Endotoxin-Neutralizing Peptides as Gram-Negative Sepsis Therapeutics

Bacterial endotoxin [e. g. lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] can trigger systemic hyper-inflammatory that subsequently leads to multiple organ failure and lethality (gram-negative sepsis). This paper describes the development of endotoxin-neutralizing peptides that potentially treat sepsis. These peptides have been derived from bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPIP), anti-microbial peptides, and leukocyte CD18 antigen and some of these peptides have been tested in clinical studies.