S100A12 inhibits Streptococcus pneumoniae and aids in wound healing of corneal epithelial cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Streptococcus pneumoniae, a leading cause of corneal infections worldwide, are extremely aggressive despite antibiotic sensitivity and exhibit increased resistance towards antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides are often considered as potent alternatives against antibiotic resistance and here we have investigated the possible roles of S100A12, a host defense peptide, in wound healing and S. pneumoniae infection. S100A12 significantly inhibited growth of S. pneumoniae by disruption of membrane integrity along with increased generation of reactive oxygen species. Additionally, S100A12 accelerated cell migration and wound closure in human corneal epithelial cells and in a murine corneal wound model by activation of EGFR and MAPK signaling pathways.