The Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Chicken Cathelicidin-2 combined with Exogenous Surfactant for the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis-Associated Pathogens

Sci Rep. 2017 Nov 14;7(1):15545. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-15558-4.

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by recurrent airway infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and chronic inflammation. Chicken cathelicin-2 (CATH-2) has been shown to exhibit antimicrobial activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and to reduce inflammation. In addition, exogenous pulmonary surfactant has been suggested to enhance pulmonary drug delivery. It was hypothesized that CATH-2 when combined with an exogenous surfactant delivery vehicle, bovine lipid extract surfactant (BLES), would exhibit antimicrobial activity against CF-derived bacteria and downregulate inflammation. Twelve strains of CF-pathogens were exposed to BLES+CATH-2 in vitro and killing curves were obtained to determine bactericidal activity. Secondly, heat-killed bacteria were administered in vivo to elicit a pro-inflammatory response with either a co-administration or delayed administration of BLES+CATH-2 to assess the antimicrobial-independent, anti-inflammatory properties of BLES+CATH-2. CATH-2 alone exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against all clinical strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, while BLES+CATH-2 demonstrated a reduction, but significant antimicrobial activity against bacterial isolates. Furthermore, BLES+CATH-2 reduced inflammation in vivo when either co-administered with killed bacteria or after delayed administration. The use of a host-defense peptide combined with an exogenous surfactant compound, BLES+CATH-2, is shown to exhibit antimicrobial activity against antibiotic-resistant CF bacterial isolates and reduce inflammation.

MeSH terms

  • Achromobacter denitrificans / drug effects*
  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / therapeutic use
  • Biological Products / pharmacology*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cystic Fibrosis / microbiology
  • Cystic Fibrosis / therapy*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
  • Pulmonary Surfactants / pharmacology
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Surface-Active Agents / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Biological Products
  • CMAP27 protein, chicken
  • Pulmonary Surfactants
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • calfactant

Grants and funding