BACTENECIN, A LEUKOCYTIC ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDE, IS CYTOTOXIC TO NEURONAL AND GLIAL-CELLS

Small antimicrobial peptides are abundantly produced by leukocytes. Th ese peptides are active against a broad range of pathogens, notably ba cteria, fungi, and enveloped viruses, but hardly anything is known abo ut their physiological and pathophysiological relevance. We observed t hat bactenecin, a dodecapeptide, is strongly cytotoxic to rat embryoni c neurons, fetal rat astrocytes and human glioblastoma cells. This neu rotoxicity is unique to bactenecin, as a panel of antibacterial peptid es from vertebrates and invertebrates, like defensins, corticostatin, indolicidin, cecropin P1, tachyplesin I, the magainins, or apidaecins did not impair neuronal viability. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.