Application of cationic peptides in treatment of central nervous system disease / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To describe the important role of cationic peptides in the treatment of central nervous system diseases. METHODS: The related literature at home and abroad in recent years were read sorted and summarized. The penetration of cationic peptide modified drug carrier system through the blood brain barrier and its important role in the treatment of central nervous system diseases were comprehensively introduced. RESULTS and CONCLUSION: Cationic peptide as a member of cell membrane peptides family and also the most commonly used peptide, has an important role in the transport of drugs blood brain through blood brain barrier. It has made a significant contribution to the therapy of central nervous system diseases.

Granulocyte-Derived Cationic Peptide Enhances Homing and Engraftment of Bone Marrow Stem Cells after Transplantation / 한국실험동물학회지

Current strategies to accelerate hematopoietic reconstitution after transplantation include transplantation of greater numbers of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) or ex vivo expansion of harvested HSPCs before transplant. However, the number of cells available for transplantation is usually low, and strategies to expand HSPCs and maintain equivalent engraftment capability ex vivo are limited. We noted that activated granulocyte-derived cationic peptides positively primed responsiveness of HSPCs to a CXCL12 gradient. Accordingly, we noted that accelerated homing/engraftment of beta-defensin-2, a well-known antimicrobial cationic peptide, primed bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNCs) compared to normal BMNCs after transplantation into lethally irradiated recipients. We envision that small cationic peptides, which primarily possess antimicrobial functions and are harmless to mammalian cells, could be applied to prime HSPCs before transplantation. This novel approach would be particularly important in cord blood transplantation, where the number of HSPCs available for transplantation is usually limited.

Effects of TGF-beta1 Ribbon Antisense on CCl4-induced Liver Fibrosis

Ribbon-type antisense oligonucleotide to TGF-beta1(TGF-beta1 RiAS) was designed and tested to prevent or resolve the fibrotic changes induced by CCl4 injection. When Hepa1c1c7 cells were transfected with TGF-beta1 RiAS, the level of TGF-beta1 mRNA was effectively reduced. TGF-beta1 RiAS, mismatched RiAS, and normal saline were each injected to mice via tail veins. When examined for the biochemical effects on the liver, TGF-beta1 mRNA levels were significantly reduced only in the TGF-beta1 RiAS-treated group. The results of immunohistochemical studies showed that TGF-beta1 RiAS prevented the accumulation of collagen and alpha-smooth muscle actin, but could not resolve established fibrosis. These results indicate that ribbon antisense to TGF-beta1 with efficient uptake can effectively prevent fibrosis of the liver.