The influence on abdominal adhesions and inflammation in rabbits after exposure to differently charged polypeptides

Background: Abdominal adhesions develop on damaged peritoneal surfaces and constitute a significant health related problem. Previous animal studies have shown promising anti-adhesive effects when administering the polycation α-poly-L-lysine (αPL) and the polyanion poly-L-glutamate (PG) together. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of these differently charged polypeptides when administered by spraying and to evaluate any possible effect on fibrinolysis, fibrosis and inflammation. Methods: Rabbits were treated with PLPG after cecal abrasive surgery and analysis from peritoneal biopsies of active tPa/PAI-1 complex and from peritoneal fluid of IL-6 and active TGFb1 at day 0, 1, 4 and 10 were measured after surgery. Histological specimens were analyzed on day 10 regarding inflammation and fibrosis. Peritoneal adhesions were evaluated by adhesion score. All values were compared to the control group (NaCl). Results: PLPG-treated rabbits had a significant diminished adhesion score on day 10 as compared to the control group (p < 0.005). Significantly reduced collagen depositions on the peritoneum were seen in the PLPG group when evaluating the histological specimens (p < 0.05). No significant differences between the experimental and control groups were seen in peritoneal fluid when analyzing for active protein levels. Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate the effect on key parameters in adhesion formation as well as the preventive effect of the PLPG complex on abdominal adhesions in rabbits and also the first study where administration by spraying the polypeptides was used. PLPG was non-toxic in this setting and without significant differences in adhesion formation parameters and a significant reduction in adhesions was observed. This was verified both macroscopically and histologically.

Cationic polypeptides in a concept of oppositely charged polypeptides as prevention of postsurgical intraabdominal adhesions

Background: Two differently charged polypeptides, α-poly-L-lysine and poly-L-glutamate, have previously been shown to effectively reduce postoperative intraabdominal adhesions. Though α-poly-L-lysine showed toxicity in doses too close to the lowest therapeutic dose, the aim in the present study was to investigate the possible antiadhesive effect of another four cationic polypeptides. Materials/Methods: 125 mice were studied with a standardized and reproducible adhesion model and given epsilon poly-L-lysine, lactoferrin, lysozyme and polyarginine respectively in a combination with poly-L-glutamate. Epsilon poly-L-lysine was also tested in different concentrations and as single treatment. Results: All four cationic polypeptides above showed a significantly better anti-adhesive effect than the controls receiving saline (p<0.05). Epsilon poly-L-lysine had the best antiadhesive effect of the new substances tested in the experiment. Single treatment with the epsilon poly-L-lysine showed toxic side effects. Discussion: We have shown that epsilon poly-L-lysine, polyarginine, lysozyme and lactoferrin, in descending order, all can reduce postoperative intraabdominal adhesions in mice when combined with poly-L-glutamate. There were side effects of epsilon poly-L-lysine resembling those of α-poly-L-lysine, although less toxic. The antiadhesive effect of epsilon poly-L-lysine did not reach the level of α-poly-L-lysine. Further studies will concentrate on additional investigation, trying to modify the α-poly-L-lysine to lower its toxicity. The less toxic epsilon poly-L-lysine also needs further attention in our research of antiadhesive bioactive polypeptides.