Pachymodulin, a new functional formyl peptide receptor 2 peptidic ligand isolated from frog skin has Janus-like immunomodulatory capacities

J Med Chem. 2015 Feb 12;58(3):1089-99. doi: 10.1021/jm501018q. Epub 2015 Feb 4.

Abstract

Recruitment of leukocytes is essential to fight infections or to heal injuries; however, excessive and/or prolonged responses favor the development of major inflammatory pathologies, such as cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, it is of great interest to seek novel compounds that can regulate leukocyte recruitment depending on the degree of inflammation. We have isolated and characterized, by different chromatographic techniques, mass spectrometry, and Edman sequencing, a new hexapeptide (SSLSKL) from the Mexican frog Pachymedusa dacnicolor, which we named pachymodulin. In vitro, pachymodulin promotes the migration of leukocytes through the binding and activation of the human and mouse N-formyl peptide receptor 2 (huFPR2). In vivo, it exhibits opposite biological activities: under homeostatic conditions, pachymodulin induces the recruitment of leukocytes, whereas under inflammatory conditions, it inhibits this process. Therefore, pachymodulin represents an interesting template in the quest to design new immunomodulatory drugs in the therapy of immune-related diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
  • Anura
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / chemistry
  • Immunologic Factors / isolation & purification
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Leukocytes / drug effects
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • Oligopeptides / isolation & purification
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Receptors, Formyl Peptide / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Formyl Peptide / metabolism
  • Receptors, Lipoxin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Lipoxin / metabolism
  • Skin / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • FPR2 protein, human
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Ligands
  • Oligopeptides
  • Receptors, Formyl Peptide
  • Receptors, Lipoxin
  • formyl peptide receptor 2, mouse
  • seryl-seryl-leucyl-seryl-lysyl-leucine