Development of Neuropeptide Hemokinin-1 Analogues with Antimicrobial and Wound-Healing Activity

J Med Chem. 2023 May 25;66(10):6617-6630. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c02021. Epub 2023 Mar 9.

Abstract

Wound healing is a complex process that can be delayed in some pathological conditions, such as infection and diabetes. Following skin injury, the neuropeptide substance P (SP) is released from peripheral neurons to promote wound healing by multiple mechanisms. Human hemokinin-1 (hHK-1) has been identified as an SP-like tachykinin peptide. Surprisingly, hHK-1 shares similar structural features with antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), but it does not display efficient antimicrobial activity. Therefore, a series of hHK-1 analogues were designed and synthesized. Among these analogues, AH-4 was found to display the greatest antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria. Furthermore, AH-4 rapidly killed bacteria by membrane disruption, similar to most AMPs. More importantly, AH-4 showed favorable healing activity in all tested mouse full-thickness excisional wound models. Overall, this study suggests that the neuropeptide hHK-1 can be used as a desirable template for developing promising therapeutics with multiple functions for wound healing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents*
  • Antimicrobial Peptides
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neuropeptides* / pharmacology
  • Tachykinins / pharmacology
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • hemokinin-1
  • Tachykinins
  • Neuropeptides
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antimicrobial Peptides