[Structure and function of human-derived lysozyme: a review].

ABSTRACT

Human-derived lysozyme is a general term for a group of naturally occurring alkaline proteins in the human body that are capable of lysing bacterial cell walls. Its action is characterized by its ability to cleave the ß-(1,4)-glycosidic bond between N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid in peptidoglycan. Human-derived lysozyme has a variety of properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immune enhancing, and is therefore widely used in the domestic and international pharmaceutical markets. This review summarizes the structural features, expression sites, biological functions of human-derived lysozymes and its market applications.