Efficacy of Cathelicidin LL-37 in an MRSA Wound Infection Mouse Model
Oriana Simonetti,
Oscar Cirioni,
Gaia Goteri,
Guendalina Lucarini,
Elżbieta Kamysz,
Wojciech Kamysz,
Fiorenza Orlando,
Giulio Rizzetto,
Elisa Molinelli,
Gianluca Morroni,
Roberto Ghiselli,
Mauro Provinciali,
Andrea Giacometti,
Annamaria Offidani
Affiliations
Oriana Simonetti
Clinic of Dermatology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Oscar Cirioni
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Gaia Goteri
Division of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Guendalina Lucarini
Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences-Histology, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Elżbieta Kamysz
Team of Chemistry of Biological Macromolecules, Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
Wojciech Kamysz
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland
Fiorenza Orlando
Experimental Animal Models for Aging Unit, Scientific Technological Area, IRCCS INRCA, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Giulio Rizzetto
Clinic of Dermatology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Elisa Molinelli
Clinic of Dermatology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Gianluca Morroni
Unit of Microbiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Roberto Ghiselli
Surgical Clinic, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Mauro Provinciali
Experimental Animal Models for Aging Unit, Scientific Technological Area, IRCCS INRCA, 60100 Ancona, Italy
Andrea Giacometti
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Annamaria Offidani
Clinic of Dermatology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy
Background: LL-37 is the only human antimicrobial peptide that belongs to the cathelicidins. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of LL-37 in the management of MRSA-infected surgical wounds in mice. Methods: A wound on the back of adult male BALB/c mice was made and inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus. Two control groups were formed (uninfected and not treated, C0; infected and not treated, C1) and six contaminated groups were treated, respectively, with: teicoplanin, LL-37, given topically and /or systemically. Histological examination of VEGF expression and micro-vessel density, and bacterial cultures of wound tissues, were performed. Results: Histological examination of wounds in the group treated with topical and intraperitoneal LL-37 showed increased re-epithelialization, formation of the granulation tissue, collagen organization, and angiogenesis. Conclusions: Based on the mode of action, LL-37 has a potential future role in the management of infected wounds.
