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Immune modulation by multifaceted cationic host defense (antimicrobial) peptides

Nature Chemical Biology volume 9, pages 761–768 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Cationic host defense (antimicrobial) peptides were originally studied for their direct antimicrobial activities. They have since been found to exhibit multifaceted immunomodulatory activities, including profound anti-infective and selective anti-inflammatory properties, as well as adjuvant and wound-healing activities in animal models. These biological properties suggest that host defense peptides, and synthetic derivatives thereof, possess clinical potential beyond the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections. In this Review, we provide an overview of the biological activities of host defense and synthetic peptides, their mechanism(s) of action and new therapeutic applications and challenges that are associated with their clinical use.

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Figure 1: Overview of the biological activities of HDPs and IDR peptides.
Figure 2: A simplified schematic of common mechanisms of action of HDPs and IDR peptides in monocytes and/or macrophages.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge current funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) for our own work on these peptides. A.L.H. has a postdoctoral fellowship from CIHR, K.W. holds a Cystic Fibrosis Canada Studentship and R.E.W.H. holds a Canada Research Chair.

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  1. Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Ashley L Hilchie, Kelli Wuerth & Robert E W Hancock

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Correspondence to Robert E W Hancock.

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Competing interests

R.E.W.H. is developing IDR and anti-biofilm peptides and has filed several patents in this area, all of which are assigned to his employer, the University of British Columbia. Two of his IDR peptides have been licensed to Elanco Animal Health Inc. for use in treatment of animals, one is being developed as a treatment for hyperinflammatory lung disease in patients with cystic fibrosis with the funding assistance of the Cystic Fibrosis Canada Translational Research program and one has been licensed to the Pan-provincial Vaccine Enterprise, PREVENT, for development as a component of vaccine adjuvant formulations.

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Hilchie, A., Wuerth, K. & Hancock, R. Immune modulation by multifaceted cationic host defense (antimicrobial) peptides. Nat Chem Biol 9, 761–768 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.1393

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