ANTILIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE ACTIVITY OF HISTATINS, PEPTIDES FROM HUMAN SALIVA

Histatins are histidine-rich polypeptides secreted in human saliva. Th ey were found to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated gelation of Limulus amoebocyte lysate, and to reverse the anti-complement action of LPS or lipid A. Histatins also gave precipitate bands in agarose ge ls with various LPS. The results indicate that histatins neutralized t he activity of LPS by binding to the lipid A moiety of LPS.