In Vitro Evaluation of the Allergic Potential of Antibacterial Peptides: Camel and Citropin

Peptide-based drugs are promising group of compounds which are characterized by specificity to their in vivo targets and high potency of action (antineoplastic, immunoregulatory, antibacterial). The peptides, however, involve a relatively high risk of allergic reactions that are not predictable on the basis of their sequence and chemical properties. In this study, peripheral blood was obtained from 53 patients including 38 hypersensitive patients and 15 control patients. Basophil activation stimulated by two antibacterial peptides (camel, citropin 1.1), and acetylsalicylic acid was assessed by means of BAT (basophil activation test). Basophil activation stimulated by camel occurred in 7 of 38 patients with hypersensitivity (18.42%) as well as in 2 of 15 control patients (13.33%). Basophils were activated by citropin 1.1 in 7 of 38 hypersensitive patients (18.42%) and in none of the control patients. Using the Structural Database of Allergenic Proteins, we confirmed that the examined peptides share some structural similarities with common environmental allergens. Therefore, the cross-reactivity between potentially present anti-allergen IgE with examined peptides cannot be excluded. Our study proved that BAT, together with other biological tests and specific databases of allergenic compounds, may serve as an initial selection of new active peptides and proteins.