Rapid Detection and Identification of Antimicrobial Peptide Fingerprints of Nasal Fluid by Mesoporous Silica Particles and MALDI-TOF/TOF Mass Spectrometry: From the Analytical Approach to the Diagnostic Applicability in Precision Medicine.

Preianò M, Maggisano G, Murfuni MS, Villella C, Colica C, Fregola A, Pelaia C, Lombardo N, Pelaia G, Savino R, Terracciano R

International journal of molecular sciences12 Dec 2018Cited by 13 (Europe PMC)

PMID30545076PMCIDPMC6320778DOI10.3390/ijms19124005PepBankPUB-30545076

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Summary

BackgroundAntimicrobial peptides (AMP) play a pivotal role in innate host defense and in immune response. The delineation of new MS-based profiling tools, which are able to produce panels of AMP of the nasal fluid (NF), may be attractive for the discovery of new potential diagnostic markers of respiratory disorders.MethodsSwabs collected NF from healthy patients and from patients with respiratory disorders. We used a fast procedure based on mesoporous silica particles (MPS) to enrich NF in its AMP component in combination with MALDI-TOF/TOF MS as a key tool for rapidly analyzing clinical samples.ResultsReproducible MS peptide fingerprints were generated for each subject and several AMP were detected including (Human Neutrophil Peptides) HNPs, Statherin, Thymosin-β4, Peptide P-D, II-2, β-MSP, SLPI, Lysozyme-C, and their proteo-forms. In particular, Statherin, Thymosin-β4, and Peptide P-D were accurately identified by direct MS/MS sequencing. Examples of applicability of this tool are shown. AMP fingerprints were obtained before and after a nasal polypectomy as well as before and post-treatment with azelastine/fluticasone in one case of allergic rhinitis.ConclusionThe potential of our platform to be implemented by new mesoporous materials for capturing a wider picture of AMP might offer an amazing opportunity for diagnostic clinical studies on individual and population scales.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study2

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone2

In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).

01HumanNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneObservational studyOther
Mass spectrometry with mesoporous silica enrichment detected thymosin beta‑4 among several antimicrobial peptides in human nasal fluid.
In plain wordsA lab method found thymosin beta‑4 among several natural defence peptides in nose fluid.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Not applicableDetection of thymosin beta-4 in nasal fluid
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Endogenous peptide levels · Respiratory
Source sentences
Summary
Reproducible MS peptide fingerprints were generated for each subject and several AMP were detected including (Human Neutrophil Peptides) HNPs, Statherin, Thymosin-β4, Peptide P-D, II-2, β-MSP, SLPI, Lysozyme-C, and their proteo-forms.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Swabs collected NF from healthy patients and from patients with respiratory disorders.
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3054507601
02HumanNot a test of Thymosin beta-4 (human) aloneObservational studyOther
Thymosin beta‑4 in nasal fluid was accurately identified by direct MS/MS sequencing.
In plain wordsA lab method identified thymosin beta‑4 in nose fluid by direct sequencing.
Peptide
Thymosin beta-4 (human)
Outcome
Not applicableIdentification of thymosin beta-4 by MS/MS sequencing
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Endogenous peptide levels · Respiratory
Source sentences
Summary
In particular, Statherin, Thymosin-β4, and Peptide P-D were accurately identified by direct MS/MS sequencing.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Swabs collected NF from healthy patients and from patients with respiratory disorders.
In this study, Thymosin beta-4 (human) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin beta-4 (human).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3054507602

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Version history

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Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 01:52 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
12 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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