Skin Peptides: Biological Activity and Therapeutic Opportunities

Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid Increases the Self-Defense of Skin Epithelium by Induction of β-Defensin 2 via TLR2 and TLR4

“…Microbial CFU assay showed a progressive inhibitory activity of extracts from skin treated with increasing concentrations of LMW-HA and it is plausible that DEFB2 greatly contributed to this antimicrobial activity, although other antimicrobial peptides can be produced by the skin (34). The stimulation of defensin expression in sites of skin injury may decrease the possible bacterial contamination by pathogens and may even facilitate tissue repair by providing innate immunity through the chemotactic activity of these antimicrobial peptides (35).…”

Proteins and Peptides: Strategies for Delivery to and Across the Skin

“…The latter group are likely to be most valuable for peptides and small proteins, and particularly for the administration of those agents for which the target site is within the skin. 3 Many of these peptides could be administered by optimised noninvasive delivery systems as described in this review. Where larger doses are required for transdermal delivery of proteins and vaccines, it is likely that the minimally invasive technologies will offer the best approach.…”

“…In addition, whilst most proteins and peptides are intended for systemic action, many peptides have potential therapeutic or cosmetic value if they can be locally administered to target sites within the skin. 3 This includes antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) which may have potential in the management of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and skin infections. In addition a number of peptides are incorporated in cosmeceutical products, particularly those marketed for antiaging.…”

Proteolysin, a Novel Highly Thermostable and Cosolvent-Compatible Protease from the Thermophilic Bacterium Coprothermobacter proteolyticus

“…They are extensively used in food, textile, detergent, pharmaceutical, and leather industries (10,11,12,13,14,15). A few thermostable subtilisin homologs (subtilases) have been isolated and characterized from, for example, Archaea (e.g., pyrolysin [16], stetterlysin [17], pernisine [18], Tk-SP [19], Tk-1689, and Tksubtilisin [20,21]) and from thermophilic bacteria (fervidolysin [22], Ak.1 protease [23], Rt41A proteinase [24,25], aqualysin I [26], islandisin [27], and thermitase [28]).…”