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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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Sabit H, Pawlik TM, Abdel-Ghany S, Arneth B. Defensins: Exploring Their Opposing Roles in Colorectal Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2622. [PMID: 39123348 PMCID: PMC11311076 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16152622] [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: 07/03/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a significant global healthcare burden, with a particularly concerning rising incidence among younger adults. This trend may highlight potential links between diet, gut microbiome, and CRC risk. Novel therapeutic options have been increasingly based on the understanding of molecular mechanisms and pathways. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, a crucial cell growth regulator, offers a promising target for CRC therapy. mTOR, a key component within this pathway, controls cell growth, survival, and metabolism. Understanding the specific roles of defensins, particularly human β-Defensin 1 (HBD-1), in CRC is crucial. HBD-1 exhibits potent antimicrobial activity and may influence CRC development. Deciphering defensin expression patterns in CRC holds the promise of improved understanding of tumorigenesis, which may pave the way for improved diagnostics and therapies. This article reviews recent advances in understanding regarding how HBD-1 influences CRC initiation and progression, highlighting the molecular mechanisms by which it impacts CRC. Further, we describe the interaction between defensins and mTOR pathway in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein Sabit
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza P.O. Box 77, Egypt;
| | - Timothy M. Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, 250 Cunz Hall, 1841 Neil Ave. Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Shaimaa Abdel-Ghany
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza P.O. Box 77, Egypt;
| | - Borros Arneth
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, Hospital of the Universities of Giessen and Marburg (UKGM), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Feulgenstr. 12, 35392 Giessen, Germany
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, Hospital of the Universities of Giessen and Marburg (UKGM), Philipps University Marburg, Baldinger Str., 35043 Marburg, Germany
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Fu J, Zong X, Jin M, Min J, Wang F, Wang Y. Mechanisms and regulation of defensins in host defense. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:300. [PMID: 37574471 PMCID: PMC10423725 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01553-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
As a family of cationic host defense peptides, defensins are mainly synthesized by Paneth cells, neutrophils, and epithelial cells, contributing to host defense. Their biological functions in innate immunity, as well as their structure and activity relationships, along with their mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential, have been of great interest in recent years. To highlight the key research into the role of defensins in human and animal health, we first describe their research history, structural features, evolution, and antimicrobial mechanisms. Next, we cover the role of defensins in immune homeostasis, chemotaxis, mucosal barrier function, gut microbiota regulation, intestinal development and regulation of cell death. Further, we discuss their clinical relevance and therapeutic potential in various diseases, including infectious disease, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes and obesity, chronic inflammatory lung disease, periodontitis and cancer. Finally, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the nutrient-dependent regulation of defensins, including fatty acids, amino acids, microelements, plant extracts, and probiotics, while considering the clinical application of such regulation. Together, the review summarizes the various biological functions, mechanism of actions and potential clinical significance of defensins, along with the challenges in developing defensins-based therapy, thus providing crucial insights into their biology and potential clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Fu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in Eastern China, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xin Zong
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in Eastern China, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Mingliang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in Eastern China, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Junxia Min
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Fudi Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Basic Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.
| | - Yizhen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in Eastern China, Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
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Gao S, Zhang L, Wang H. Characterizing the key genes of COVID-19 that regulate tumor immune microenvironment and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:262. [PMID: 37540264 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01184-z] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a highly heterogeneous malignant tumor associated with a poor prognosis, is a common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with a limited survival benefit for patients despite ongoing therapeutic breakthroughs. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a severe infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global pandemic and a serious threat to human health. The increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and a poor prognosis in patients with cancer necessitate the exploration of the potential link between the two. No studies have investigated the relationship of COVID-19 genes with the prognosis and tumor development in patients with HCC. We screened prognosis-related COVID-19 genes in HCC, performed molecular typing, developed a stable and reliable COVID-19 genes signature for predicting survival, characterized the immune microenvironment in HCC patients, and explored new molecular therapeutic targets. Datasets of HCC patients, including RNA sequencing data and clinical information, were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Prognosis-related COVID-19 genes were identified by univariate Cox analysis. Molecular typing of HCC was performed using the consensus non-negative matrix factorization method (cNMF), followed by the analysis of survival, tumor microenvironment, and pathway enrichment for each subtype. Prognostic signatures were constructed using LASSO-Cox regression models, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to validate the predictive performance of the signature. The same approach was used for the test and external validation sets. Seven software packages were applied to determine the abundance of immune infiltration in HCC patients and investigate its relationship with the risk scores. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to explore the potential mechanisms by which the COVID-19 genes affect hepatocarcinogenesis and prognosis. Three types of machine learning methods were combined to identify the most critical genes in the signature and localize their expression at the single cell level. We identified 53 prognosis-related COVID-19 genes and classified HCC into two molecular subtypes (C1, C2) by using the NMF method. The prognosis of C2 was significantly better than that of C1, and the two subtypes differed remarkably in terms of the tumor immune microenvironment and biological functions. The 17 COVID-19 genes were screened using the LASSO regression method to develop a 17 COVID-19 genes signature, which demonstrated a good predictive performance for 1-, 2- and 3-year OS of patients with HCC. The risk score as an independent prognostic factor for HCC has better predictive accuracy than traditional clinical variables. Patients in the TCGA cohort were categorized by risk score into the high- and low-risk groups, with the high-risk group mainly enriched in the immune modulation-related pathways and the low-risk group mainly enriched in the metabolism-related pathways, suggesting that the COVID-19 genes may affect disease progression and prognosis by regulating the tumor immune microenvironment and metabolism in HCC. NOL10 was identified as the most critical gene in the signature and hypothesized to be a potential therapeutic target for HCC. Objectively, the COVID-19 genes signature developed in this study, as an independent prognostic factor in HCC patients, is closely associated with the prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment of HCC patients and indicates that they may regulate the development of HCC in multiple ways, providing us with new perspectives for understanding the molecular mechanisms of HCC and finding effective therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Gao
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Ward 4 of the Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Oncology Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, 233080, Anhui, China
| | - Huiyan Wang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China.
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Hrynkiewicz R, Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej P. Etiology of viral induced acute liver failure and defensins as potential therapeutic agents in ALF treatment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1153528. [PMID: 37153560 PMCID: PMC10160486 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1153528] [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: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare and severe disease, which, despite continuous advances in medicine, is still characterized by high mortality (65-85%). Very often, a liver transplant is the only effective treatment for ALF. Despite the implementation of prophylactic vaccinations in the world, the viral background of ALF is still a problem and leads to many deaths. Depending on the cause of ALF, it is sometimes possible to reverse this condition with appropriate therapies, which is why the search for effective antiviral agents seems to be a very desirable direction of research. Defensins, which are our natural antimicrobial peptides, have a very high potential to be used as therapeutic agents for infectious liver diseases. Previous studies on the expression of human defensins have shown that increased expression of human α and β-defensins in HCV and HBV infections is associated with a better response to treatment. Unfortunately, conducting clinical trials for ALF is very difficult due to the severity of the disease and the low incidence, therefore animal models are important for the development of new therapeutic strategies. One of the best animal models that has real reference to research on acute liver failure (ALF) is rabbit hemorrhagic disease in rabbits caused by the Lagovirus europaeus virus. So far, there have been no studies on the potential of defensins in rabbits infected with Lagovirus europaeus virus.
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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: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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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Campos DMDO, Silva MKD, Barbosa ED, Leow CY, Fulco UL, Oliveira JIN. Exploiting reverse vaccinology approach for the design of a multiepitope subunit vaccine against the major SARS-CoV-2 variants. Comput Biol Chem 2022; 101:107754. [PMID: 36037724 PMCID: PMC9385604 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2022.107754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic, an infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), poses a threat to global health because of its high rate of spread and death. Currently, vaccination is the most effective method to prevent the spread of this disease. In the present study, we developed a novel multiepitope vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 containing Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (BA.1) variants. To this end, we performed a robust immunoinformatics approach based on multiple epitopes of the four structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 (S, M, N, and E) from 475 SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced from the regions with the highest number of registered cases, namely the United States, India, Brazil, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. To investigate the best immunogenic epitopes for linear B cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), and helper T lymphocytes (HTL), we evaluated antigenicity, allergenicity, conservation, immunogenicity, toxicity, human population coverage, IFN-inducing, post-translational modifications, and physicochemical properties. The tertiary structure of a vaccine prototype was predicted, refined, and validated. Through docking experiments, we evaluated its molecular coupling to the key immune receptor Toll-Like Receptor 3 (TLR3). To improve the quality of docking calculations, quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations (QM/MM) were used, with the QM part of the simulations performed using the density functional theory formalism (DFT). Cloning and codon optimization were performed for the successful expression of the vaccine in E. coli. Finally, we investigated the immunogenic properties and immune response of our SARS-CoV-2 multiepitope vaccine. The results of the simulations show that administering our prototype three times significantly increases the antibody response and decreases the amount of antigens. The proposed vaccine candidate should therefore be tested in clinical trials for its efficacy in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Melo de Oliveira Campos
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59064-741, Natal/RN, Brazil.
| | - Maria Karolaynne da Silva
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59064-741, Natal/RN, Brazil.
| | - Emmanuel Duarte Barbosa
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59064-741, Natal/RN, Brazil.
| | | | - Umberto Laino Fulco
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59064-741, Natal/RN, Brazil.
| | - Jonas Ivan Nobre Oliveira
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59064-741, Natal/RN, Brazil.
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Qiao Q, Bai R, Song W, Gao H, Zhang M, Lu J, Hong M, Zhang X, Sun P, Zhang Q, Zhao P. Human α-defensin 5 suppressed colon cancer growth by targeting PI3K pathway. Exp Cell Res 2021; 407:112809. [PMID: 34487729 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Defensins are highly conserved antimicrobial peptides, which ubiquitously expressed in different species. In addition to the functions in host defense, their aberrant expression have also been documented in cancerous tissue including breast cancer, lung caner and renal carcinoma etc. Whereas, roles of Defensin Alpha 5 (DEFA5) in colon cancer has not been explored. Bioinformatic analysis was used to study the expression of DEFA5 and its correlation with clinical outcomes; Western blot, qPCR, Co-immunoprecipitation, xenograft models were used to the study the molecular mechanism. Decreased expression of DEFA5 at protein level was observed in colon tissues. Colon cancer cell lines proliferation and colony formation capacity were significantly suppressed by DEFA5 overexpression. Moreover, in vivo tumor growth in nude mice was also suppressed by DEFA5 overexpression, suggesting a tumor suppressor role of DEFA5 in colon cancer. Mechanistically, DEFA5 directly binds to the subunits of PI3K complex, thus attenuates the downstream signaling transduction, leads to delayed cell growth and metastasis. Collectively, we concluded that DEFA5 showed an inhibitory effect in colon cancer cell growth and may serve as a potential tumor suppressor in colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Qiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, No.1, Tongdao North Street, Huimin District, Hohhot, 010050, PR China.
| | - Ruixia Bai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Inner Mongolia People's Hospital, Zhaowuda Road, Hohhot, 010018, PR China.
| | - Wanying Song
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Haining Gao
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Minyu Zhang
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Jingkun Lu
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Mei Hong
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Peng Sun
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
| | - Qian Zhang
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, 1#, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010050, PR China.
| | - Pengwei Zhao
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Xinhua Street, Hohhot, 010059, PR China.
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Zhang QY, Yan ZB, Meng YM, Hong XY, Shao G, Ma JJ, Cheng XR, Liu J, Kang J, Fu CY. Antimicrobial peptides: mechanism of action, activity and clinical potential. Mil Med Res 2021; 8:48. [PMID: 34496967 PMCID: PMC8425997 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-021-00343-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The management of bacterial infections is becoming a major clinical challenge due to the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria. As an excellent candidate to overcome antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are produced from the synthetic and natural sources demonstrate a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with the high specificity and low toxicity. These peptides possess distinctive structures and functions by employing sophisticated mechanisms of action. This comprehensive review provides a broad overview of AMPs from the origin, structural characteristics, mechanisms of action, biological activities to clinical applications. We finally discuss the strategies to optimize and develop AMP-based treatment as the potential antimicrobial and anticancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Yu Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhi-Bin Yan
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yue-Ming Meng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Hong
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Gang Shao
- Department of Oncology, The 903rd Hospital of PLA, Hangzhou, 310013, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun-Jie Ma
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xu-Rui Cheng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Blvd. South, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Jian Kang
- Oncogenic Signaling and Growth Control Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Cai-Yun Fu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, No. 928, Street 2, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China.
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Kim JW, Yi J, Park J, Jeong JH, Kim J, Won J, Chung S, Kim TS, Pak JH. Transcriptomic profiling of three-dimensional cholangiocyte spheroids long term exposed to repetitive Clonorchis sinensis excretory-secretory products. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:213. [PMID: 33879231 PMCID: PMC8056535 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04717-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Biliary tract infection with the carcinogenic human liver fluke, Clonorchis sinensis, provokes chronic inflammation, epithelial hyperplasia, periductal fibrosis, and even cholangiocarcinoma. Complications are proportional to the intensity and duration of the infection. In addition to mechanical irritation of the biliary epithelia from worms, their excretory-secretory products (ESPs) cause chemical irritation, which leads to inflammation, proliferation, and free radical generation. Methods A three-dimensional in vitro cholangiocyte spheroid culture model was established, followed by ESP treatment. This allowed us to examine the intrinsic pathological mechanisms of clonorchiasis via the imitation of prolonged and repetitive in vivo infection. Results Microarray and RNA-Seq analysis revealed that ESP-treated cholangiocyte H69 spheroids displayed global changes in gene expression compared to untreated spheroids. In ESP-treated H69 spheroids, 185 and 63 probes were found to be significantly upregulated and downregulated, respectively, corresponding to 209 genes (p < 0.01, fold change > 2). RNA-Seq was performed for the validation of the microarray results, and the gene expression patterns in both transcriptome platforms were well matched for 209 significant genes. Gene ontology analysis demonstrated that differentially expressed genes were mainly classified into immune system processes, the extracellular region, and the extracellular matrix. Among the upregulated genes, four genes (XAF1, TRIM22, CXCL10, and BST2) were selected for confirmation using quantitative RT-PCR, resulting in 100% similar expression patterns in microarray and RNA-Seq. Conclusions These findings broaden our understanding of the pathological pathways of liver fluke-associated hepatobiliary disorders and suggest a novel therapeutic strategy for this infectious cancer. Graphic abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04717-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Woong Kim
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Junyeong Yi
- Department of Convergence Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinhong Park
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hoon Jeong
- Department of Convergence Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinho Kim
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihee Won
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Chung
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Tong-Soo Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Jhang Ho Pak
- Department of Convergence Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Silva MK, Gomes HSS, Silva OLT, Campanelli SE, Campos DMO, Araújo JMG, Fernandes JV, Fulco UL, Oliveira JIN. Identification of promiscuous T cell epitopes on Mayaro virus structural proteins using immunoinformatics, molecular modeling, and QM:MM approaches. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 91:104826. [PMID: 33781966 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The Mayaro virus (MAYV) belongs to genus Alphavirus (family Togaviridae) and has been reported in several countries, especially in tropical regions of America. Due to its outbreaks and potential lack of medication, an effective vaccine formulation is strongly required. This study aimed to predict promiscuous T cell epitopes from structural polyproteins of MAYV using an immunoinformatics approach. For this purpose, consensus sequences were used to identify short protein sequences capable of binding to MHC class I and class II alleles. Our analysis pointed out 4 MHC-I/TCD8+ and 21 MHC-II/TCD4+ epitopes on capside (1;3), E1 (2;5), E2 (1;10), E3 (0;2), and 6 K (0;1) proteins. These predicted epitopes were characterized by high antigenicity, immunogenicity, conservancy, non-allergenic, non-toxic, and good population coverage rate values for North and South American geographical areas. Afterwards, we used the crystal structure of human toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) ectodomain as a template to predict, through docking essays, the placement of a vaccine prototype at the TLR3 receptor binding site. Finally, classical and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM:MM) computations were employed to improve the quality of docking calculations, with the QM part of the simulations being accomplished by using the density functional theory (DFT) formalism. These results provide important insights into the advancement of diagnostic platforms, the development of vaccines, and immunotherapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria K Silva
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Heloísa S S Gomes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Ohana L T Silva
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Stephany E Campanelli
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Daniel M O Campos
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Josélio M G Araújo
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - José V Fernandes
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Umberto L Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Jonas I N Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
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12
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Kwok H. Meet Our Editorial Board Member. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.2174/138920372201210301112500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H.F. Kwok
- University of Macau Taipa,Macao,China
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13
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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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14
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Prasad SV, Fiedoruk K, Daniluk T, Piktel E, Bucki R. Expression and Function of Host Defense Peptides at Inflammation Sites. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010104. [PMID: 31877866 PMCID: PMC6982121 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a growing interest in the complex role of host defense peptides (HDPs) in the pathophysiology of several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. The physicochemical properties and selective interaction of HDPs with various receptors define their immunomodulatory effects. However, it is quite challenging to understand their function because some HDPs play opposing pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory roles, depending on their expression level within the site of inflammation. While it is known that HDPs maintain constitutive host protection against invading microorganisms, the inducible nature of HDPs in various cells and tissues is an important aspect of the molecular events of inflammation. This review outlines the biological functions and emerging roles of HDPs in different inflammatory conditions. We further discuss the current data on the clinical relevance of impaired HDPs expression in inflammation and selected diseases.
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15
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Ghosh SK, McCormick TS, Weinberg A. Human Beta Defensins and Cancer: Contradictions and Common Ground. Front Oncol 2019; 9:341. [PMID: 31131258 PMCID: PMC6509205 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Human beta-defensins (hBDs, −1, 2, 3) are a family of epithelial cell derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that protect mucosal membranes from microbial challenges. In addition to their antimicrobial activities, they possess other functions; e.g., cell activation, proliferation, regulation of cytokine/chemokine production, migration, differentiation, angiogenesis, and wound healing processes. It has also become apparent that defensin levels change with the development of neoplasia. However, inconsistent observations published by various laboratories make it difficult to reach a consensus as to the direction of the dysregulation and role the hBDs may play in various cancers. This is particularly evident in studies focusing on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). By segregating each hBD by cancer type, interrogating methodologies, and scrutinizing the subject cohorts used in the studies, we have endeavored to identify the “take home message” for each one of the three hBDs. We discovered that (1) consensus-driven findings indicate that hBD-1 and−2 are down- while hBD-3 is up-regulated in OSCC; (2) hBD dysregulation is cancer-type specific; (3) the inhibition/activation effect an hBD has on cancer cell lines is related to the direction of the hBD dysregulation (up or down) in the cancer from which the cell lines derive. Therefore, studies addressing hBD dysregulation in various cancers are not generalizable and comparisons should be avoided. Systematic delineation of the fate and role of the hBDs in a specific cancer type may lead to innovative ways to use defensins as prospective biomarkers for diagnostic/prognostic purposes and/or in novel therapeutic modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh K Ghosh
- Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Thomas S McCormick
- Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Dermatology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Aaron Weinberg
- Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
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16
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Bonamy C, Sechet E, Amiot A, Alam A, Mourez M, Fraisse L, Sansonetti PJ, Sperandio B. Expression of the human antimicrobial peptide β-defensin-1 is repressed by the EGFR-ERK-MYC axis in colonic epithelial cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:18043. [PMID: 30575780 PMCID: PMC6303337 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36387-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The human β-defensin-1 (HBD1) is an antimicrobial peptide constitutively expressed by epithelial cells at mucosal surfaces. In addition to its microbicidal properties, the loss of HBD1 expression in several cancers suggests that it may also have an anti-tumor activity. Here, we investigated the link between HBD1 expression and cancer signaling pathways in the human colon cancer cell lines TC7 and HT-29, and in normal human colonic primary cells, using a mini-gut organoid model. Using available datasets from patient cohorts, we found that HBD1 transcription is decreased in colorectal cancer. We demonstrated that inhibiting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) increased HBD1 expression, whereas activating EGFR repressed HBD1 expression, through the MEKK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway that ultimately regulates MYC. We finally present evidences supporting a role of MYC, together with the MIZ1 coregulator, in HBD1 regulation. Our work uncovers the role and deciphers the function of the EGFR-ERK-MYC axis as a repressor of HBD1 expression and contributes to the understanding of HBD1 suppression observed in colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Bonamy
- Unité de Pathogénie Microbienne Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France.,Unité INSERM U1202, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France.,Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, 69280, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Emmanuel Sechet
- Unité de Pathogénie Microbienne Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France.,Unité INSERM U1202, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Aurélien Amiot
- Département de Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Henri Mondor, AP-HP, 94000, Créteil, France
| | - Antoine Alam
- Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, 69280, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Michael Mourez
- Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, 69280, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Laurent Fraisse
- Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, 69280, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Philippe J Sansonetti
- Unité de Pathogénie Microbienne Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France.,Unité INSERM U1202, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France.,Chaire de Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Collège de France, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Brice Sperandio
- Unité de Pathogénie Microbienne Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France. .,Unité INSERM U1202, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France.
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17
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Álvarez ÁH, Martínez Velázquez M, Prado Montes de Oca E. Human β-defensin 1 update: Potential clinical applications of the restless warrior. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 104:133-137. [PMID: 30236992 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Human β-defensin 1 (hBD-1) is a multifaceted antimicrobial peptide being a tumour suppressor and, depending on call of duty, capable of inducing self-nets and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) to capture and/or kill bacteria, participates in inflammatory responses in chronic diseases including hBD-3 upregulation and also capable of up/downregulation in the presence of certain species of Lactobacillus sp. Thus, is regulated by host microbiota. Alleles, genotypes and/or altered gene expression of its coding gene, DEFB1, have been associated with several human diseases/conditions ranging from metabolic/chronic (e.g. cancer), infectious (e.g. tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS), inflammatory (gastrointestinal diseases), male infertility and more recently, neurologic (e.g. depression and Alzheimer) and autoimmune diseases (e.g. vitiligo and systemic lupus erythematosus). The present update focuses on novel DEFB1/hBD-1 properties and biomarker features, its biological function and the pharmaceutical potential uses of antimicrobial peptide elicitors (APEs) or the engineered peptide in the treatment of hBD-1-related human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel H Álvarez
- Personalized Medicine National Laboratory (LAMPER), Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Unit, Research Center of Technology and Design Assistance of Jalisco State (CIATEJ), National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), Av. Normalistas 800, Col. Colinas de la Normal, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Moisés Martínez Velázquez
- Personalized Medicine National Laboratory (LAMPER), Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Unit, Research Center of Technology and Design Assistance of Jalisco State (CIATEJ), National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), Av. Normalistas 800, Col. Colinas de la Normal, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Ernesto Prado Montes de Oca
- Personalized Medicine National Laboratory (LAMPER), Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Unit, Research Center of Technology and Design Assistance of Jalisco State (CIATEJ), National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), Av. Normalistas 800, Col. Colinas de la Normal, Guadalajara, Mexico.
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18
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Jin G, Weinberg A. Human antimicrobial peptides and cancer. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2018; 88:156-162. [PMID: 29694838 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have long been a topic of interest for entomologists, biologists, immunologists and clinicians because of these agents' intriguing origins in insects, their ubiquitous expression in many life forms, their capacity to kill a wide range of bacteria, fungi and viruses, their role in innate immunity as microbicidal and immunoregulatory agents that orchestrate cross-talk with the adaptive immune system, and, most recently, their association with cancer. We and others have theorized that surveillance through epithelial cell-derived AMPs functions to keep the natural flora of microorganisms in a steady state in different niches such as the skin, the intestines, and the mouth. More recently, findings related to specific activation pathways of some of these AMPs have led investigators to associate them with pro-tumoral activity; i.e., contributing to a tumorigenic microenvironment. This area is still in its infancy as there are intriguing yet contradictory findings demonstrating that while some AMPs have anti-tumoral activity and are under-expressed in solid tumors, others are overexpressed and pro-tumorigenic. This review will introduce a new paradigm in cancer biology as it relates to AMP activity in neoplasia to address the following questions: Is there evidence that AMPs contribute to tumor promoting microenvironments? Can an anti-AMP strategy be of use in cancer therapy? Do AMPs, expressed in and released from tumors, contribute to compositional shifting of bacteria in cancerous lesions? Can specific AMP expression characteristics be used one day as early warning signs for solid tumors?
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Jin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Aaron Weinberg
- Department of Biological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, United States.
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