1
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Penfield J, Zhang L. Interaction and dynamics of chemokine receptor CXCR4 binding with CXCL12 and hBD-3. Commun Chem 2024; 7:205. [PMID: 39271963 PMCID: PMC11399392 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01280-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemokine receptor CXCR4 is involved in diverse diseases. A comparative study was conducted on CXCR4 embedded in a POPC lipid bilayer binding with CXCL12 in full and truncated forms, hBD-3 in wildtype, analog, and mutant forms based on in total 63 µs all-atom MD simulations. The initial binding structures of CXCR4 with ligands were predicted using HADDOCK docking or random-seed method, then μs-long simulations were performed to refine the structures. CXCR4&ligand binding structures predicted agree with available literature data. Both kinds of ligands bind stably to the N-terminus, extracellular loop 2 (ECL2), and ECL3 regions of CXCR4; the C2-C3 (K32-R38) region and occasionally the head of hBD-3 bind stably with CXCR4. hBD-3 analogs with Cys11-Cys40 disulfide bond can activate CXCR4 based on the Helix3-Helix6 distance calculation, but not other analogs or mutant. The results provide insight into understanding the dynamics and activation mechanism of CXCR4 receptor binding with different ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson Penfield
- Chemical Engineering Department, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN, 38505, USA
| | - Liqun Zhang
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA.
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2
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Zhao H, Zhao S, Wang S, Liu Y. Human β-defensins: The multi-functional natural peptide. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 227:116451. [PMID: 39059771 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The increasing threat of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic microorganisms and the urgent demand for new antibiotics require immediate attention. Antimicrobial peptides exhibit effectiveness against microorganisms, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. The discovery of human β-defensins represents a major milestone in biomedical research, opening new avenues for scientific investigation into the innate immune system and its resistance mechanisms against pathogenic microorganisms. Multiple defensins present a promising alternative in the context of antibiotic abuse. However, obstacles to the practical application of defensins as anti-infective therapies persist due to the unique properties of human β-defensins themselves and serious pharmacological and technical challenges. To overcome these challenges, diverse delivery vehicles have been developed and progressively improved for the conjugation or encapsulation of human β-defensins. This review briefly introduces the biology of human β-defensins, focusing on their multistage structure and diverse functions. It also discusses several heterologous systems for producing human β-defensins, various delivery systems created for these peptides, and patent applications related to their utilization, concluding with a summary of current challenges and potential solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haile Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock Jointly Constructed by Ministry and Province, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010020, China
| | - Shuli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock Jointly Constructed by Ministry and Province, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010020, China
| | - Simeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock Jointly Constructed by Ministry and Province, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010020, China
| | - Ying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock Jointly Constructed by Ministry and Province, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010020, China.
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3
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Chen M, Hu Z, Shi J, Xie Z. Human β-defensins and their synthetic analogs: Natural defenders and prospective new drugs of oral health. Life Sci 2024; 346:122591. [PMID: 38548013 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
As a family of cationic host defense peptides, human β-defensins (HBDs) are ubiquitous in the oral cavity and are mainly synthesized primarily by epithelial cells, serving as the primary barrier and aiming to prevent microbial invasion, inflammation, and disease while maintaining physiological homeostasis. In recent decades, there has been great interest in their biological functions, structure-activity relationships, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic potential in oral diseases. Meanwhile, researchers are dedicated to improving the properties of HBDs for clinical application. In this review, we first describe the classification, structural characteristics, functions, and mechanisms of HBDs. Next, we cover the role of HBDs and their synthetic analogs in oral diseases, including dental caries and pulp infections, periodontitis, peri-implantitis, fungal/viral infections and oral mucosal diseases, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Finally, we discuss the limitations and challenges of clinical translation of HBDs and their synthetic analogs, including, but not limited to, stability, bioavailability, antimicrobial activity, resistance, and toxicity. Above all, this review summarizes the biological functions, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic potential of both natural HBDs and their synthetic analogs in oral diseases, as well as the challenges associated with clinical translation, thus providing substantial insights into the laboratory development and clinical application of HBDs in oral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mumian Chen
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, China.
| | - Zihe Hu
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, China.
| | - Jue Shi
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, China.
| | - Zhijian Xie
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, China.
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4
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Lou K, Chi J, Wu J, Ma J, Liu S, Cui Y. Research progress on the microbiota in bladder cancer tumors. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1374944. [PMID: 38650736 PMCID: PMC11033431 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1374944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The microbiota, also referred to as the microbial community, is a crucial component of the human microenvironment. It is located predominantly in various organs, including the intestines, skin, oral cavity, respiratory tract, and reproductive tract. The microbiota maintains a symbiotic relationship with the human body, influencing physiological and pathological functions to a significant degree. There is increasing evidence linking the microbial flora to human cancers. In contrast to the traditional belief that the urethra and urine of normal individuals are sterile, recent advancements in high-throughput sequencing technology and bacterial cultivation methods have led to the discovery of specific microbial communities in the urethras of healthy individuals. Given the prevalence of bladder cancer (BCa) as a common malignancy of the urinary system, researchers have shifted their focus to exploring the connection between disease development and the unique microbial community within tumors. This shift has led to a deeper investigation into the role of microbiota in the onset, progression, metastasis, prognosis, and potential for early detection of BCa. This article reviews the existing research on the microbiota within BCa tumors and summarizes the findings regarding the roles of different microbes in various aspects of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyuan Lou
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Junpeng Chi
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Jitao Wu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Jian Ma
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Shu Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Yuanshan Cui
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
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5
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Gao B, Li P, Zhu S. Single Deletion Unmasks Hidden Anti-Gram-Negative Bacterial Activity of an Insect Defensin-Derived Peptide. J Med Chem 2024; 67:2512-2528. [PMID: 38335999 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Insect defensins are a large family of antimicrobial peptides primarily active against Gram-positive bacteria. Here, we explore their hidden anti-Gram-negative bacterial potential via a nature-guided strategy inspired by natural deletion variants of Drosophila defensins. Referring to these variants, we deleted the equivalent region of an insect defensin with the first cysteine-containing N-terminus, and the last three cysteine-containing C-terminal regions remained. This 15-mer peptide exhibits low solubility and specifically targets Gram-positive bacteria. Further deletion of alanine-9 remarkably improves its solubility, unmasks its hidden anti-Gram-negative bacterial activity, and alters its states in different environments. Intriguingly, compared with the oxidized form, the 14-mer reduced peptide shows increased activity on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria through a membrane-disruptive mechanism. The broad-spectrum activity and tolerance to high-salt environments and human serum, together with no toxicity to mammalian or human cells, make it a promising candidate for the design of new peptide antibiotics against Gram-negative bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Gao
- Group of Peptide Biology and Evolution, State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ping Li
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety (Chinese Academy of Sciences), National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No.11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, Haidian District, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Shunyi Zhu
- Group of Peptide Biology and Evolution, State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
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6
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Zheng T, Wang Y, Zhou Z, Chen S, Jiang J, Chen S. PM2.5 Causes Increased Bacterial Invasion by Affecting HBD1 Expression in the Lung. J Immunol Res 2024; 2024:6622950. [PMID: 38314088 PMCID: PMC10838202 DOI: 10.1155/2024/6622950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Our research addresses the critical environmental issue of a fine particulate matter (PM2.5), focusing on its association with the increased infection risks. We explored the influence of PM2.5 on human beta-defensin 1 (HBD1), an essential peptide in mucosal immunity found in the airway epithelium. Using C57BL/6J mice and human bronchial epithelial cells (HBE), we examined the effects of PM2.5 exposure followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infection on HBD1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. The study revealed that PM2.5's toxicity to epithelial cells and animals varies with time and concentration. Notably, HBE cells exposed to PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa showed increased bacterial invasion and decreased HBD1 expression compared to the cells exposed to P. aeruginosa alone. Similarly, mice studies indicated that combined exposure to PM2.5 and P. aeruginosa significantly reduced survival rates and increased bacterial invasion. These harmful effects, however, were alleviated by administering exogenous HBD1. Furthermore, our findings highlight the activation of MAPK and NF-κB pathways following PM2.5 exposure. Inhibiting these pathways effectively increased HBD1 expression and diminished bacterial invasion. In summary, our study establishes that PM2.5 exposure intensifies P. aeruginosa invasion in both HBE cells and mouse models, primarily by suppressing HBD1 expression. This effect can be counteracted with exogenous HBD1, with the downregulation mechanism involving the MAPK and NF-κB pathways. Our study endeavors to elucidate the pathogenesis of lung infections associated with PM2.5 exposure, providing a novel theoretical basis for the development of prevention and treatment strategies, with substantial clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianqi Zheng
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yajun Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Zhou
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuyang Chen
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinjun Jiang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Respiratory Research Institute, Shanghai, China
| | - Shujing Chen
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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7
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Wang H, Chi X, Zhang D. Potential Regulatory Gene Network Associated with the Ameliorative Effect of Oat Antibacterial Peptides on Rat Colitis. Foods 2024; 13:236. [PMID: 38254536 PMCID: PMC10814071 DOI: 10.3390/foods13020236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Oat protein is unstable in intestinal fluid digestion, and it is easily degraded by trypsin and chymotrypsin, producing low molecular weight peptides. Endopeptidase hydrolysis can improve the bioavailability of active peptides and avoid further digestion in the gastrointestinal tract. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can effectively improve host immunity, but most related studies focus on physiology and ecology, and there are few reports on their molecular level. Therefore, in this article, oat peptides were prepared via the simulated digestion method in vitro, and the main metabolites and action factors affecting colitis were screened by using the multi-omics methods in a high-throughput mode to analyze the effect and mechanism of colitis. Firstly, oat antimicrobial peptides were prepared from cationic resin combined with HPLC, and the anti-inflammatory effects of antimicrobial peptides were analyzed in vitro through the use of human colon epithelial (HCoEpiC) anti-inflammatory cells. In vivo experiments using rats have verified that AMPs can effectively prevent colitis caused by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), reduce intestinal inflammatory cell infiltration and glandular disappearance in the colon, and reduce the apoptosis rate of colon cells. Secondly, metabolomics and transcriptomics were combined to analyze the mechanism of preventing enteritis, and it was found that oat antimicrobial peptides can promote DAG diglycerol production and inhibit the activation of T helper cells (TH), resulting in the down-regulation of key factors in the main downstream pathways of TH1, TH2 and TH17, and inhibit the production of inflammatory cells. At the same time, AMP can activate the wnt pathway, improve the expression of key genes of wnt and frizzled, promote the generation of intestinal stem cells, facilitate the differentiation and repair of intestinal epithelial cells, and prevent the generation of enteritis. Finally, the underlying genetic regulatory network of the important pathway was constructed from the effect of AMP on rat colitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helin Wang
- College of Food Science, Hei Long Jiang Bayi Agricultrue University, Daqing 163319, China; (H.W.); (D.Z.)
| | - Xiaoxing Chi
- College of Food Science, Hei Long Jiang Bayi Agricultrue University, Daqing 163319, China; (H.W.); (D.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Processing and Quality Safety of Heilongjiang Province, Daqing 163319, China
- Coarse Cereals Engineering Research Center, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
| | - Dongjie Zhang
- College of Food Science, Hei Long Jiang Bayi Agricultrue University, Daqing 163319, China; (H.W.); (D.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Processing and Quality Safety of Heilongjiang Province, Daqing 163319, China
- Coarse Cereals Engineering Research Center, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China
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8
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Geng H, Sun X, Zhang X, Yuan Y. Efficient titanium surface modified using bifunctional chimeric peptides to prevent biofilm formation by multiple microorganisms. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2023; 230:113534. [PMID: 37690227 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
It is still a challenge to prevent the formation of bacterial biofilms on the surfaces of oral implants. A chemical peptide with binding and antibacterial properties may be a promising agent if used to modify titanium (Ti) surfaces to inhibit biofilm formation. In this study, peptides were designed by linking the antimicrobial sequence derived from human β-defensin-3 (hBD-3) to the Ti-binding peptide-1 (TBP-1) sequence by using a triple glycine (G) linker. The antimicrobial activity and biocompatibility characteristics of the chemical-peptide-modified Ti surface were then evaluated and the potential antibacterial mechanism was investigated. This study demonstrated that the chemical-peptide-modified surface exhibited satisfactory bactericidal activities against Streptococcus gordonii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. In addition to its potent bacteria-killing efficacy, the surface-immobilised chemical peptide also demonstrated excellent biocompatibility to L929 cells. Moreover, the disruption of the integrity of the bacterial membrane partially revealed the antibacterial mechanism of the peptide. This study demonstrated the potential of chemical-peptide-modified Ti surfaces for preventing the occurrence of peri-implant diseases, thereby providing a promising approach to improving the survival rate of oral implants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjuan Geng
- Department of Stomatology, Tianjin Hospital, 406 Jiefang South Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, PR China
| | - Xun Sun
- Department of Stomatology, Tianjin Hospital, 406 Jiefang South Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, PR China
| | - Xi Zhang
- School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tianjin Medical University, 12 Observatory Road, Tianjin 300070, PR China.
| | - Yang Yuan
- General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, 154 An Shan Road, Tianjin 300052, PR China.
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9
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van Dijk A, Guabiraba R, Bailleul G, Schouler C, Haagsman HP, Lalmanach AC. Evolutionary diversification of defensins and cathelicidins in birds and primates. Mol Immunol 2023; 157:53-69. [PMID: 36996595 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2023.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Divergent evolution for more than 310 million years has resulted in an avian immune system that is complex and more compact than that of primates, sharing much of its structure and functions. Not surprisingly, well conserved ancient host defense molecules, such as defensins and cathelicidins, have diversified over time. In this review, we describe how evolution influenced the host defense peptides repertoire, its distribution, and the relationship between structure and biological functions. Marked features of primate and avian HDPs are linked to species-specific characteristics, biological requirements, and environmental challenge.
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10
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Brink KR, Hunt MG, Mu AM, Groszman K, Hoang KV, Lorch KP, Pogostin BH, Gunn JS, Tabor JJ. An E. coli display method for characterization of peptide-sensor kinase interactions. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:451-459. [PMID: 36482094 PMCID: PMC10065900 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-01207-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria use two-component system (TCS) signaling pathways to sense and respond to peptides involved in host defense, quorum sensing and inter-bacterial warfare. However, little is known about the broad peptide-sensing capabilities of TCSs. In this study, we developed an Escherichia coli display method to characterize the effects of human antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) on the pathogenesis-regulating TCS PhoPQ of Salmonella Typhimurium with much higher throughput than previously possible. We found that PhoPQ senses AMPs with diverse sequences, structures and biological functions. We further combined thousands of displayed AMP variants with machine learning to identify peptide sub-domains and biophysical features linked to PhoPQ activation. Most of the newfound AMP activators induce PhoPQ in S. Typhimurium, suggesting possible roles in virulence regulation. Finally, we present evidence that PhoPQ peptide-sensing specificity has evolved across commensal and pathogenic bacteria. Our method enables new insights into the specificities, mechanisms and evolutionary dynamics of TCS-mediated peptide sensing in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn R Brink
- Ph.D. Program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maxwell G Hunt
- Ph.D. Program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Andrew M Mu
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ken Groszman
- Operations Research Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ky V Hoang
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kevin P Lorch
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - John S Gunn
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Tabor
- Ph.D. Program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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11
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Role of Defensins in Tumor Biology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065268. [PMID: 36982340 PMCID: PMC10049535 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Defensins have long been considered as merely antimicrobial peptides. Throughout the years, more immune-related functions have been discovered for both the α-defensin and β-defensin subfamily. This review provides insights into the role of defensins in tumor immunity. Since defensins are present and differentially expressed in certain cancer types, researchers started to unravel their role in the tumor microenvironment. The human neutrophil peptides have been demonstrated to be directly oncolytic by permealizing the cell membrane. Further, defensins can inflict DNA damage and induce apoptosis of tumor cells. In the tumor microenvironment, defensins can act as chemoattractants for subsets of immune cells, such as T cells, immature dendritic cells, monocytes and mast cells. Additionally, by activating the targeted leukocytes, defensins generate pro-inflammatory signals. Moreover, immuno-adjuvant effects have been reported in a variety of models. Therefore, the action of defensins reaches beyond their direct antimicrobial effect, i.e., the lysis of microbes invading the mucosal surfaces. By causing an increase in pro-inflammatory signaling events, cell lysis (generating antigens) and attraction and activation of antigen presenting cells, defensins could have a relevant role in activating the adaptive immune system and generating anti-tumor immunity, and could thus contribute to the success of immune therapy.
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12
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Shelley JR, McHugh BJ, Wills J, Dorin JR, Weller R, Clarke DJ, Davidson DJ. A mechanistic evaluation of human beta defensin 2 mediated protection of human skin barrier in vitro. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2271. [PMID: 36755116 PMCID: PMC9908873 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29558-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The human skin barrier, a biological imperative, is impaired in inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD). Staphylococcus aureus is associated with AD lesions and contributes to pathological inflammation and further barrier impairment. S. aureus secretes extracellular proteases, such as V8 (or 'SspA'), which cleave extracellular proteins to reduce skin barrier. Previous studies demonstrated that the host defence peptide human beta-defensin 2 (HBD2) prevented V8-mediated damage. Here, the mechanism of HBD2-mediated barrier protection in vitro is examined. Application of exogenous HBD2 provided protection against V8, irrespective of timeline of application or native peptide folding, raising the prospect of simple peptide analogues as therapeutics. HBD2 treatment, in context of V8-mediated damage, modulated the proteomic/secretomic profiles of HaCaT cells, altering levels of specific extracellular matrix proteins, potentially recovering V8 damage. However, HBD2 alone did not substantially modulate cellular proteomic/secretomics profiles in the absence of damage, suggesting possible therapeutic targeting of lesion damage sites only. HBD2 did not show any direct protease inhibition or induce expression of known antiproteases, did not alter keratinocyte migration or proliferation, or form protective nanonet structures. These data validate the barrier-protective properties of HBD2 in vitro and establish key protein datasets for further targeted mechanistic analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Shelley
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, Scotland, UK.
- The Commonwealth Building, The Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
| | - Brian J McHugh
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, Scotland, UK
| | - Jimi Wills
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital Campus, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, Scotland, UK
| | - Julia R Dorin
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, Scotland, UK
| | - Richard Weller
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, Scotland, UK
| | - David J Clarke
- The EastChem School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Donald J Davidson
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, Scotland, UK
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13
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Howan DHO, Jenei S, Szolomajer J, Endre G, Kondorosi É, Tóth GK. Enhanced Antibacterial Activity of Substituted Derivatives of NCR169C Peptide. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032694. [PMID: 36769017 PMCID: PMC9917201 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Medicago truncatula in symbiosis with its rhizobial bacterium partner produces more than 700 nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides with diverse physicochemical properties. Most of the cationic NCR peptides have antimicrobial activity and the potential to tackle antimicrobial resistance with their novel modes of action. This work focuses on the antibacterial activity of the NCR169 peptide derivatives as we previously demonstrated that the C-terminal sequence of NCR169 (NCR169C17-38) has antifungal activity, affecting the viability, morphology, and biofilm formation of various Candida species. Here, we show that NCR169C17-38 and its various substituted derivatives are also able to kill ESKAPE pathogens such as Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. The replacement of the two cysteines with serines enhanced the antimicrobial activity against most of the tested bacteria, indicating that the formation of a disulfide bridge is not required. As tryptophan can play role in the interaction with bacterial membranes and thus in antibacterial activity, we replaced the tryptophans in the NCR169C17-38C12,17/S sequence with various modified tryptophans, namely 5-methyl tryptophan, 5-fluoro tryptophan, 6-fluoro tryptophan, 7-aza tryptophan, and 5-methoxy tryptophan, in the synthesis of NCR169C17-38C12,17/S analogs. The results demonstrate that the presence of modified fluorotryptophans can significantly enhance the antimicrobial activity without notable hemolytic effect, and this finding could be beneficial for the further development of new AMPs from the members of the NCR peptide family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian H. O. Howan
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Sándor Jenei
- Biological Research Centre, Institute of Plant Biology, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - János Szolomajer
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Endre
- Biological Research Centre, Institute of Plant Biology, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Éva Kondorosi
- Biological Research Centre, Institute of Plant Biology, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor K. Tóth
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
- MTA-SZTE Biomimetic Systems Research Group, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
- Correspondence:
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Mouse α-Defensins: Structural and Functional Analysis of the 17 Cryptdin Isoforms Identified from a Single Jejunal Crypt. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0036122. [PMID: 36472443 PMCID: PMC9872612 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00361-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse α-defensins, better known as cryptdins, are host protective antimicrobial peptides produced in the intestinal crypt by Paneth cells. To date, more than 20 cryptdin mRNAs have been identified from mouse small intestine, of which the first six cryptdins (Crp1 to Crp6) have been isolated and characterized at the peptide level. We quantified bactericidal activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus of the 17 cryptdin isoforms identified by Ouellette and colleagues from a single jejunal crypt (A. J. Ouellette et al., Infect Immun 62:5040-5047, 1994), along with linearized analogs of Crp1, Crp4, and Crp14. In addition, we analyzed the most potent and weakest cryptdins in the panel with respect to their ability to self-associate in solution. Finally, we solved, for the first time, the high-resolution crystal structure of a cryptdin, Crp14, and performed molecular dynamics simulation on Crp14 and a hypothetical mutant, T14K-Crp14. Our results indicate that mutational effects are highly dependent on cryptdin sequence, residue position, and bacterial strain. Crp14 adopts a disulfide-stabilized, three-stranded β-sheet core structure and forms a noncanonical dimer stabilized by asymmetrical interactions between the two β1 strands in parallel. The killing of E. coli by cryptdins is generally independent of their tertiary and quaternary structures that are important for the killing of S. aureus, which is indicative of two distinct mechanisms of action. Importantly, sequence variations impact the bactericidal activity of cryptdins by influencing their ability to self-associate in solution. This study expands our current understanding of how cryptdins function at the molecular level.
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15
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Solanki S, Kumar V, Kashyap P, Kumar R, De S, Datta TK. Beta-defensins as marker for male fertility: a comprehensive review†. Biol Reprod 2023; 108:52-71. [PMID: 36322147 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine male fertility in animals has a direct impact on the productivity of dairy herds. The epididymal sperm maturations involve extensive sperm surface modifications to gain the fertilizing ability, especially by absorptions of the plethora of biomolecules, including glycoprotein beta-defensins (BDs), enzymes, organic ions, protein, and phospholipids. Defensins are broad-range nonspecific antimicrobial peptides that exhibit strong relations with innate and adaptive immunity, but their roles in male fertility are relatively recently identified. In the course of evolution, BD genes give rise to different clusters with specific functions, especially reproductive functions, by undergoing duplications and nonsynonymous mutations. BD polymorphisms have been reported with milk compositions, disease resistance, and antimicrobial activities. However, in recent decades, the link of BD polymorphisms with fertility has emerged as an appealing improvement of reproductive performance such as sperm motility, membrane integrity, cervical mucus penetration, evading of uterus immunosurveillance, oviduct cell attachment, and egg recognition. The reproductive-specific glycosylated BD class-A BDs (CA-BDs) have shown age- and sex-specific expressions in male reproductive organs, signifying their physiological pleiotropism, especially in the sperm maturation and sperm transport in the female reproductive tract. By considering adult male reproductive organ-specific BD expressions, importance in sperm functionalities, and bioinformatic analysis, we have selected two bovine BBD126 and BBD129 genes as novel potential biomarkers of bovine male fertility. Despite the importance of BDs, however, genomic characterization of most BD genes across most livestock and nonmodel organisms remains predictive/incomplete. The current review discusses our understanding of BD pleiotropic functions, polymorphism, and genomic structural attributes concerning the fertilizability of the male gamete in dairy animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhash Solanki
- Animal Genomics Lab, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- NMR lab-II, National Institute of immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Poonam Kashyap
- Animal Genomics Lab, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Animal Genomics Lab, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Sachinandan De
- Animal Genomics Lab, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Tirtha Kumar Datta
- Animal Genomics Lab, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India.,ICAR- Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, India
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16
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β-Defensin 19/119 mediates sperm chemotaxis and is associated with idiopathic infertility. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100825. [PMID: 36513070 PMCID: PMC9797948 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sperm chemotaxis is required for guiding sperm toward the egg. However, the molecular identity of physiological chemoattractant and its involvement in infertility remain elusive. Here, we identify DEFB19/119 (mouse/human orthologs) as a physiological sperm chemoattractant. The epithelia of the female reproductive tract and the cumulus-oocyte complex secrete DEFB19/119 that elicits calcium mobilization via the CatSper channel and induces sperm chemotaxis in capacitated sperm. Manipulating the level of DEFB19 in mice determines the number of sperm arriving at the fertilization site. Importantly, we identify exon mutations in the DEFB119 gene in idiopathic infertile women with low level of DEFB119 in the follicular fluid. The level of DEFB119 correlates with the chemotactic potency of follicular fluid and predicts the infertile outcome with positive correlation. This study reveals the pivotal role of DEFB19/119 in sperm chemotaxis and demonstrates its potential application in the diagnosis of idiopathic infertility.
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Antimicrobial Peptides in Early-Life Host Defense, Perinatal Infections, and Necrotizing Enterocolitis—An Update. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11175074. [PMID: 36079001 PMCID: PMC9457252 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11175074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Host defense against early-life infections such as chorioamnionitis, neonatal sepsis, or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) relies primarily on innate immunity, in which antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a major role. AMPs that are important for the fetus and neonate include α and β defensins, cathelicidin LL-37, antiproteases (elafin, SLPI), and hepcidin. They can be produced by the fetus or neonate, the placenta, chorioamniotic membranes, recruited neutrophils, and milk-protein ingestion or proteolysis. They possess antimicrobial, immunomodulating, inflammation-regulating, and tissue-repairing properties. AMPs are expressed as early as the 13th week and increase progressively through gestation. Limited studies are available on AMP expression and levels in the fetus and neonate. Nevertheless, existing evidence supports the role of AMPs in pathogenesis of chorioamnionitis, neonatal sepsis, and NEC, and their association with disease severity. This suggests a potential role of AMPs in diagnosis, prevention, prognosis, and treatment of sepsis and NEC. Herein, we present an overview of the antimicrobial and immunomodulating properties of human AMPs, their sources in the intrauterine environment, fetus, and neonate, and their changes during pre- and post-natal infections and NEC. We also discuss emerging data regarding the potential utility of AMPs in early-life infections, as diagnostic or predictive biomarkers and as therapeutic alternatives or adjuncts to antibiotic therapy considering the increase of antibiotic resistance in neonatal intensive care units.
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Umehara Y, Takahashi M, Yue H, Trujillo-Paez JV, Peng G, Nguyen HLT, Okumura K, Ogawa H, Niyonsaba F. The Antimicrobial Peptides Human β-Defensins Induce the Secretion of Angiogenin in Human Dermal Fibroblasts. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158800. [PMID: 35955934 PMCID: PMC9368840 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The skin produces a plethora of antimicrobial peptides that not only show antimicrobial activities against pathogens but also exhibit various immunomodulatory functions. Human β-defensins (hBDs) are the most well-characterized skin-derived antimicrobial peptides and contribute to diverse biological processes, including cytokine production and the migration, proliferation, and differentiation of host cells. Additionally, hBD-3 was recently reported to promote wound healing and angiogenesis, by inducing the expression of various angiogenic factors and the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts. Angiogenin is one of the most potent angiogenic factors; however, the effects of hBDs on angiogenin production in fibroblasts remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of hBDs on the secretion of angiogenin by human dermal fibroblasts. Both in vitro and ex vivo studies demonstrated that hBD-1, hBD-2, hBD-3, and hBD-4 dose-dependently increased angiogenin production by fibroblasts. hBD-mediated angiogenin secretion involved the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Src family kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways, as evidenced by the inhibitory effects of specific inhibitors for these pathways. Indeed, we confirmed that hBDs induced the activation of the EGFR, Src, JNK, p38, and NF-κB pathways. This study identified a novel role of hBDs in angiogenesis, through the production of angiogenin, in addition to their antimicrobial activities and other immunomodulatory properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshie Umehara
- Atopy (Allergy) Research Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Miho Takahashi
- Atopy (Allergy) Research Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Hainan Yue
- Atopy (Allergy) Research Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | | | - Ge Peng
- Atopy (Allergy) Research Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Hai Le Thanh Nguyen
- Atopy (Allergy) Research Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Ko Okumura
- Atopy (Allergy) Research Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Hideoki Ogawa
- Atopy (Allergy) Research Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - François Niyonsaba
- Atopy (Allergy) Research Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Faculty of International Liberal Arts, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-5802-1591; Fax: +81-3-3813-5512
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Chumponanomakun P, Niramitranon J, Chairatana P, Pongprayoon P. Molecular insights into the adsorption mechanism of E21R and T7E21R human defensin 5 on a bacterial membrane. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2022.2086253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Phoom Chumponanomakun
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jitti Niramitranon
- Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Phoom Chairatana
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Prapasiri Pongprayoon
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center for Advanced Studies in Nanotechnology for Chemical, Food and Agricultural Industries, KU Institute for Advanced Studies, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
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20
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Silveira ELVD, Rai U, Bonezi V, Zárate-Bladés CR, Claser C. CCR6 expression reduces mouse survival upon malarial challenge with Plasmodium berghei NK65 strain. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e210287. [PMID: 35730803 PMCID: PMC9208320 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760210287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It has been demonstrated that proteins expressed by liver-stage Plasmodium parasites can inhibit the translocation of transcription factors to the nucleus of different cells. This process would hinder the expression of immune genes, such as the CCL20 chemokine. OBJECTIVE Since CCR6 is the only cognate receptor for CCL20, we investigated the importance of this chemokine-receptor axis against rodent malaria. METHODS CCR6-deficient (KO) and wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice were challenged with Plasmodium berghei (Pb) NK65 sporozoites or infected red blood cells (iRBCs). Liver parasitic cDNA, parasitemia and serum cytokine concentrations were respectively evaluated through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), staining thin-blood smears with Giemsa solution, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). FINDINGS Although the sporozoite challenges yielded similar liver parasitic cDNA and parasitemia, KO mice presented a prolonged survival than WT mice. After iRBC challenges, KO mice kept displaying higher survival rates as well as a decreased IL-12 p70 concentration in the serum than WT mice. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that malaria triggered by PbNK65 liver- or blood-stage forms elicit a pro-inflammatory environment that culminates with a decreased survival of infected C57BL/6 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Lani Volpe da Silveira
- New York University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Michael Heidelberg Division of Immunology, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Urvashi Rai
- New York University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Michael Heidelberg Division of Immunology, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Vivian Bonezi
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Laboratório de Imunologia de Células B, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Carlos Rodrigo Zárate-Bladés
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Laboratório de Imunorregulação, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil
| | - Carla Claser
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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21
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Ting DSJ, Mohammed I, Lakshminarayanan R, Beuerman RW, Dua HS. Host Defense Peptides at the Ocular Surface: Roles in Health and Major Diseases, and Therapeutic Potentials. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:835843. [PMID: 35783647 PMCID: PMC9243558 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.835843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sight is arguably the most important sense in human. Being constantly exposed to the environmental stress, irritants and pathogens, the ocular surface – a specialized functional and anatomical unit composed of tear film, conjunctival and corneal epithelium, lacrimal glands, meibomian glands, and nasolacrimal drainage apparatus – serves as a crucial front-line defense of the eye. Host defense peptides (HDPs), also known as antimicrobial peptides, are evolutionarily conserved molecular components of innate immunity that are found in all classes of life. Since the first discovery of lysozyme in 1922, a wide range of HDPs have been identified at the ocular surface. In addition to their antimicrobial activity, HDPs are increasingly recognized for their wide array of biological functions, including anti-biofilm, immunomodulation, wound healing, and anti-cancer properties. In this review, we provide an updated review on: (1) spectrum and expression of HDPs at the ocular surface; (2) participation of HDPs in ocular surface diseases/conditions such as infectious keratitis, conjunctivitis, dry eye disease, keratoconus, allergic eye disease, rosacea keratitis, and post-ocular surgery; (3) HDPs that are currently in the development pipeline for treatment of ocular diseases and infections; and (4) future potential of HDP-based clinical pharmacotherapy for ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Shu Jeng Ting
- Academic Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Anti-Infectives Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
- *Correspondence: Darren Shu Jeng Ting
| | - Imran Mohammed
- Academic Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Roger W. Beuerman
- Anti-Infectives Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Harminder S. Dua
- Academic Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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22
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Cabalteja CC, Lin Q, Harmon TW, Rao SR, Di YP, Horne WS. Heterogeneous-Backbone Proteomimetic Analogues of Lasiocepsin, a Disulfide-Rich Antimicrobial Peptide with a Compact Tertiary Fold. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:987-997. [PMID: 35290019 PMCID: PMC9039985 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of resistance to clinically used antibiotics by bacteria presents a significant problem in public health. Natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a valuable source of antibiotics that act by a mechanism less prone to the evolutionary development of resistance. In an effort to realize the promise of AMPs while overcoming limitations such as poor biostability, researchers have sought sequence-defined oligomers with artificial amide-based backbones that show membrane-disrupting functions similar to natural agents. Most of this precedent has focused on short peptidomimetic analogues of unstructured chains or secondary folds; however, the natural antimicrobial arsenal includes a number of small- and medium-sized proteins that act via an ordered tertiary structure. Generating proteomimetic analogues of these scaffolds poses a challenge due to the increased complexity of the target for mimicry. Here, we report the development of heterogeneous-backbone variants of lasiocepsin, a 27-residue disulfide-rich AMP found in bee venom that adopts a compact tertiary fold. Iterative cycles of design, synthesis, and biological evaluation yielded analogues of the natural domain with ∼30 to 40% artificial backbone content, comparable antibacterial activity, reduced host cell toxicity, and improved stability to proteolytic degradation. High-resolution structures determined for several variants by NMR provide insights into the interplay among backbone composition, tertiary fold, and biological properties. Collectively, the results reported here broaden the scope of protein functional mimicry by artificial backbone analogues of tertiary folding patterns and suggest protein backbone engineering as a means to tune protein function by exerting site-specific control over protein folded structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chino C Cabalteja
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Qiao Lin
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Thomas W Harmon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Shilpa R Rao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Y Peter Di
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - W Seth Horne
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
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23
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Adamek M, Matras M, Rebl A, Stachnik M, Falco A, Bauer J, Miebach AC, Teitge F, Jung-Schroers V, Abdullah M, Krebs T, Schröder L, Fuchs W, Reichert M, Steinhagen D. Don't Let It Get Under Your Skin! - Vaccination Protects the Skin Barrier of Common Carp From Disruption Caused by Cyprinid Herpesvirus 3. Front Immunol 2022; 13:787021. [PMID: 35173716 PMCID: PMC8842664 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.787021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination is the best form of protecting fish against viral diseases when the pathogen cannot be contained by biosecurity measures. Vaccines based on live attenuated viruses seem to be most effective for vaccination against challenging pathogens like Cyprinid herpesvirus 3. However, there are still knowledge gaps how these vaccines effectively protect fish from the deadly disease caused by the epitheliotropic CyHV-3, and which aspects of non-direct protection of skin or gill integrity and function are important in the aquatic environment. To elucidate some elements of protection, common carp were vaccinated against CyHV-3 using a double deletion vaccine virus KHV-T ΔDUT/TK in the absence or presence of a mix of common carp beta-defensins 1, 2 and 3 as adjuvants. Vaccination induced marginal clinical signs, low virus load and a minor upregulation of cd4, cd8 and igm gene expression in vaccinated fish, while neutralisation activity of blood serum rose from 14 days post vaccination (dpv). A challenge infection with CyHV-3 induced a severe disease with 80-100% mortality in non-vaccinated carp, while in vaccinated carp, no mortality was recorded and the virus load was >1,000-fold lower in the skin, gill and kidney. Histological analysis showed strongest pathological changes in the skin, with a complete destruction of the epidermis in non-vaccinated carp. In the skin of non-vaccinated fish, T and B cell responses were severely downregulated, inflammation and stress responses were increased upon challenge, whereas vaccinated fish had boosted neutrophil, T and B cell responses. A disruption of skin barrier elements (tight and adherence junction, desmosomes, mucins) led to an uncontrolled increase in skin bacteria load which most likely exacerbated the inflammation and the pathology. Using a live attenuated virus vaccine, we were able to show that increased neutrophil, T and B cell responses provide protection from CyHV-3 infection and lead to preservation of skin integrity, which supports successful protection against additional pathogens in the aquatic environment which foster disease development in non-vaccinated carp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikolaj Adamek
- Fish Disease Research Unit, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marek Matras
- Laboratory of Fish Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
| | - Alexander Rebl
- Fish Genetics Unit, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Genome Biology, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Magdalena Stachnik
- Laboratory of Fish Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
| | - Alberto Falco
- Institute of Research, Development, and Innovation in Healthcare Biotechnology in Elche (IDiBE), Miguel Hernández University (UMH), Elche, Spain
| | - Julia Bauer
- Fish Disease Research Unit, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anne-Carina Miebach
- Fish Disease Research Unit, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Felix Teitge
- Fish Disease Research Unit, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Verena Jung-Schroers
- Fish Disease Research Unit, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Muhammad Abdullah
- Fish Disease Research Unit, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Torben Krebs
- Fish Disease Research Unit, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lars Schröder
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Walter Fuchs
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Michal Reichert
- Laboratory of Fish Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
| | - Dieter Steinhagen
- Fish Disease Research Unit, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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24
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Das S, Pradhan C, Pillai D. β-Defensin: An adroit saviour in teleosts. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 123:417-430. [PMID: 35331882 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
β-Defensin (BD) is an important first line innate defense molecule with potent antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities in fish. The signatures of β-defensins are the presence of a net cationic charge and three intramolecular disulfide bonds mediated by six conserved cysteines. It consists of three exons and two introns. The signal peptide is usually conserved and sequence divergence is mostly seen in mature peptide region. The diverse amino acid sequences of matured peptide contribute to a strong positive selection and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. It is constitutively expressed in both mucosal as well as systemic sites. Increased expression of β-defensin was mostly reported in bacterial and viral infections in fish. Its role during parasitic and fungal infections is yet to be investigated. β-Defensin isoforms such as BD-1, BD-2, BD-3, BD-4 and BD-5 can be witnessed even in early developmental days to different pathogenic exposure in fish. β-Defensins possess adjuvant properties to enhance antigen-specific immunity promoting both cellular and humoral immune response. It significantly reduces/increases bacterial colonization or viral copy numbers when overexpressed/knockdown. Based on its chemotactic and activating potentials, it can contribute to both innate and adaptive immune responses. With mediated expression, it can also control inflammation. It is potent governing resistance in early developmental days as well. Its expression in pituitary and testis suggests its participation in reproduction and endocrine regulation in fish. Overall, β-defensins is an important member of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with multifunctional role in general homeostasis and to pathogen exposure possessing tremendous therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sweta Das
- Department of Aquatic Animal Health & Management, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, Kerala, India.
| | - Chiranjiv Pradhan
- Department of Aquaculture, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Devika Pillai
- Department of Aquatic Animal Health & Management, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, Kerala, India
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Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Human Defensin HNP1 and Retrocyclin RC-101. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167225. [PMID: 34487793 PMCID: PMC8413479 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 is an enveloped virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergence of new potentially more transmissible and vaccine-resistant variants of SARS-CoV-2 is an ever-present threat. Thus, it remains essential to better understand innate immune mechanisms that can inhibit the virus. One component of the innate immune system with broad antipathogen, including antiviral, activity is a group of cationic immune peptides termed defensins. The ability of defensins to neutralize enveloped and non-enveloped viruses and to inactivate numerous bacterial toxins correlate with their ability to promote the unfolding of proteins with high conformational plasticity. We found that human neutrophil α-defensin HNP1 binds to SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein with submicromolar affinity that is more than 20 fold stronger than its binding to serum albumin. As such, HNP1, as well as a θ-defensin retrocyclin RC-101, both interfere with Spike-mediated membrane fusion, Spike-pseudotyped lentivirus infection, and authentic SARS-CoV-2 infection in cell culture. These effects correlate with the abilities of the defensins to destabilize and precipitate Spike protein and inhibit the interaction of Spike with the ACE2 receptor. Serum reduces the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of HNP1, though at high concentrations, HNP1 was able to inactivate the virus even in the presence of serum. Overall, our results suggest that defensins can negatively affect the native conformation of SARS-CoV-2 Spike, and that α- and θ-defensins may be valuable tools in developing SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention strategies.
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26
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Zhang L, Ghosh SK, Basavarajappa SC, Chen Y, Shrestha P, Penfield J, Brewer A, Ramakrishnan P, Buck M, Weinberg A. HBD-2 binds SARS-CoV-2 RBD and blocks viral entry: Strategy to combat COVID-19. iScience 2022; 25:103856. [PMID: 35128350 PMCID: PMC8808565 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
New approaches to complement vaccination are needed to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and stop COVID-19-related deaths and medical complications. Human beta defensin 2 (hBD-2) is a naturally occurring epithelial cell-derived host defense peptide that has anti-viral properties. Our comprehensive in-silico studies demonstrate that hBD-2 binds the site on the CoV-2-RBD that docks with the ACE2 receptor. Biophysical measurements confirm that hBD-2 indeed binds to the CoV-2-receptor-binding domain (RBD) (KD ∼ 2μM by surface plasmon resonance), preventing it from binding to ACE2-expressing cells. Importantly, hBD-2 shows specificity by blocking CoV-2/spike pseudoviral infection, but not VSVG-mediated infection, of ACE2-expressing human cells with an IC50 of 2.8 ± 0.4 μM. These promising findings offer opportunities to develop hBD-2 and/or its derivatives and mimetics to safely and effectively use as agents to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Zhang
- Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA
| | - Santosh K. Ghosh
- Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | | | - Yinghua Chen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Pravesh Shrestha
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Jackson Penfield
- Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA
| | - Ann Brewer
- Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA
| | - Parameswaran Ramakrishnan
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Aaron Weinberg
- Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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McGrath L, O'Keeffe J, Slattery O. Antimicrobial peptide gene expression in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) seven days post-challenge with Neoparamoeba perurans. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 127:104287. [PMID: 34619176 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2021.104287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Amoebic gill disease in teleost fish is caused by the marine parasite Neoparamoeba perurans. To date, the role of antimicrobial peptides β-defensins and cathelicidins in this infection have not been explored. Using a high-throughput microfluidics quantitative polymerase chain reaction system (Biomark HD™ by Fluidigm), this study aimed to: firstly, to investigate organ-specific expression of antimicrobial peptide genes β-defensin-1, -3 and -4 and cathelicidin 2 in healthy Atlantic salmon; secondly, to compare the expression of these antimicrobial peptide genes in healthy versus asymptomatic Atlantic salmon seven days post-challenge with Neoparamoeba perurans. Results from this study indicate expression of the β-defensin and cathelicidin genes in the selected organs from healthy Atlantic salmon. Furthermore, a statistically significant upregulation of β-defensins -3 and -4 and cathelicidin 2 was detected in gill of parasite-challenged salmon. The upregulated cathelicidin and β-defensin genes in gill could indicate novel potential roles in innate immune responses to Neoparamoeba perurans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leisha McGrath
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Rd., Galway, H91 T8NW, Ireland
| | - Joan O'Keeffe
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Rd., Galway, H91 T8NW, Ireland
| | - Orla Slattery
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Rd., Galway, H91 T8NW, Ireland.
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28
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LEE S, CHOI YM, YIM SH. Screening and characterization of active herbal extracts and components stimulating human beta defensing (hBD-3) expression from HaCaT cells. FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/fst.112121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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29
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Gao X, Ding J, Liao C, Xu J, Liu X, Lu W. Defensins: The natural peptide antibiotic. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 179:114008. [PMID: 34673132 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Defensins are a family of cationic antimicrobial peptides active against a broad range of infectious microbes including bacteria, viruses and fungi, playing important roles as innate effectors and immune modulators in immunological control of microbial infection. Their antibacterial properties and unique mechanisms of action have garnered considerable interest in developing defensins into a novel class of natural antibiotic peptides to fend off pathogenic infection by bacteria, particularly those resistant to conventional antibiotics. However, serious pharmacological and technical obstacles, some of which are unique to defensins and others are common to peptide drugs in general, have hindered the development and clinical translation of defensins as anti-infective therapeutics. To overcome them, several technologies have been developed, aiming for improved functionality, prolonged circulation time, enhanced proteolytic stability and bioavailability, and efficient and controlled delivery and release of defensins to the site of infection. Additional challenges include the alleviation of potential toxicity of defensins and their cost-effective manufacturing. In this review, we briefly introduce defensin biology, focus on various transforming strategies and practical techniques developed for defensins and their derivatives as antibacterial therapeutics, and conclude with a summation of future challenges and possible solutions.
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Martell EM, González-Garcia M, Ständker L, Otero-González AJ. Host defense peptides as immunomodulators: The other side of the coin. Peptides 2021; 146:170644. [PMID: 34464592 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Host defense peptides (HDPs) exhibit a broad range of antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. In this sense, both functions are like different sides of the same coin. The direct antimicrobial side was discovered first, and widely studied for the development of anti-infective therapies. In contrast, the immunomodulatory side was recognized later and in the last 20 years the interest in this field has been continuously growing. Different to their antimicrobial activities, the immunomodulatory activities of host defense peptides are more effective in vivo. They offer a great opportunity for new therapeutic applications in the fields of anti-infective therapy, chronic inflammatory diseases treatment, novel vaccine adjuvants development and anticancer immunotherapy. These immune related functions of HDPs includes chemoattraction of leukocytes, modulation of inflammation, enhancement of antigen presentation and polarization of adaptive immune responses. Our attempt with this review is to make a careful evaluation of different aspects of the less explored, but attractive immunomodulatory side of the HDP functional coin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto M Martell
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, Havana University, Cuba
| | | | - Ludger Ständker
- Core Facility Functional Peptidomics (CFP), Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
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31
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Clark RJ, Phan TH, Song A, Ouellette AJ, Conibear AC, Rosengren KJ. A conserved β‐bulge glycine residue facilitates folding and increases stability of the mouse α‐defensin cryptdin‐4. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pep2.24250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard J. Clark
- The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - Thanh Huyen Phan
- The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - Angela Song
- The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - André J. Ouellette
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California Los Angeles California USA
| | - Anne C. Conibear
- The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - K. Johan Rosengren
- The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences Brisbane Queensland Australia
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Al Mansour N, Al-Kafaji G, Al Mahmeed A, Bindayna KM. Dysregulation of human beta-defensin-3 expression in the peripheral blood of patients with sepsis. SAGE Open Med 2021; 9:20503121211041515. [PMID: 34457302 PMCID: PMC8385589 DOI: 10.1177/20503121211041515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Sepsis is a serious medical condition caused by the body’s systemic inflammatory response to infections. The antimicrobial peptides, human beta-defensins, play a key role in modulating host immune responses, and aberrant expression of human beta-defensins has been implicated in many infections and inflammatory diseases. However, little is known about the expression of human beta-defensin-3 in systemic infectious diseases. Methods: We investigated the gene expression and protein level of human beta-defensin-3 in peripheral whole blood from 107 participants—67 patients with sepsis and 40 healthy controls—and evaluated the feasibility of human beta-defensin-3 as an indicator for sepsis. Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples, and relative mRNA expression of human beta-defensin-3 was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Plasma concentration of human beta-defensin-3 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between human beta-defensin-3 mRNA and protein levels. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate the value of human beta-defensin-3 as a biomarker for sepsis. Results: Human beta-defensin-3 mRNA expression was significantly downregulated in sepsis patients compared to controls (p = 0.001). The mean fold change of mRNA expression (±standard error) was 0.82 ± 0.63 in sepsis patients and 1.39 ± 1.09 in controls. Plasma concentration of human beta-defensin-3 (pg/mL) was significantly lower in sepsis patients compared to healthy controls (p = 0.039). The mean protein concentration (±standard error) was 539.6 ± 39.4 in sepsis patients and 715.5 ± 53 in controls. There was a significant correlation between human beta-defensin-3 mRNA expression and the corresponding protein level in sepsis patients (r = 0.358, p = 0.04), but not in healthy controls (r = 0.124, p = 0.51). For discriminating sepsis patients from healthy controls, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.722 (95% confidence interval: 0.597–0.847, p = 0.002) for human beta-defensin-3 mRNA and 0.689 (95% confidence interval: 0.557–0.827, p = 0.009) for human beta-defensin-3 protein. Conclusion: This is the first study to show the downregulation of human beta-defensin-3 gene expression and protein level in sepsis, which may contribute to the complex immunological imbalance in sepsis. The significant correlation between human beta-defensin-3 mRNA expression and protein concentration suggests that mRNA expression could be used to predict protein level. Our study also showed a potential role of human beta-defensin-3 as a blood-based biomarker for sepsis. More studies on the clinical significance of human beta-defensin-3 in sepsis could further support a biomarker development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noura Al Mansour
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
| | - Ghada Al-Kafaji
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Al-Jawhara Centre for Molecular Medicine, Genetics, and Inherited Disorders, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
| | - Ali Al Mahmeed
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
| | - Khalid M Bindayna
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
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Ishige T, Hara H, Hirano T, Kono T, Hanzawa K. Analysis of the Diversity of the AvBD Gene Region in Japanese Quail. J Hered 2021; 111:436-443. [PMID: 32852036 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esaa035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The avian β-defensin (AvBD) gene region is an important component of the innate immune system, encoding a variety of antimicrobial peptides. The AvBD region forms a multigene cluster in a specific chromosomal region. Comparison of the AvBD region among various birds suggests the presence of defects, duplications, and pseudogenization at many loci. The AvBD region in certain galliform birds, namely chicken, turkey, and bobwhite quail, includes AvBD3, -6, and -7, with the latter exhibiting copy number variants (CNVs) in chickens. DNA for genomic analysis was extracted from the peripheral blood of 99 randomly selected quail (Coturnix japonica) from 6 inbred lines. Nine CjAvBD1 and 8 CjAvBD12 alleles were detected. Ten haplotypes, including three that were strain specific, were found in alleles from the quail AvBD1 (CjAvBD1) and -12 (CjAvBD12) loci. Next-generation sequencing was used to determine the nucleotide sequences of the CjAvBD gene region (56-70 kb) for 7 homozygous diplotypes of these 10 haplotypes. These 7 haplotypes contained between 12 and 16 CjAvBD genes and were composed of 11 common loci: CjAvBD1, -2, -4, -5, -8, -9, -10, -11, -12, -13, and -14, but lacked CjAvBD3 and -7. Furthermore, up to 5 CjAvBD101 (AvBD6 ortholog) CNVs were observed among the 7 haplotypes. In addition, we detected amino acid substitutions causing net charge mutations that could affect antimicrobial activity in CjAvBD4, -13, -14, and -101. These results suggest that the CjAvBD region is unique among the Galliformes and that its diversity results in potential functional variation in innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taichiro Ishige
- NODAI Genome Research Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiromi Hara
- Department of Animal Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Atsugi, Japan
| | - Takashi Hirano
- Department of Animal Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Atsugi, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kono
- Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kei Hanzawa
- Department of Animal Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Atsugi, Japan
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34
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Zhang L, Xiao H, Huang J, Ouyang L, Li S, Tang Y. Identification and expression analysis of the β-defensin genes in the goat small intestine. Gene 2021; 801:145846. [PMID: 34274482 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Defensins represent a family of cysteine-rich peptides that have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities and serve as a typical kind of effector molecule in the immunity. Ruminant species have a large number of β-defensins in the absence of α- and θ-defensins. It is well-known that the genomes of sheep and cattle harbor at least 43 and 57 β-defensin genes, respectively. However, the repertoire of the goat β-defensin gene family has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we identified a total of 50 β-defensins from the goat genome, including 48 functional genes and 2 pseudogenes. Cross-species genomic and evolutionary analyses showed that all of the β-defensins in goat chromosomes 8, 13 and 23 present one-to-one orthologous relationships to their sheep and cattle counterparts, whereas some β-defensin genes in goat chromosome 27 are goat-specific. Moreover, we observed that some duplicated genes in goat chromosome 27 may be derived from gene copy number variation, and the annotation of sheep and cattle β-defensins appears to be incomplete in the genome. Importantly, real-time PCR analysis showed that 17 β-defensins are expressed in the small intestine with abundant cBD1s expression. These findings significant increased our knowledge of ruminant β-defensin and provided useful information for genetic studies, as well as providing a foundation for future research exploring the role of defensins in the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Zhang
- Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchang 330200, Jiangxi, China; Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, Sichuan, China
| | - Haihong Xiao
- Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchang 330200, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jian Huang
- Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchang 330200, Jiangxi, China
| | - Linghua Ouyang
- Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchang 330200, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Siming Li
- Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchang 330200, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yanqiang Tang
- Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchang 330200, Jiangxi, China
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35
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Santana FL, Arenas I, Haney EF, Estrada K, Hancock REW, Corzo G. Identification of a crocodylian β-defensin variant from Alligator mississippiensis with antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity. Peptides 2021; 141:170549. [PMID: 33865931 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
β-defensin host defense peptides are important components of the innate immune system of vertebrates. Although evidence of their broad antimicrobial, antibiofilm and immunomodulatory activities in mammals have been presented, β-defensins from other vertebrate species, like crocodylians, remain largely unexplored. In this study, five new crocodylian β-defensin variants from Alligator mississippiensis and Crocodylus porosus were selected for synthesis and characterization based on their charge and hydrophobicity values. Linear peptides were synthesized, folded, purified and then evaluated for their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against the bacterial pathogens, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae and Acinetobacter baumannii. The Am23SK variant (SCRFSGGYCIWNWERCRSGHFLVALCPFRKRCCK) from A. mississippiensis displayed promising activity against both planktonic cells and bacterial biofilms, outperforming the human β-defensin 3 under the experimental conditions. Moreover, Am23SK exhibited no cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells and exerted immunomodulatory effects in vitro, moderately suppressing the production of proinflammatory mediators from stimulated human bronchial epithelial cells. Overall, our results have expanded the activity landscape of crocodylian and reptilian β-defensin in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix L Santana
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 510-3, Cuernavaca, Mor., 62250, Mexico; Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, 2259 Lower Mall Research Station, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Iván Arenas
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 510-3, Cuernavaca, Mor., 62250, Mexico
| | - Evan F Haney
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, 2259 Lower Mall Research Station, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Karel Estrada
- Unidad de Secuenciación Masiva y Bioinformática, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Robert E W Hancock
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, 2259 Lower Mall Research Station, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Gerardo Corzo
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 510-3, Cuernavaca, Mor., 62250, Mexico.
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Bharucha JP, Sun L, Lu W, Gartner S, Garzino-Demo A. Human Beta-Defensin 2 and 3 Inhibit HIV-1 Replication in Macrophages. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:535352. [PMID: 34277460 PMCID: PMC8281893 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.535352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human beta-defensins (hBDs) are broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides, secreted by epithelial cells of the skin and mucosae, and astrocytes, which we and others have shown to inhibit HIV-1 in primary CD4+ T cells. Although loss of CD4+ T cells contributes to mucosal immune dysfunction, macrophages are a major source of persistence and spread of HIV and also contribute to the development of various HIV-associated complications. We hypothesized that, besides T cells, hBDs could protect macrophages from HIV. Our data in primary human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) in vitro show that hBD2 and hBD3 inhibit HIV replication in a dose-dependent manner. We determined that hBD2 neither alters surface expression of HIV receptors nor induces expression of anti-HIV cytokines or beta-chemokines in MDM. Studies using a G-protein signaling antagonist in a single-cycle reporter virus system showed that hBD2 suppresses HIV at an early post-entry stage via G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR)-mediated signaling. We find that MDM express the shared chemokine-hBD receptors CCR2 and CCR6, albeit at variable levels among donors. However, cell surface expression analyses show that neither of these receptors is necessary for hBD2-mediated HIV inhibition, suggesting that hBD2 can signal via additional receptor(s). Our data also illustrate that hBD2 treatment was associated with increased expression of APOBEC3A and 3G antiretroviral restriction factors in MDM. These findings suggest that hBD2 inhibits HIV in MDM via more than one CCR thus adding to the potential of using β-defensins in preventive and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer P Bharucha
- Division of Virology, Pathogenesis, and Cancer, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lingling Sun
- Division of Virology, Pathogenesis, and Cancer, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Wuyuan Lu
- Division of Virology, Pathogenesis, and Cancer, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Suzanne Gartner
- Division of Virology, Pathogenesis, and Cancer, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alfredo Garzino-Demo
- Division of Virology, Pathogenesis, and Cancer, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Dhingra H, Kaur K, Singh B. Engineering and characterization of human β-defensin-3 and its analogues and microcin J25 peptides against Mannheimia haemolytica and bovine neutrophils. Vet Res 2021; 52:83. [PMID: 34112244 PMCID: PMC8194028 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-021-00956-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Mannheimia haemolytica-induced bovine respiratory disease causes loss of millions of dollars to Canadian cattle industry. Current antimicrobials are proving to be ineffective and leave residues in meat. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) may be effective against M. haemolytica while minimizing the risk of drug residues. Cationic AMPs can kill bacteria through interactions with the anionic bacterial membrane. Human β-Defensin 3 (HBD3) and microcin J25 (MccJ25) are AMPs with potent activity against many Gram-negative bacteria. We tested the microbicidal activity of wild-type HBD3, three HBD3 peptide analogues (28 amino acid, 20AA, and 10AA) derived from the sequence of natural HBD3, and MccJ25 in vitro against M. haemolytica. Three C-terminal analogues of HBD3 with all cysteines replaced with valines were manually synthesized using solid phase peptide synthesis. Since AMPs can act as chemoattractant we tested the chemotactic effect of HBD3, 28AA, 20AA, and 10AA peptides on bovine neutrophils in Boyden chamber. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assay showed that M. haemolytica was intermediately sensitive to HBD3, 28AA and 20AA analogues with an MBC of 50 µg/mL. The 10AA analogue had MBC 6.3 µg/mL which is likely a result of lower final inoculum size. MccJ25 didn't have significant bactericidal effect below an MBC < 100 µg/mL. Bovine neutrophils showed chemotaxis towards HBD3 and 20AA peptides (P < 0.05) but not towards 28AA analogue. Co-incubation of neutrophils with any of the peptides did not affect their chemotaxis towards N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). The data show that these peptides are effective against M. haemolytica and are chemotactic for neutrophils in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harpreet Dhingra
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Science, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Kamaljit Kaur
- Chapman University School of Pharmacy (CUSP), Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Chapman University, Irvine, CA, 92618-1908, USA
| | - Baljit Singh
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Science, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada.
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Yeasmin R, Brewer A, Fine LR, Zhang L. Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Human Beta-Defensin Type 3 Crossing Different Lipid Bilayers. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:13926-13939. [PMID: 34095684 PMCID: PMC8173616 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c01803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Human β defensin type 3 (hBD-3) is a small cationic cysteine-rich peptide. It has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities. However, at high concentrations, it also shows hemolytic activity by interrupting red blood cells. To understand the selectivity of hBD-3 disrupting cell membranes, investigating the capability of hBD-3 translocating through different membranes is important. Since hBD-3 in the analogue form in which all three pairs of disulfide bonds are broken has similar antibacterial activities to the wild-type, this project investigates the structure and dynamics of an hBD-3 analogue in monomer, dimer, and tetramer forms through both zwitterionic and negatively charged lipid bilayers using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. One tetramer structure of hBD-3 was predicted by running all-atom MD simulations on hBD-3 in water at a high concentration, which was found to be stable in water during 400 ns all-atom simulations based on root-mean-squared deviation, root-mean-squared fluctuation, buried surface area, and binding interaction energy calculations. After that, hBD-3 in different forms was placed inside different membranes, and then steered MD simulation was conducted to pull the hBD-3 out of the membrane along the z-direction to generate different configurational windows to set up umbrella-sampling (US) simulations. Because extensive sampling is important to obtain accurate free energy barriers, coarse-grained US MD simulations were performed in each window. Based on the long-term simulation result, membrane thinning was found near hBD-3 in different lipid bilayers and in different hBD-3 oligomer systems. By calculating the root-mean-squared deviation of the z-coordinate of hBD-3 molecules, rotation of the oligomer inside the bilayer and stretching of the oligomer structure along the z-direction were observed. Although reorientation of lipid heads toward the hBD-3 tetramer was observed based on the density profile calculation, the order parameter calculation shows that hBD-3 disrupts 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (POPS) lipids more significantly and makes it less ordered than on 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipids. Calculating the free energy of hBD-3 through different lipid bilayers, it was found that generally hBD-3 encounters a lower energy barrier through negatively charged lipid membranes than the zwitterionic membrane. hBD-3 in different forms needs to overcome a lower energy barrier crossing the combined POPC+POPS bilayer through the POPS leaflet than through the POPC leaflet. Besides that, the potential of mean force result suggests that hBD-3 forms an oligomer translocating negatively charged lipid membranes at a low concentration. This study supplied new insight into the antibacterial mechanism of hBD-3 through different membranes.
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Neelima S, Archana K, Athira PP, Anju MV, Anooja VV, Bright Singh IS, Philip R. Molecular characterization of a novel β-defensin isoform from the red-toothed trigger fish, Odonus niger (Ruppel, 1836). J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2021; 19:71. [PMID: 33978838 PMCID: PMC8116387 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-021-00175-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background The concern regarding a post-antibiotic era with increasing drug resistance by pathogens imposes the need to discover alternatives for existing antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with their versatile therapeutic properties are a group of promising molecules with curative potentials. These evolutionarily conserved molecules play important roles in the innate immune system of several organisms. The β-defensins are a group of cysteine rich cationic antimicrobial peptides that play an important role in the innate immune system by their antimicrobial activity against the invading pathogens. The present study deals with a novel β-defensin isoform from the red-toothed trigger fish, Odonus niger. Total RNA was isolated from the gills, cDNA was synthesized and the β-defensin isoform obtained by polymerase chain reaction was cloned and subjected to structural and functional characterization in silico. Results A β-defensin isoform could be detected from the gill mRNA of red-toothed trigger fish, Odonus niger. The cDNA encoded a 63 amino acid peptide, β-defensin, with a 20 amino acid signal sequence followed by 43 amino acid cationic mature peptide (On-Def) having a molecular weight of 5.214 kDa and theoretical pI of 8.89. On-Def possessed six highly conserved cysteine residues forming disulfide bonds between C1–C5, C2–C4, and C3–C6, typical of β-defensins. An anionic pro-region was observed prior to the β-defensin domain within the mature peptide. Clustal alignment and phylogenetic analyses revealed On-Def as a group 2 β-defensin. Furthermore, it shared some structural similarities and functional motifs with β-defensins from other organisms. On-Def was predicted to be non-hemolytic with anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-cancer, and immunomodulatory potential. Conclusion On-Def is the first report of a β-defensin from the red-toothed trigger fish, Odonus niger. The antimicrobial profile showed the potential for further studies as a suitable candidate for antimicrobial peptide therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Neelima
- Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682016, India
| | - K Archana
- Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682016, India
| | - P P Athira
- Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682016, India
| | - M V Anju
- Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682016, India
| | - V V Anooja
- Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682016, India
| | - I S Bright Singh
- National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682016, India
| | - Rosamma Philip
- Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682016, India.
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Redox Active Antimicrobial Peptides in Controlling Growth of Microorganisms at Body Barriers. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10030446. [PMID: 33805777 PMCID: PMC7998263 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10030446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelia in the skin, gut and other environmentally exposed organs display a variety of mechanisms to control microbial communities and limit potential pathogenic microbial invasion. Naturally occurring antimicrobial proteins/peptides and their synthetic derivatives (here collectively referred to as AMPs) reinforce the antimicrobial barrier function of epithelial cells. Understanding how these AMPs are functionally regulated may be important for new therapeutic approaches to combat microbial infections. Some AMPs are subject to redox-dependent regulation. This review aims to: (i) explore cysteine-based redox active AMPs in skin and intestine; (ii) discuss casual links between various redox environments of these barrier tissues and the ability of AMPs to control cutaneous and intestinal microbes; (iii) highlight how bacteria, through intrinsic mechanisms, can influence the bactericidal potential of redox-sensitive AMPs.
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Ryu M, Park J, Yeom JH, Joo M, Lee K. Rediscovery of antimicrobial peptides as therapeutic agents. J Microbiol 2021; 59:113-123. [PMID: 33527313 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-021-0649-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens is increasing rapidly. There is growing concern as the development of antibiotics is slower than the increase in the resistance of pathogenic bacteria. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising alternatives to antibiotics. Despite their name, which implies their antimicrobial activity, AMPs have recently been rediscovered as compounds having antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, antioxidant, and insecticidal effects. Moreover, many AMPs are relatively safe from toxic side effects and the generation of resistant microorganisms due to their target specificity and complexity of the mechanisms underlying their action. In this review, we summarize the history, classification, and mechanisms of action of AMPs, and provide descriptions of AMPs undergoing clinical trials. We also discuss the obstacles associated with the development of AMPs as therapeutic agents and recent strategies formulated to circumvent these obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minkyung Ryu
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeyeong Park
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hyun Yeom
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea.
| | - Minju Joo
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kangseok Lee
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea.
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Avian antimicrobial peptides: in vitro and in ovo characterization and protection from early chick mortality caused by yolk sac infection. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2132. [PMID: 33483611 PMCID: PMC7822892 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81734-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing antibiotic resistance is a matter of grave concern for consumers, public health authorities, farmers, and researchers. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are emerging as novel and effective non-antibiotic tools to combat infectious diseases in poultry. In this study, we evaluated six avian AMPs including 2 truncated cathelicidins, [CATH-1(6-26) and CATH-2(1-15)], and 4 avian β-defensins (ABD1, 2, 6 and 9) for their bactericidal and immunomodulatory activities. Our findings have shown CATH-1(6-26) and ABD1 being the two most potent avian AMPs effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria investigated in these studies. Moreover, CATH-1(6-26) inhibited LPS-induced NO production and exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity to HD11 cells. While, ABD1 blocked LPS-induced IL-1β gene induction and was non-toxic to HD11 cells. Importantly, in ovo administration of these AMPs demonstrated that ABD1 can offer significant protection from early chick mortality (44% less mortality in ABD1 treated group versus the control group) due to the experimental yolk sac infection caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli. Our data suggest that in ovo administration of ABD1 has immunomodulatory and anti-infection activity comparable with CpG ODN. Thus, ABD1 can be a significant addition to potential alternatives to antibiotics for the control of bacterial infections in young chicks.
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Wang C, Yang Y, Gao N, Lan J, Dou X, Li J, Shan A. L-Threonine upregulates the expression of β-defensins by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway and suppressing SIRT1 expression in porcine intestinal epithelial cells. Food Funct 2021; 12:5821-5836. [PMID: 34047325 DOI: 10.1039/d1fo00269d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The use of antimicrobial peptide (AMP), found in all forms of life and playing a pivotal role in the innate immune system, has been developed as a new strategy for maintaining intestinal health and reducing antibiotic usage due to its ability to resist pathogens and commensal microbes. The current study investigated the effects of l-threonine on β-defensin expression, the intestinal mucosal barrier and inflammatory cytokine expression in porcine intestinal epithelial cell lines (IPEC-J2). The results revealed that in IPEC-J2 cells, l-threonine significantly increased the expression of β-defensin (including pBD-1, pBD-2, and pBD-3) in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). By using different concentrations and treatment times of l-threonine, the results showed that the expression of β-defensin was upregulated to the greatest extent in IPEC-J2 cells cultured with 1 mM l-threonine for 24 h. Although the mRNA expression levels of β-defensins were markedly increased (P < 0.05), there was relatively little inducible pBD-1, pBD-2 and pBD-3 mRNA expression at the sub-confluent and confluent densities in comparison with post-confluent densities. Furthermore, we found that l-threonine enhanced the β-defensin expression by suppressing the expression of SIRT1, which increased acetylated p65 expression, and activating the NF-κB signaling pathway, which induced the translocation of p65 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In addition, l-threonine significantly prevented LPS-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage by attenuating the decreasing tendency of the mRNA expression of Mucin1 and Mucin2 (P < 0.05). Simultaneously, l-threonine enhanced the expression of β-defensins upon LPS challenge in IPEC-J2 cells (P < 0.05). l-Threonine obviously decreased the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines compared to that in untreated cells (P < 0.05). In conclusion, l-threonine can upregulate β-defensin expression and reduce inflammatory cytokine expression in IPEC-J2 cells; meanwhile, l-threonine alleviates LPS-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage in porcine intestinal epithelial cells. The l-threonine-mediated modulation of endogenous defensin expression may be a promising approach to reduce antibiotic use, enhance disease resistance and intestinal health in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Wang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yang Yang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Nan Gao
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jing Lan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiujing Dou
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jianping Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Anshan Shan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China.
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Para R, Romero R, Miller D, Panaitescu B, Varrey A, Chaiworapongsa T, Hassan SS, Hsu CD, Gomez-Lopez N. Human β-defensin-3 participates in intra-amniotic host defense in women with labor at term, spontaneous preterm labor and intact membranes, and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2020; 33:4117-4132. [PMID: 30999788 PMCID: PMC6800590 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2019.1597047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Human β-defensin-3 (HBD-3) has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, and activity and, therefore, plays a central role in host defense mechanisms against infection. Herein, we determined whether HBD-3 was a physiological constituent of amniotic fluid during midtrimester and at term and whether the concentration of this defensin was increased in amniotic fluid of women with spontaneous preterm labor and intact membranes and those with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (pPROM) with intra-amniotic inflammation or intra-amniotic infection.Methods: Amniotic fluid was collected from 219 women in the following groups: (1) midtrimester who delivered at term (n = 35); (2) with or without spontaneous labor at term (n = 50); (3) spontaneous preterm labor with intact membranes who delivered at term (n = 29); (4) spontaneous preterm labor with intact membranes who delivered preterm with or without intra-amniotic inflammation or intra-amniotic infection (n = 69); and (5) pPROM with or without intra-amniotic infection (n = 36). Amniotic fluid HBD-3 concentrations were determined using a sensitive and specific ELISA kit.Results: (1) HBD-3 is a physiological constituent of amniotic fluid; (2) the amniotic fluid concentration of HBD-3 did not change with gestational age (midtrimester versus term not in labor); (3) amniotic fluid concentrations of HBD-3 were higher in women with spontaneous labor at term than in those without labor; (4) in the absence of intra-amniotic inflammation, amniotic fluid concentrations of HBD-3 were similar between women with spontaneous preterm labor who delivered preterm and those who delivered at term; (5) among patients with spontaneous preterm labor who delivered preterm, amniotic fluid concentrations of HBD-3 were greater in women with intra-amniotic infection than in those without this clinical condition; (6) among patients with spontaneous preterm labor, amniotic fluid concentrations of HBD-3 were higher in women with intra-amniotic inflammation or intra-amniotic infection who delivered preterm than in those without these clinical conditions who delivered at term; and (7) women with pPROM and intra-amniotic infection had higher median amniotic fluid concentrations of HBD-3 than those without this clinical condition.Conclusion: Human β-defensin-3 is a physiological constituent of amniotic fluid and increases during the process of labor at term. Amniotic fluid concentrations of HBD-3 were increased in women with spontaneous preterm labor with intact membranes or pPROM with intra-amniotic inflammation or intra-amniotic infection, indicating that this defensin participates in the host defense mechanisms in the amniotic cavity against microorganisms or danger signals. These findings provide insight into the soluble host defense mechanisms against intra-amniotic inflammation and intra-amniotic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Para
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Derek Miller
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Bogdan Panaitescu
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Aneesha Varrey
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Sonia S. Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U S Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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Kaur N, Dilawari R, Kaur A, Sahni G, Rishi P. Recombinant expression, purification and PEGylation of Paneth cell peptide (cryptdin-2) with value added attributes against Staphylococcus aureus. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12164. [PMID: 32699335 PMCID: PMC7376037 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69039-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptdins are disulfide-rich cationic antimicrobial peptides secreted by mouse Paneth cells and are known to exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against various deadly pathogens. Keeping in view the extremely low yield obtained from mouse Paneth cells and high cost of synthetic peptide(s), herein, we have attempted to produce cryptdin-2 in Escherichia coli using recombinant technology. To avoid lethal effects of peptide on the host cells, cryptdin-2 was expressed as a fusion protein with thioredoxin as fusion partner which yielded 40 mg/L protein in the soluble fraction. Subsequently, mature cryptdin-2 was cleaved from the fusion partner and purified by cation exchange chromatography. Since conjugation of poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) has been known to improve the biological properties of biomolecules, therefore, we further attempted to prepare PEG-conjugated variant of cryptdin-2 using thiol specific PEGylation. Though the antimicrobial activity of PEGylated cryptdin-2 was compromised to some extent, but it was found to have enhanced serum stability for longer duration as compared to its un-modified forms. Also, it was found to exhibit reduced toxicity to the host cells. Further, its synergism with gentamicin suggests that PEGylated cryptdin-2 can be used with conventional antibiotics, thereby indicating its possibility to be used as an adjunct therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navneet Kaur
- Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.,CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Sector-39A, Chandigarh, India
| | - Rahul Dilawari
- CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Sector-39A, Chandigarh, India
| | - Amrita Kaur
- Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Girish Sahni
- CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Sector-39A, Chandigarh, India
| | - Praveen Rishi
- Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
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Shelley JR, Davidson DJ, Dorin JR. The Dichotomous Responses Driven by β-Defensins. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1176. [PMID: 32595643 PMCID: PMC7304343 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Defensins are short, rapidly evolving, cationic antimicrobial host defence peptides with a repertoire of functions, still incompletely realised, that extends beyond direct microbial killing. They are released or secreted at epithelial surfaces, and in some cases, from immune cells in response to infection and inflammation. Defensins have been described as endogenous alarmins, alerting the body to danger and responding to inflammatory signals by promoting both local innate and adaptive systemic immune responses. However, there is now increasing evidence that they exert variable control on the response to danger; creating a dichotomous response that can suppress inflammation in some circumstances but exacerbate the response to danger and damage in others and, at higher levels, lead to a cytotoxic effect. Focussing in this review on human β-defensins, we discuss the evidence for their functions as proinflammatory, immune activators amplifying the response to infection or damage signals and/or as mediators of resolution of damage, contributing to a return to homeostasis. Finally, we consider their involvement in the development of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Shelley
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Donald J Davidson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Julia R Dorin
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, Scotland
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Liu C, Pan B, Yang L, Wang B, Li J. Beta defensin 3 enhances ovarian granulosa cell proliferation and migration via ERK1/2 pathway in vitro†. Biol Reprod 2020; 100:1057-1065. [PMID: 30445521 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Revised: 08/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are regarded as host defense peptides that possess bactericidal activity as well as immunomodulatory function. However, the role of AMP in the mammalian ovary is unknown. In the present study, porcine granulosa cells were utilized in a cell model to study the role of porcine beta defensin 2 (pBD2; pDEFB4B) and 3 (pBD3; pDEFB103A) during ovarian follicular development. Granulosa cells were cultured in the absence and presence of 1, 10, and 50 μg/ml of pDEFB4B or pDEFB103A. After 24 h of treatment, pDEFB103A but not pDEFB4B stimulated granulosa cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05). This effect was dependent on the stage of follicular development. In addition, transwell cell migration assay showed that in the presence of pDEFB103A (10 μg/ml), a 2.5-fold increase in cell migration was achieved. Furthermore, further study revealed that pDEFB103A increased the mRNA levels of cyclin D1 (CCND1) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), both associated with cell proliferation. To study the potential pathway involved in pDEFB103A-induced cell proliferation and migration, western blots were performed. It was found that pDEFB103A significantly increased the phosphorylated-ERK1/2 to nonphosphorylated ratio. Moreover, pretreatment with the U0126, a specific ERK1/2 phosphorylation inhibitor, suppressed PDEFB103A inducing GCs ERK1/2 phosphorylation, as well as proliferation and migration, suggesting that PDEFB103A may act via activating the ERK1/2 pathway. Furthermore, using a signal transduction pathway Elk-1 trans-reporting system, the activation of ERK1/2 pathway by PDEFB103A was further confirmed. Our data suggest that AMP may play a physiological role in the mammalian ovary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Canying Liu
- Department of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Bo Pan
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Lu Yang
- Shanghai Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingyun Wang
- Department of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Julang Li
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
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Blyth GAD, Connors L, Fodor C, Cobo ER. The Network of Colonic Host Defense Peptides as an Innate Immune Defense Against Enteropathogenic Bacteria. Front Immunol 2020; 11:965. [PMID: 32508838 PMCID: PMC7251035 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Host defense peptides, abundantly secreted by colonic epithelial cells and leukocytes, are proposed to be critical components of an innate immune response in the colon against enteropathogenic bacteria, including Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., Clostridium difficile, and attaching and effacing Escherichia coli and Citrobacter rodentium. These short cationic peptides are bactericidal against both Gram-positive and -negative enteric pathogens, but may also exert killing effects on intestinal luminal microbiota. Simultaneously, these peptides modulate numerous cellular responses crucial for gut defenses, including leukocyte chemotaxis and migration, wound healing, cytokine production, cell proliferation, and pathogen sensing. This review discusses recent advances in our understanding of expression, mechanisms of action and microbicidal and immunomodulatory functions of major colonic host defense peptides, namely cathelicidins, β-defensins, and members of the Regenerating islet-derived protein III (RegIII) and Resistin-like molecule (RELM) families. In a theoretical framework where these peptides work synergistically, aspects of pathogenesis of infectious colitis reviewed herein uncover roles of host defense peptides aimed to promote epithelial defenses and prevent pathogen colonization, mediated through a combination of direct antimicrobial function and fine-tuning of host immune response and inflammation. This interactive host defense peptide network may decode how the intestinal immune system functions to quickly clear infections, restore homeostasis and avoid damaging inflammation associated with pathogen persistence during infectious colitis. This information is of interest in development of host defense peptides (either alone or in combination with reduced doses of antibiotics) as antimicrobial and immunomodulatory therapeutics for controlling infectious colitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham A D Blyth
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Liam Connors
- Bachelor of Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Cristina Fodor
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Eduardo R Cobo
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Parducho KR, Beadell B, Ybarra TK, Bush M, Escalera E, Trejos AT, Chieng A, Mendez M, Anderson C, Park H, Wang Y, Lu W, Porter E. The Antimicrobial Peptide Human Beta-Defensin 2 Inhibits Biofilm Production of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Without Compromising Metabolic Activity. Front Immunol 2020; 11:805. [PMID: 32457749 PMCID: PMC7225314 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilm production is a key virulence factor that facilitates bacterial colonization on host surfaces and is regulated by complex pathways, including quorum sensing, that also control pigment production, among others. To limit colonization, epithelial cells, as part of the first line of defense, utilize a variety of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) including defensins. Pore formation is the best investigated mechanism for the bactericidal activity of AMPs. Considering the induction of human beta-defensin 2 (HBD2) secretion to the epithelial surface in response to bacteria and the importance of biofilm in microbial infection, we hypothesized that HBD2 has biofilm inhibitory activity. We assessed the viability and biofilm formation of a pyorubin-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain in the presence and absence of HBD2 in comparison to the highly bactericidal HBD3. At nanomolar concentrations, HBD2 - independent of its chiral state - significantly reduced biofilm formation but not metabolic activity, unlike HBD3, which reduced biofilm and metabolic activity to the same degree. A similar discrepancy between biofilm inhibition and maintenance of metabolic activity was also observed in HBD2 treated Acinetobacter baumannii, another Gram-negative bacterium. There was no evidence for HBD2 interference with the regulation of biofilm production. The expression of biofilm-related genes and the extracellular accumulation of pyorubin pigment, another quorum sensing controlled product, did not differ significantly between HBD2 treated and control bacteria, and in silico modeling did not support direct binding of HBD2 to quorum sensing molecules. However, alterations in the outer membrane protein profile accompanied by surface topology changes, documented by atomic force microscopy, was observed after HBD2 treatment. This suggests that HBD2 induces structural changes that interfere with the transport of biofilm precursors into the extracellular space. Taken together, these data support a novel mechanism of biofilm inhibition by nanomolar concentrations of HBD2 that is independent of biofilm regulatory pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R. Parducho
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Brent Beadell
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Tiffany K. Ybarra
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Mabel Bush
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Erick Escalera
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Aldo T. Trejos
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Andy Chieng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Marlon Mendez
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Chance Anderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Hyunsook Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yixian Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Wuyuan Lu
- Institute of Human Virology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Edith Porter
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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50
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Abstract
Defensins are a major family of host defense peptides expressed predominantly in neutrophils and epithelial cells. Their broad antimicrobial activities and multifaceted immunomodulatory functions have been extensively studied, cementing their role in innate immunity as a core host-protective component against bacterial, viral and fungal infections. More recent studies, however, paint defensins in a bad light such that they are "alleged" to promote viral and bacterial infections in certain biological settings. This mini review summarizes the latest findings on the potential pathogenic properties of defensins against the backdrop of their protective roles in antiviral and antibacterial immunity. Further, a succinct description of both tumor-proliferative and -suppressive activities of defensins is also given to highlight their functional and mechanistic complexity in antitumor immunity. We posit that given an enabling environment defensins, widely heralded as the "Swiss army knife," can function as a "double-edged sword" in host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Xu
- Institute of Mitochondrial Biology and Medicine, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Wuyuan Lu
- Institute of Human Virology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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