense substances in evolution. Cathelicidins are an important family of AMPs exclusively existing in vertebrates, and they are also one of the most powerful family of AMPs known to date. Cathelicidins have been identified in most kinds of vertebrates. In addition to potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities, they also possess many other important activities such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, wound repair, tissue damage inhibition and angiogenesis promotion. As a result, Cathelicidins are becoming a hot spot of anti-infective peptide agent development. There is a large amount of amphibian species in nature, which contain many novel Cathelicidins family AMPs with diverse structures and functions. Therefore, it is of great significance to study amphibian Cathelicidins for animal immunology research and drug development. The present article comprehensively reviews the research progress of amphibian Cathelicidins from the aspects of general characteristics, source distribution, biosynthesis and structures, biological activities, mechanisms of action and application prospects.