Mastoparans (MP), a class of α-helix cationic insect-derived antimicrobial peptides, have a broad spectrum of biological activities including inhibiting bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Amino acid substitution, peptide modification, peptide chain cyclization, and dosage form modification can enhance the biological activities and target and reduce the toxicity of mastoparans. In this review, we summarize the structure, biological function and modification methods of mastoparans, and prospect the development of antibacterial drugs based on mastoparans, so as to provide reference for the research of mastoparans as a new antibacterial drug.
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/pharmacology* ; Peptides/chemistry* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry* ; Wasp Venoms/chemistry* ; Animals

Hymenoptera venom-sensitized patients may experience systemic reactions,and severe patients may even present life-threatening symptoms such as collapse and syncope.Here we report a case of anaphylaxis triggered by multiple sensitization with Hymenoptera venom.Clinical diagnosis and in vitro allergen testing showed that the patient developed anaphylaxis to wasp and/or fire ant venom.In clinical practice,allergen testing of patients with anaphylaxis to Hymenoptera venom aims to clarify the sensitizing proteins and lay a foundation for future research on immunotherapy for Hymenoptera venom in China.For Hymenoptera-allergic patients,daily outdoor protection is crucial,and an epinephrine syringe can be carried with them if necessary.
Anaphylaxis/etiology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Hymenoptera/immunology* ; Arthropod Venoms/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Wasp Venoms/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of mastoparan-1 (MP-1) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute hepatic injury in mice and probe into its possible mechanism.

METHODSOne hundred and four BALB/c mice were randomly divided into healthy control group (n = 8, without treatment, HC), LPS group (n = 48, with injection of LPS 5 mg/kg via tail vein), and MP-1 group (n = 48, with injection of LPS 5 mg/kg and MP-1 3 mg/kg via tail vein). Mice in LPS group and MP-1 group were sacrificed at 2nd, 6th, 12th, 24th, 48th and 72nd post injection hour (PIH), 8 mice at each time point in each group. Blood samples were collected for determination of plasma levels of LPS by kinetic turbidimetric limulus test, TNF-alpha and IL-6 by ELISA, serum levels of ALT and AST by automatic biochemistry analyzer respectively. Hepatic tissue samples were collected for determination of TLR4, TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA by real-time fluorescent quantitation reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, along with the observation of pathological changes in hepatic tissue at each time point. Above-mentioned examinations were also performed in HC group.

RESULTSCompared with those of HC group, plasma levels of LPS and TNF-alpha in LPS group significantly increased at 2nd PIH (18,320.50 +/- 2782.50 EU/mL and 988 +/- 130 ng/L, respectively), then decreased gradually to 1.80 +/- 0.80 EU/mL and 150 +/- 44 ng/L at 72nd PIH, which was close to those of HC group. The values of IL-6, ALT and AST peaked at 12th PIH, which declined to the levels close to those of HC group at 72nd PIH. Meanwhile, the expressions of TLR4, TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA in liver were remarkably up-regulated after injection, and the pathological changes in hepatic tissue pronounced significantly at 12th, 24th and 48th PIH. Compared with those of LPS group, the levels of LPS, cytokines, ALT and AST decreased in MP-1 group in different degrees after injection (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), genes expression (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and pathological changes was respectively suppressed and alleviated in hepatic tissue.

CONCLUSIONSMP-1 can alleviate LPS-induced acute hepatic injury in mice, which may be associated with its neutralization of LPS and attenuation of synthesis and release of inflammatory mediators.

Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; pathology ; Endotoxins ; adverse effects ; Inflammation ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Wasp Venoms ; pharmacology

Adult ; Female ; Hemofiltration ; Hemolysis ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Plasma Exchange ; Treatment Outcome ; Wasp Venoms ; poisoning ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of cationic multi-peptide mastoparan-1 (MP-1) on the protection of mice from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge.

METHODSThirty Kunming mice were divided randomly into MP-1, injury, protection groups with 10 mice in each group. The mice in MP-1 group were injected with 3 mg/kg MP-1 by tail vein, while those in injury group were injected with 20 mg/kg LPS by tail vein, and those in protection group 3 mg/kg MP-1 within 20 seconds after 20 mg/kg LPS injection were injected. The effects of MP-1 on the protection of mice from LPS challenge were observed. In vitro, the affinity of MP-1 and PMB to LPS was compared by biosensor and FAST fit construct and expressed as Kd. And the neutralizing activity of MP-1 and PMB in dose of 5, 10, 20, 40 micromol/L on LPS (2 microg/L) was detected by dynamic turbidimetric limulus test with LPS neutralizing 0 micromol/L MP-1 and PMB as control. The mRNA expression levels of TLR4, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in murine peritoneal macrophages (PM phi) after exposure to LPS (100 ng/ml) were assayed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSMP-1 could significantly protect mice from LPS challenging with protection rate of 90%. In vitro, MP-1 had a high affinity (Kd value: 484.0 nmol/L) and neutralizing ability with LPS, but it was lower than that of PMB (Kd value: 18.9 nmol/L). The neutralizing effect of 20 and 40 micromol/L MP-1 was obviously stronger than that in 0 micromol/L (P < 0.01). MP could obviously inhibit the expression of TLR4, TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA in LPS-stimulated murine PM phi.

CONCLUSIONMP-1 can evidently protect mice from lethal LPS challenge, and the mechanism might be related to the activity of MP-1 which binding and neutralizing LPS, blocking the combination LPS with its receptors. So the murine macrophage activation induced by LPS was inhibited.

Animals ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Wasp Venoms ; pharmacology

Mastoparan is an amphiphilic tetradecapeptide derived from wasp venom which activates G-proteins. Several secondary effects have been attributed to this peptide, including activation of phospholipase and phosphatidylinositol kinase. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of mastoparan on vascular contractility. Rabbit aortic rings were cut and mounted on a force transducer to record isometric tension on a polygraph. The effects of mastoparan were then investigated on the contractile responses in the isolated rabbit aorta with or without endothelium. The results were summarized as follows; 1. Mastoparan caused biphasic response, a transient relaxation followed by a further contraction, in norepinephrine (NE)-precontracted ring with endothelium. These effects were not observed in the aorta in the absence of endothelium. 2. Mastoparan-induced transient relaxation was significantly inhibited by treatment with a N-omega-nitro-L-arginine or methylene blue. 3. When an inhibitor of phospholipase C, neomycin was added to the precontracted aortic ring with NE, the transient relaxation induced by mastoparan was inhibited, but sustained contraction was not inhibited. 4. When an inhibitor of phospholipase A2, quinacrine and inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase pathway, indomethacin, were added to a precontracted ring with NE, the transient relaxation induced by mastoparan was not inhibited, but sustained contraction was inhibited. 5. Mastoparan induced a contraction of the aorta either with or without endothelium. Indomethacin and nifedipine inhibited mastoparan-induced contraction. From the above results, we concluded that mastoparan acts on the endothelium and modifies the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factors such as nitric oxide and also endothelium-derived contracting factors such as metabolites of arachidonic acid.
Animal ; Aorta/*drug effects/physiology ; Arginine/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Calcium/metabolism ; In Vitro ; Indomethacin/pharmacology ; Neomycin/pharmacology ; Nitroarginine ; Quinacrine/pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Vasoconstriction/*drug effects ; Wasp Venoms/*pharmacology