Temporin A is effective in MRSA-infected wounds through bactericidal activity and acceleration of wound repair in a murine model.

Abstract

We investigated the effect of topical temporin A in the management of methicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected experimental surgical wounds in mice. The wound, cut through the panniculus carnosus of BALB/c mice, was inoculated with 5x10(7) colony-forming units of MRSA. Mice were treated with Allevyn, temporin A-soaked Allevyn, Allevyn and daily intraperitoneal teicoplanin (7mg/kg), temporin A-soaked Allevyn and daily intraperitoneal teicoplanin. Main outcome measurements were: quantitative bacterial culture, histological examination with assessment of micro-vessel density and of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in tissue sections, and VEGF plasma levels alike. Treatment with temporin-A associated with teicoplanin injection significantly reduced bacterial load to 0.85 x 10(1)+/-0.1 x 10(1)CFU/ml. Histological examination showed that infected mice receiving temporin A-soaked Allevyn (with or without teicoplanin) had a higher degree of granulation tissue formation and collagen deposition compared to the other treated groups. A significant increase in serum VEGF expression was observed in mice receiving temporin A topically and temporin A topically associated with intraperitoneal teicoplanin. In conclusion our results demonstrated that temporin A is effective in the management of infected wounds, by a significant bacterial growth inhibition and acceleration of wound repair process.

• Authors: Oriana Simonetti, Oscar Cirioni, Gaia Goteri, Roberto Ghiselli, Wojciech Kamysz, Elzbieta Kamysz, Carmela Silvestri, Fiorenza Orlando, Claudia Barucca, Alessandro Scalise, Vittorio Saba, Giorgio Scalise, Andrea Giacometti, Annamaria Offidani
• Journal: Peptides (Peptides) Vol. 29 Issue 4 Pg. 520-8 (Apr 2008) ISSN: 0196-9781 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18255189 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
• Proteins
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• temporin

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (pharmacology)
• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
• Male
• Methicillin Resistance
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Models, Animal
• Neovascularization, Pathologic
• Proteins (pharmacology)
• Staphylococcal Infections (drug therapy)
• Staphylococcus aureus (drug effects, metabolism)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (blood, metabolism)
• Wound Healing (drug effects)
• Wound Infection (drug therapy, microbiology)