Effects of Medicinal Leech-Related Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides on Human Blood Cells and Plasma
Research article published in Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2022)
Abstract
Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) are considered as next-generation antibiotics with a lower probability of developing bacterial resistance. In view of potential clinical use, studies on CAMP biocompatibility are important. This work aimed to evaluate the behavior of synthetic short CAMPs (designed using bioinformatic analysis of the medicinal leech genome and microbiome) in direct contact with blood cells and plasma. Eight CAMPs were included in the study. Hemolysis and lactate dehydrogenase assays showed that the potency to disrupt erythrocyte, neutrophil and mononuclear cell membranes descended in the order pept_1 > pept_3 ~ pept_5 > pept_2 ~ pept_4. Pept_3 caused both cell lysis and aggregation. Blood plasma and albumin inhibited the CAMP-induced hemolysis. The chemiluminescence method allowed the detection of pept_3-mediated neutrophil activation. In plasma coagulation assays, pept_3 prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (at 50 μM by 75% and 320%, respectively). Pept_3 was also capable of causing fibrinogen aggregation. Pept_6 prolonged APTT (at 50 μM by 115%). Pept_2 was found to combine higher bactericidal activity with lower effects on cells and coagulation. Our data emphasize the necessity of investigating CAMP interaction with plasma.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) are considered as next-generation antibiotics with a lower probability of developing bacterial resistance.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio evaluó la biocomitibilidad de ocho péptidos antimicrobianos catiónicos sintéticos (CAMPs) diseñados mediante análisis bioinformático del genoma y microbioma de la sanguijuela medicinal, analizando sus efectos sobre células sanguíneas y plasma humanos. Los hallazgos clave incluyeron potencias hemolíticas y de disrupción de membrana variables, inhibición de la hemólisis por plasma/albúmina, activación de neutrófilos por pept_3 y efectos sobre la coagulación, incluyendo prolongación de TP/aPTT y agregación de fibrinógeno. Este trabajo es directamente relevante para el ámbito de la ASH, ya que aborda cómo las moléculas peptídicas derivadas de sanguijuelas interactúan con componentes sanguíneos humanos, informando sobre la biocomitibilidad de posibles terapéuticas basadas en el secretoma de sanguijuela. Advertencia: se trata de péptidos sintéticos diseñados bioinformáticamente, no de componentes naturales aislados del secretoma de la sanguijuela, y el estudio es un ensayo in vitro de contacto con sangre sin datos in vivo ni clínicos.
Citación
Effects of Medicinal Leech-Related Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides on Human Blood Cells and Plasma
Vakhrusheva TV et al. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2022
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026