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Sjaarda J, Delacrétaz A, Dubath C, Laaboub N, Piras M, Grosu C, Vandenberghe F, Crettol S, Ansermot N, Gamma F, Plessen KJ, von Gunten A, Conus P, Kutalik Z, Eap CB. Identification of four novel loci associated with psychotropic drug-induced weight gain in a Swiss psychiatric longitudinal study: A GWAS analysis. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:2320-2327. [PMID: 37173452 PMCID: PMC10611564 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02082-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Patients suffering from mental disorders are at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, leading to a reduction in life expectancy. Genetic variants can display greater influence on cardiometabolic features in psychiatric cohorts compared to the general population. The difference is possibly due to an intricate interaction between the mental disorder or the medications used to treat it and metabolic regulations. Previous genome wide association studies (GWAS) on antipsychotic-induced weight gain included a low number of participants and/or were restricted to patients taking one specific antipsychotic. We conducted a GWAS of the evolution of body mass index (BMI) during early (i.e., ≤ 6) months of treatment with psychotropic medications inducing metabolic disturbances (i.e., antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and some antidepressants) in 1135 patients from the PsyMetab cohort. Six highly correlated BMI phenotypes (i.e., BMI change and BMI slope after distinct durations of psychotropic treatment) were considered in the analyses. Our results showed that four novel loci were associated with altered BMI upon treatment at genome-wide significance (p < 5 × 10-8): rs7736552 (near MAN2A1), rs11074029 (in SLCO3A1), rs117496040 (near DEFB1) and rs7647863 (in IQSEC1). Associations between the four loci and alternative BMI-change phenotypes showed consistent effects. Replication analyses in 1622 UK Biobank participants under psychotropic treatment showed a consistent association between rs7736552 and BMI slope (p = 0.017). These findings provide new insights into metabolic side effects induced by psychotropic drugs and underline the need for future studies to replicate these associations in larger cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Sjaarda
- Unit of Pharmacogenetics and Clinical Psychopharmacology, Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Aurélie Delacrétaz
- Unit of Pharmacogenetics and Clinical Psychopharmacology, Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland
- Les Toises Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Céline Dubath
- Unit of Pharmacogenetics and Clinical Psychopharmacology, Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland
| | - Nermine Laaboub
- Unit of Pharmacogenetics and Clinical Psychopharmacology, Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland
| | - Marianna Piras
- Unit of Pharmacogenetics and Clinical Psychopharmacology, Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland
| | - Claire Grosu
- Unit of Pharmacogenetics and Clinical Psychopharmacology, Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland
| | - Frederik Vandenberghe
- Unit of Pharmacogenetics and Clinical Psychopharmacology, Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland
| | - Séverine Crettol
- Unit of Pharmacogenetics and Clinical Psychopharmacology, Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Ansermot
- Unit of Pharmacogenetics and Clinical Psychopharmacology, Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland
| | - Franziska Gamma
- Les Toises Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kerstin Jessica Plessen
- Service of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Prilly, Switzerland
| | - Armin von Gunten
- Service of Old Age Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Conus
- Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland
| | - Zoltan Kutalik
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
- University Center for Primary Care and Public Health, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Chin B Eap
- Unit of Pharmacogenetics and Clinical Psychopharmacology, Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland.
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Center for Research and Innovation in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Altered Expression of Antimicrobial Peptides in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15030754. [PMID: 36771460 PMCID: PMC9919831 DOI: 10.3390/nu15030754] [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] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are essential components of innate immunity with a broad range of antimicrobial activities against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The aim of this study was to investigate AMP expression in the upper gastrointestinal tract in normal and pathological metabolic states in humans. Furthermore, we examined the correlation between vitamin D levels and AMP expression in the same cohort. Serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 were measured, and mRNA expression of β-defensins HBD-1, -2, -3, -4, α-defensins HD-5 and -6 and cathelicidin in the upper gastrointestinal tract epithelia were determined by quantitative RT-PCR in 31 individuals (10 with type 2 diabetes, 10 with insulin resistance, and 11 healthy controls). The majority of the cohort showed low vitamin D concentrations, which were negatively correlated with mRNA expression levels of HBD-3 in corpus mucosa. HBD-1 and HBD-3 mRNA were expressed in corpus mucosa, with the former significantly decreased in patients with diabetes. Hence, we conclude that type 2 diabetes is associated with reduced AMP expression in the upper gastrointestinal tract, which might contribute towards epithelial barrier dysfunction and increased bacterial translocation in these patients.
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Mohanty S, Kamolvit W, Scheffschick A, Björklund A, Tovi J, Espinosa A, Brismar K, Nyström T, Schröder JM, Östenson CG, Aspenström P, Brauner H, Brauner A. Diabetes downregulates the antimicrobial peptide psoriasin and increases E. coli burden in the urinary bladder. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4983. [PMID: 36127330 PMCID: PMC9489794 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32636-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetes is known to increase susceptibility to infections, partly due to impaired granulocyte function and changes in the innate immunity. Here, we investigate the effect of diabetes, and high glucose on the expression of the antimicrobial peptide, psoriasin and the putative consequences for E. coli urinary tract infection. Blood, urine, and urine exfoliated cells from patients are studied. The influence of glucose and insulin is examined during hyperglycemic clamps in individuals with prediabetes and in euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamped patients with type 1 diabetes. Important findings are confirmed in vivo in type 2 diabetic mice and verified in human uroepithelial cell lines. High glucose concentrations induce lower psoriasin levels and impair epithelial barrier function together with altering cell membrane proteins and cytoskeletal elements, resulting in increasing bacterial burden. Estradiol treatment restores the cellular function with increasing psoriasin and bacterial killing in uroepithelial cells, confirming its importance during urinary tract infection in hyperglycemia. In conclusion, our findings present the effects and underlying mechanisms of high glucose compromising innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumitra Mohanty
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Witchuda Kamolvit
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Anneli Björklund
- Center for Diabetes, Academic Specialist Center, Stockholm County Council, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Kerstin Brismar
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Nyström
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Division of Internal Medicine, Unit for Diabetes Research, Karolinska Institutet, South Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jens M Schröder
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Claes-Göran Östenson
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pontus Aspenström
- Rudbeck Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology (IGP), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hanna Brauner
- Department of Medicine, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- Dermato-Venereology Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Annelie Brauner
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Smith KJ, Gwyer Findlay E. Expression of antimicrobial host defence peptides in the central nervous system during health and disease. DISCOVERY IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 1:kyac003. [PMID: 38566904 PMCID: PMC10917193 DOI: 10.1093/discim/kyac003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial host defence peptides (HDP) are critical for the first line of defence against bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. Over the past decade we have become more aware that, in addition to their antimicrobial roles, they also possess the potent immunomodulatory capacity. This includes chemoattracting immune cells, activating dendritic cells and macrophages, and altering T-cell differentiation. Most examinations of their immunomodulatory roles have focused on tissues in which they are very abundant, such as the intestine and the inflamed skin. However, HDP have now been detected in the brain and the spinal cord during a number of conditions. We propose that their presence in the central nervous system (CNS) during homeostasis, infection, and neurodegenerative disease has the potential to contribute to immunosurveillance, alter host responses and skew developing immunity. Here, we review the evidence for HDP expression and function in the CNS in health and disease. We describe how a wide range of HDP are expressed in the CNS of humans, rodents, birds, and fish, suggesting a conserved role in protecting the brain from pathogens, with evidence of production by resident CNS cells. We highlight differences in methodology used and how this may have resulted in the immunomodulatory roles of HDP being overlooked. Finally, we discuss what HDP expression may mean for CNS immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie J Smith
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, EH16 4TJ, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Emily Gwyer Findlay
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, EH16 4TJ, Edinburgh, UK
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Ascorbic acid, ultraviolet C rays, and glucose but not hyperthermia are elicitors of human β-defensin 1 mRNA in normal keratinocytes. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:714580. [PMID: 25815330 PMCID: PMC4359827 DOI: 10.1155/2015/714580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 10/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Hosts' innate defense systems are upregulated by antimicrobial peptide elicitors (APEs). Our aim was to investigate the effects of hyperthermia, ultraviolet A rays (UVA), and ultraviolet C rays (UVC) as well as glucose and ascorbic acid (AA) on the regulation of human β-defensin 1 (DEFB1), cathelicidin (CAMP), and interferon-γ (IFNG) genes in normal human keratinocytes (NHK). The indirect in vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes of these potential APEs was tested. We found that AA is a more potent APE for DEFB1 than glucose in NHK. Glucose but not AA is an APE for CAMP. Mild hypo- (35°C) and hyperthermia (39°C) are not APEs in NHK. AA-dependent DEFB1 upregulation below 20 mM predicts in vitro antimicrobial activity as well as glucose- and AA-dependent CAMP and IFNG upregulation. UVC upregulates CAMP and DEFB1 genes but UVA only upregulates the DEFB1 gene. UVC is a previously unrecognized APE in human cells. Our results suggest that glucose upregulates CAMP in an IFN-γ-independent manner. AA is an elicitor of innate immunity that will challenge the current concept of late activation of adaptive immunity of this vitamin. These results could be useful in designing new potential drugs and devices to combat skin infections.
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Ertugrul AS, Dikilitas A, Sahin H, Alpaslan N, Bozoglan A, Tekin Y. Gingival crevicular fluid levels of human beta-defensins 1 and 3 in subjects with periodontitis and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study. J Periodontal Res 2012; 48:475-82. [PMID: 23278469 DOI: 10.1111/jre.12029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2012] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Human β-defensins (hBDs) have a strong antibacterial action against various microorganisms, especially periodontal pathogens. The aim of this study was to compare the total levels of hBD-1 and hBD-3 in the gingival crevicular fluid of healthy patients with gingivitis (HG), healthy patients with chronic periodontitis (HP), patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and gingivitis (DM2G) and patients with type 2 DM and chronic periodontitis (DM2P). MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 80 patients were included: 20 HG, 20 HP, 20 DM2G and 20 DM2P. The levels of hBD-1 and hBD-3 in gingival crevicular fluid were measured using ELISA. RESULTS The DM2P group had significantly higher periodontal clinical parameters at sites from which gingival crevicular fluid was collected compared with the other groups. The HG group had significantly lower periodontal clinical parameters within the gingival crevicular fluid-collected sites than did the HP, DM2G and DM2P groups. The gingival crevicular fluid of the DM2P group had significantly higher levels of total hBD-1 and hBD-3 than did that of the other groups; the hBD-1 and hBD-3 levels were significantly higher in the gingival crevicular fluid of the DM2G group than in that of the the non-DM type 2 groups (HG and HP). The gingival crevicular fluid of the HP group had significantly higher levels of total hBD-1 and hBD-3 in comparison with that of the HG group. CONCLUSION As a result of the observed vascular and cell activity changes that occur within patients diagnosed with DM, periodontal diseases become more severe. These changes hinder the migration and the ability of chemotactic factors and leukocytes to protect periodontal tissues from the effects of microorganisms. In order to eliminate microorganisms, the epithelial cells in patients with DM may release more hBD-1 and hBD-3 into the gingival crevicular fluid. Determining the amount of hBD-1 and hBD-3 in the gingival crevicular fluid of patients with and without DM will help to elucidate the relationship among hBD-1, hBD-3, DM and periodontal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Ertugrul
- Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey.
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7
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de Oca EPM. Antimicrobial peptide elicitors: New hope for the post-antibiotic era. Innate Immun 2012; 19:227-41. [DOI: 10.1177/1753425912460708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides or host defense peptides are fundamental components of human innate immunity. Recent and growing evidence suggests they have a role in a broad range of diseases, including cancer, allergies and susceptibility to infection, including HIV/AIDS. Antimicrobial peptide elicitors (APEs) are physical, biological or chemical agents that boost human antimicrobial peptide expression. The current knowledge of APEs and their potential use in the treatment of human infectious diseases are reviewed, and a classification system for APEs is proposed. The efficient use of APEs in clinical practice could mark the beginning of the urgently needed post-antibiotic era, but further trials assessing their efficacy and safety are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Prado Montes de Oca
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Biosecurity Area, CIATEJ – National Council of Science and Technology, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
- In silico Laboratory, Pharmaceutical and Medical Biotechnology Unit, CIATEJ – National Council of Science and Technology, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
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Williams WM, Castellani RJ, Weinberg A, Perry G, Smith MA. Do β-defensins and other antimicrobial peptides play a role in neuroimmune function and neurodegeneration? ScientificWorldJournal 2012; 2012:905785. [PMID: 22606066 PMCID: PMC3346844 DOI: 10.1100/2012/905785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2011] [Accepted: 10/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely accepted that the brain responds to mechanical trauma and development of most neurodegenerative diseases with an inflammatory sequelae that was once thought exclusive to systemic immunity. Mostly cationic peptides, such as the β-defensins, originally assigned an antimicrobial function are now recognized as mediators of both innate and adaptive immunity. Herein supporting evidence is presented for the hypothesis that neuropathological changes associated with chronic disease conditions of the CNS involve abnormal expression and regulatory function of specific antimicrobial peptides. It is also proposed that these alterations exacerbate proinflammatory conditions within the brain that ultimately potentiate the neurodegenerative process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley M Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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Antimicrobial peptides in the brain. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2010; 58:365-77. [PMID: 20668978 DOI: 10.1007/s00005-010-0089-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2010] [Accepted: 06/04/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an evolutionarily conserved component of the innate immune system of many species. The brain is an immunologically privileged organ but can produce a robust immune response against pathogens and cell debris, promoting rapid and efficient clearance. AMPs may be critically involved in the innate immune system of the brain. Though the mechanisms of AMPs' action in the brain still need further elucidation, many studies have shown that AMPs are multifunctional molecules in the brain. In addition to antimicrobial action, they take part in congenital and adaptive immune reactions (immunoregulation), function as signaling molecules in tissue repair, inflammation and other important processes through different mechanisms, and they might, in addition, become diagnostic markers of brain disease.
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Role of glial cells in the functional expression of LL-37/rat cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide in meningitis. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2008; 67:1041-54. [PMID: 18957897 DOI: 10.1097/nen.0b013e31818b4801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are intrinsic to the innate immune system in many organ systems, but little is known about their expression in the central nervous system. We examined cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum from patients with active bacterial meningitis to assess antimicrobial peptides and possible bactericidal properties of the CSF. We found antimicrobial peptides (human cathelicidin LL-37) in the CSF of patients with bacterial meningitis but not in control CSF. We next characterized the expression, secretion, and bactericidal properties of rat cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide, the homologue of the human LL-37, in rat astrocytes and microglia after incubation with different bacterial components. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, we determined that supernatants from both astrocytes and microglia incubated with bacterial component supernatants had antimicrobial activity. The expression of rat cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide in rat glial cells involved different signal transduction pathways and was induced by the inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1beta and tumor necrosis factor. In an experimental model of meningitis, infant rats were intracisternally infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae, and rat cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide was localized in glia, choroid plexus, and ependymal cells by immunohistochemistry. Together, these results suggest that cathelicidins produced by glia and other cells play an important part in the innate immune response against pathogens in central nervous system bacterial infections.
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Liu HY, Collins QF, Moukdar F, Zhuo D, Han J, Hong T, Collins S, Cao W. Suppression of hepatic glucose production by human neutrophil alpha-defensins through a signaling pathway distinct from insulin. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:12056-63. [PMID: 18347011 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m801033200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we tested the hypothesis that human neutrophil alpha-defensins (HNPs) inhibit hepatic glucose production through a signaling pathway distinct from insulin. The effect of HNP-1 on fasting blood glucose levels and the expression of hepatic gluconeogenic genes was first examined. Using hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps, we determined the effect of HNP-1 on endogenous glucose production, hepatic expression of key gluconeogenic genes and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. In isolated primary hepatocytes, we studied the effect of HNP-1 and -2 on glucose production, expression of gluconeogenic genes, and phosphorylation of Akt, c-Src, and FoxO1. Our results show that HNP-1 reduced blood glucose levels of both normal mice and Zucker diabetic fatty rats predominantly through suppression of hepatic glucose production. HNPs inhibited glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in isolated hepatocytes. HNPs also suppressed expression of key gluconeogenic genes including phosphoenoylpyruvate carboxyl kinase and glucose-6-phosphatase. To investigate the mechanism, we found that HNPs stimulated phosphorylation of Akt and FoxO1 without activating IRS1. Nevertheless, HNPs activated c-Src. Blockade of c-Src activity with either a chemical inhibitor PP2 or an alternative inhibitor CSK prevented the inhibitory effect of HNPs on gluconeogenesis. Together, our results support the hypothesis that HNPs can suppress hepatic glucose production through an intracellular mechanism distinct from the classical insulin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Yu Liu
- Division of Translational Biology, The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
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12
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Glucose and insulin are needed for optimal defensin expression in human cell lines. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 367:452-6. [PMID: 18178160 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.12.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2007] [Accepted: 12/25/2007] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Many infections are associated with diabetes, as the ability of the body to fight pathogens is impaired. Recently, low levels of defensins have been found in diabetic rodents. However, whether hyperglycemia and/or insulin deficiency/insensitivity is the reason for the reduced defensin levels is still unknown. To study the functionality of the innate immune system during hyperglycemia, the expression levels of human beta-defensin-1 (hBD-1) was measured in human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) and colon adenocarcinoma (HCT-116) cells treated with different concentrations of glucose and insulin. Increasing concentrations of glucose enhanced hBD-1 expression and these levels were further elevated after insulin treatment. Insulin treatment also led to the up-regulation of human sodium/glucose transporter 1 (hSGLT1), which further increases intracellular glucose levels. Thus, our findings suggest for the first time that insulin signaling is important for hBD-1 optimal expression by elevating intracellular glucose levels and by mediating gene expression.
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Bergman P, Johansson L, Wan H, Jones A, Gallo RL, Gudmundsson GH, Hökfelt T, Jonsson AB, Agerberth B. Induction of the antimicrobial peptide CRAMP in the blood-brain barrier and meninges after meningococcal infection. Infect Immun 2006; 74:6982-91. [PMID: 17030578 PMCID: PMC1698100 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01043-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are present in most living species and constitute important effector molecules of innate immunity. Recently, we and others have detected antimicrobial peptides in the brain. This is an organ that is rarely infected, which has mainly been ascribed to the protective functions of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and meninges. Since the bactericidal properties of the BBB and meninges are not known, we hypothesized that antimicrobial peptides could play a role in these barriers. We addressed this hypothesis by infecting mice with the neuropathogenic bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. Brains were analyzed for expression of the antimicrobial peptide CRAMP by immunohistochemistry in combination with confocal microscopy. After infection, we observed induction of CRAMP in endothelial cells of the BBB and in cells of the meninges. To explore the functional role of CRAMP in meningococcal disease, we infected mice deficient of the CRAMP gene. Even though CRAMP did not appear to protect the brain from invasion of meningococci, CRAMP knockout mice were more susceptible to meningococcal infection than wild-type mice and exhibited increased meningococcal growth in blood, liver, and spleen. Moreover, we could demonstrate that carbonate, a compound that accumulates in the circulation during metabolic acidosis, makes meningococci more susceptible to CRAMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Bergman
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Scheeles vag 2, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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14
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Frye MA. Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Urinary Tract Infection in Horses. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2006; 22:497-517, x. [PMID: 16882485 DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2006.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Equine urinary tract infection (UTI) most commonly occurs as a sequela to structural or functional inhibition of normal urine flow. Although it is an infrequent diagnosis in equids, the incidence of UTI in human beings is high and has inspired great investigative effort. The resultant findings with potentially broad application as well as current equine studies are reviewed here. Recent developments in the understanding of host-agent interactions and renal defense mechanisms, emerging antimicrobial resistance, and novel therapeutic alternatives to prophylactic antibiotic use are emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda A Frye
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University Veterinary Medical Center, 300 West Drake, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA.
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Abstract
The innate immunity, utilizes a battery of broad-spectrum antibacterial cationic polypeptides (3-5 kDa) named alpha- and beta-defensins. Several beta-defensins have been isolated and shown to play a role in the defense of various tissues. Herein, we report the expression pattern of two rat beta-defensins, rBD-1 and rBD-2, in liver, kidney, lung, spleen, and brain using RT-PCR. To study polymorphism and verify gene identity, all cDNA products were sequenced. rBD-1 was expressed in the kidney, lung, brain, but not in spleen or liver, whereas rBD-2 was expressed in the lung, but not in the kidney or spleen. In addition, rBD-2 was expressed in the brain and liver. No polymorphism was found in the genes encoding rat beta-defensins. These findings demonstrate a different expression pattern for rBD-2 than what has been reported. We conclude that the rat may be a useful model to investigate the function and contribution of beta-defensins to host defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oren Froy
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
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Bergman P, Termén S, Johansson L, Nyström L, Arenas E, Jonsson AB, Hökfelt T, Gudmundsson GH, Agerberth B. The antimicrobial peptide rCRAMP is present in the central nervous system of the rat. J Neurochem 2005; 93:1132-40. [PMID: 15934934 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03081.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The brain is protected against invading pathogens by the blood-brain barrier, and also by its own innate defence system consisting of microglia and neurons in a coordinated network. Antimicrobial peptides are a part of the innate immune system at epithelial surfaces, and may also have important functions in the brain. Recently, we characterized the rat homologue of the human cathelicidin LL-37, designated rCRAMP. Here we present several lines of evidence for this peptide being expressed in rat CNS. (1) A peptide/protein extract of rat brain is active against bacteria in a salt-dependent manner. (2) Western blot analysis demonstrates the presence of rCRAMP in rat brain extract. (3) rCRAMP peptide and mRNA are present mainly in specific CNS regions (olfactory bulb, cerebellum, medulla oblongata and spinal cord). (4) rCRAMP-like immunoreactivity is detected in olfactory bulb, cerebellum and spinal cord by immunohistochemistry. (5) Moreover, the transcript of rCRAMP is detected in primary cultures from hippocampus, striatum, cerebellum and spinal cord, as shown with RT-PCR and Southern blot analyses. In addition, the rCRAMP peptide exhibits in vitro activity against the neuropathogenic bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. Taken together, these data suggest that the cathelicidin rCRAMP may play a role in the innate immunity of the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Bergman
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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Page RA, Malik AN. Elevated levels of beta defensin-1 mRNA in diabetic kidneys of GK rats. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003; 310:513-21. [PMID: 14521940 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We previously described the isolation of CDK4, representing the 3(')end of an unknown mRNA, using differential display [Biophys. Res. Commun. 232 (1997) 49]. To determine the identity of the CDK4 gene, full-length CDK4 cDNA clones were isolated from a diabetic kidney cDNA library. DNA sequencing revealed that CDK4 represents the rat beta defensin-1 gene (rBD-1). rBD-1 mRNA was detected in rat kidney, heart, lung, and skeletal muscle using RT-PCR. Using Northern blot analysis, elevated levels of the 0.5kb mRNA transcript were detected in the kidneys of 6-, 16-, 26-, and 40-week-old GK rats when compared with age-matched Wistar controls. A novel 2.0kb mRNA transcript was also detected in all kidneys examined from GK rats in none of the age-matched control kidneys. Biglycan and TGF-beta1 mRNAs were significantly up-regulated in kidneys of GK rats at 26 weeks compared to 16 and 6 weeks, showing that the kidneys of GK rats mimic the gene expression pattern described for human and experimental DN. These data suggest that overexpression of beta-defensin-1 mRNA may play a role in diabetic nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Page
- Molecular Genetics Section, School of Life Sciences, Kings College London, 150 Stamford St., London SE1 9NN, UK
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Donovan KL, Topley N. What are renal defensins defending? NEPHRON. EXPERIMENTAL NEPHROLOGY 2003; 93:e125-8. [PMID: 12759572 DOI: 10.1159/000070235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Defense against the susceptibility and damaging effects of urinary tract infection is complex and vital, as injury can lead to progressive renal injury and chronic renal failure. Recently the defensins, a family of small cationic antimicrobial peptides found in neutrophils and renal epithelial cells, have been shown to have a number of key biological properties that equip them to undertake a pivotal role in combating infection. We describe the capability of these ubiquitous and abundant peptides in the process of innate immunity, and more recently discovered roles in the adaptive immune response to infection. Furthermore, we also discuss their potential to influence other key components of the inflammatory response to infection. Despite the current state of knowledge, we are only just beginning to understand the significance of defensins as pivotal peptides in host defence and their possibilities as therapeutic targets of the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kieron L Donovan
- Institute of Nephrology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
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