Other Application Areas
Beyond core domains such as metabolic regulation and immune anti-inflammation, peptide substances exhibit unique value in specialized scenarios including respiratory disease intervention, cardiovascular function protection, and experimental research tool development, owing to their high structural diversity and biological activity. These applications break through the limitations of traditional drugs, providing innovative solutions for complex disease treatment and basic scientific research through targeted mucosal repair in the respiratory system, regulation of cardiovascular cell signaling pathways, and precise control of experimental models. Their core advantages—high target specificity, low immunogenicity, and customizable synthesis—drive the cross-disciplinary expansion of peptides from clinical therapy to multidisciplinary applications.
Figure 1. Schematic representation of the pathologic immune response in the airways. Source: Proinflammatory Cytokines in Chronic Respiratory Diseases and Their Management (2025).
Application Areas
1. Respiratory System: Airway Repair and Inflammation Regulation
For refractory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, and allergic asthma, peptide substances act through anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and mucosal repair.
Airway mucosal protection and repair
Bronchial repair peptides promote airway epithelial cell proliferation and tight junction protein synthesis by activating epidermal growth factor receptor and transforming growth factor-β pathways, repairing mucosal damage caused by smoking or pollution. Their inhibition of neutrophil chemotactic factors reduces airway inflammatory responses in patients, decreasing the frequency of acute exacerbations.
Antimicrobial peptides (e.g., LL37 derivatives) reduce the risk of pulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis by disrupting Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms and regulating macrophage phagocytosis. They also inhibit excessive release of inflammatory factors, delaying the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.
Pulmonary fibrosis intervention
Pineal regulatory peptides (e.g., Pinealon) inhibit excessive activation of lung fibroblasts by regulating mitochondrial function and telomerase activity, reducing abnormal deposition of type I collagen and fibronectin. In bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis models, they significantly mitigate alveolar septal thickening and improve lung function.
2. Cardiovascular System: Vascular Protection and Myocardial Repair
For diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and heart failure, peptide substances act by regulating angiogenesis, anti-myocardial apoptosis, and improving energy metabolism.
Angiogenesis and endothelial protection
Angiogenic peptides mimic the function of vascular endothelial growth factor, promoting endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and lumen formation. In ischemic heart disease, they induce collateral circulation formation to improve myocardial blood supply. Their activation of vascular endothelial nitric oxide synthase enhances vascular dilation and reduces the risk of atherosclerotic plaque formation.
Cardioprotective peptides (e.g., Corgaten) target myocardial mitochondrial membranes, inhibiting cytochrome C release and apoptosis pathway activation. This reduces myocardial cell necrosis caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury, improves cardiac systolic function after myocardial infarction, decreases fibrosis area, and delays heart failure progression.
Antithrombotic and lipid regulation
RGD-derived peptides inhibit platelet aggregation by blocking the binding of platelet surface integrins to fibrinogen, serving as key molecules in the development of novel antithrombotic drugs. Their advantage lies in a lower bleeding risk compared to traditional anticoagulants.
Figure 2. Components of the vasopressin system involved in the regulation of blood flow in the brain, heart, vessels, kidney, lungs and digestive system. AVP—arginine vasopressin; SNS—sympathetic nervous system; V1aR—vasopressin V1a receptors; V1bR—vasopressin V1b receptors; V2R—vasopressin V2 receptors. Source: The Heart as a Target of Vasopressin and Other Cardiovascular Peptides in Health and Cardiovascular Diseases (2022).
3. Experimental Research: Development and Application of Precision Tool Peptides
In basic medicine and drug development, peptide substances serve as efficient tool molecules to advance precise mechanism research and model construction.
Signaling pathway probes
Certain peptides (e.g., Src kinase inhibitory peptides) specifically block the activity of Src family kinases, used to study signal transduction mechanisms in cell proliferation and migration. Their high affinity enables spatiotemporal precise regulation of specific pathways.
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) ligand peptides (e.g., PT141 analogs)
These peptides are used to dissect GPCR-mediated cellular signal transduction networks, providing models for screening drug targets in metabolic diseases.
The application of peptide substances in other special applications highlights the adaptability and innovation of these molecules in cross-disciplinary scenarios. In the respiratory system, they provide end-to-end protection from mucosal repair to fibrosis intervention; in cardiology, they break through traditional therapeutic bottlenecks via angiogenesis and myocardial protection; in experimental research, they act as precision tools to advance mechanism analysis and drug discovery. These applications not only fill treatment gaps for specific diseases but also demonstrate the bridging role of peptide substances in basic research and clinical translation.