Background <p>Lysozyme is a naturally occurring antimicrobial enzyme, remarkably widespread in nature—from animals and plants to bacteria and bacteriophages. In animals, it is present in secretions, immune cells, and blood. Beyond its established use as a food preservative, monomeric lysozyme plays a key role in innate immunity and exhibits broad biological activity, including antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, antioxidant, and digestive effects.</p> Objective <p>This review aims to characterize the immunological functions and therapeutic potential of lysozyme, with a focus on its monomeric form and multimeric derivatives—dimer and oligomers.</p> Methodology <p>This review is based on a narrative analysis of literature from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Selection focused on publications from the last two decades, with some historically significant older sources. Both experimental and review articles addressing lysozyme’s structure, functions, or immunological activity were included.</p> Results <p>Monomeric lysozyme demonstrates immunomodulatory effects, including stimulation of phagocytes and TLR/NF-κB signalling, as well as anti-inflammatory activity through JNK pathway inhibition and oxidative stress reduction. The dimeric form shows enhanced effects, including cytokine production stimulation, lymphocyte proliferation, and immune restoration in immunosuppressed models. Although oligomeric forms are not yet well characterized, their potential immune activity is hypothesized.</p> Conclusions <p>Lysozyme monomer and dimer exhibit immunomodulatory properties with therapeutic relevance. Although oligomeric forms remain insufficiently characterized, their potential in immune modulation highlights the need for further investigation into their possible therapeutic applications.</p>

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Lysozyme Monomer, Dimer, and Oligomers: A Review with a Focus on Immunological Potential

  • Magdalena Matwiejczyk,
  • Aleksandra Zambrowicz,
  • Monika Besman

摘要

Background

Lysozyme is a naturally occurring antimicrobial enzyme, remarkably widespread in nature—from animals and plants to bacteria and bacteriophages. In animals, it is present in secretions, immune cells, and blood. Beyond its established use as a food preservative, monomeric lysozyme plays a key role in innate immunity and exhibits broad biological activity, including antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, antioxidant, and digestive effects.

Objective

This review aims to characterize the immunological functions and therapeutic potential of lysozyme, with a focus on its monomeric form and multimeric derivatives—dimer and oligomers.

Methodology

This review is based on a narrative analysis of literature from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Selection focused on publications from the last two decades, with some historically significant older sources. Both experimental and review articles addressing lysozyme’s structure, functions, or immunological activity were included.

Results

Monomeric lysozyme demonstrates immunomodulatory effects, including stimulation of phagocytes and TLR/NF-κB signalling, as well as anti-inflammatory activity through JNK pathway inhibition and oxidative stress reduction. The dimeric form shows enhanced effects, including cytokine production stimulation, lymphocyte proliferation, and immune restoration in immunosuppressed models. Although oligomeric forms are not yet well characterized, their potential immune activity is hypothesized.

Conclusions

Lysozyme monomer and dimer exhibit immunomodulatory properties with therapeutic relevance. Although oligomeric forms remain insufficiently characterized, their potential in immune modulation highlights the need for further investigation into their possible therapeutic applications.