Cecropin A is a linear antimicrobial peptide composed of 37 amino acids, isolated from insects. Cecropin A inhibits microbial growth by forming pores that disrupt bacterial cell membranes, while also reducing inflammation by suppressing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β). Cecropin A can be used in research related to antibacterial, antitumor, and antiviral activities[1-4].
In vitro, Cecropin A (30μM) was used to treat human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells for 24 hours. Cecropin A reduced cell viability, increased reactive oxygen species generation, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, and caspase-independent cell death[5]. Cecropin A (3.125–12.5μg/mL) was used to pretreat IPEC-J2 cells for 48 hours, followed by co-culture with Escherichia coli. Cecropin A significantly reduced E. coli adhesion and downregulated the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 in the cells[6].
In vivo, Cecropin A (15mg/kg; once daily) was administered via intraperitoneal injection to C57BL/6 mice with inflammatory bowel disease for 5 days. Cecropin A increased the survival rate, reduced body weight loss, improved Disease Activity Index (DAI) scores, promoted recovery of the ileal and colonic mucosa, increased the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1), decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6), and modulated the gut microbiota by reducing Bacteroidaceae and Enterobacteriaceae while selectively enriching Lactobacillus[7]. Cecropin A (100mg/kg; once daily; dietary supplementation) was administered to Wistar rats for 3–5 days. Cecropin A significantly reduced fecal bacterial β-glucosid[8].
References:
[1] Lee E, Shin A, Kim Y. Anti-inflammatory activities of cecropin A and its mechanism of action. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 2015 Jan;88(1):31-44.
[2] Méndez Y, Pacheco C, Herrera F. Inhibition of defensin A and cecropin A responses to dengue virus 1 infection in Aedes aegypti. Biomedica. 2021 Mar 19;41(1):161-167.
[3] Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Sun M, et al. Cecropin A Alleviates LPS-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis of Bovine Endometrial Epithelial Cells. Animals (Basel). 2024 Feb 29;14(5):768.
[4] Hirata M, Nomura T, Inoue YH. Anti-Tumor Effects of Cecropin A and Drosocin Incorporated into Macrophage-like Cells Against Hematopoietic Tumors in Drosophila mxc Mutants. Cells. 2025 Mar 7;14(6):389.
[5] Cerón JM, Contreras-Moreno J, Puertollano E, et al. The antimicrobial peptide cecropin A induces caspase-independent cell death in human promyelocytic leukemia cells. Peptides. 2010 Aug;31(8):1494-503.
[6] Zhai Z, Ni X, Jin C, et al. Cecropin A Modulates Tight Junction-Related Protein Expression and Enhances the Barrier Function of Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cells by Suppressing the MEK/ERK Pathway. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jul 2;19(7):1941.
[7] Zhai Z, Zhang F, Cao R, et al. Cecropin A Alleviates Inflammation Through Modulating the Gut Microbiota of C57BL/6 Mice With DSS-Induced IBD. Front Microbiol. 2019 Jul 10;10:1595.
[8] Juśkiewicz J, Rawicka A, Fotschki B, et al. Influence of Supplementation of Lactoferrin, Melittin and Cecropin A to Rat Diet on Changes in Faecal Ammonia Concentrations, Short-Chain Fatty Acid Concentrations and Activities of Bacterial Enzymes. Animals (Basel). 2021 Apr 22;11(5):1203.