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Nakamura Y, Kulkarni NN, Takahashi T, Alimohamadi H, Dokoshi T, Liu E, Shia M, Numata T, Luo EW, Gombart AF, Yang X, Secrest P, Gordts PL, Tsimikas S, Wong GC, Gallo RL. Increased LL37 in psoriasis and other inflammatory disorders promotes LDL uptake and atherosclerosis. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e172578. [PMID: 38194294 PMCID: PMC10904043 DOI: 10.1172/jci172578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with chronic inflammatory disorders such as psoriasis have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and elevated levels of LL37, a cathelicidin host defense peptide that has both antimicrobial and proinflammatory properties. To explore whether LL37 could contribute to the risk of heart disease, we examined its effects on lipoprotein metabolism and show that LL37 enhanced LDL uptake in macrophages through the LDL receptor (LDLR), scavenger receptor class B member 1 (SR-B1), and CD36. This interaction led to increased cytosolic cholesterol in macrophages and changes in expression of lipid metabolism genes consistent with increased cholesterol uptake. Structure-function analysis and synchrotron small-angle x-ray scattering showed structural determinants of the LL37-LDL complex that underlie its ability to bind its receptors and promote uptake. This function of LDL uptake is unique to cathelicidins from humans and some primates and was not observed with cathelicidins from mice or rabbits. Notably, Apoe-/- mice expressing LL37 developed larger atheroma plaques than did control mice, and a positive correlation between plasma LL37 and oxidized phospholipid on apolipoprotein B (OxPL-apoB) levels was observed in individuals with cardiovascular disease. These findings provide evidence that LDL uptake can be increased via interaction with LL37 and may explain the increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with chronic inflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Adrian F. Gombart
- Linus Pauling Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Patrick Secrest
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, and
| | - Philip L.S.M. Gordts
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, and
- Glycobiology Research and Training Center, UCSD, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Gerard C.L. Wong
- Department of Bioengineering, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Mechesso AF, Su Y, Xie J, Wang G. Enhanced Antimicrobial Screening Sensitivity Enabled the Identification of an Ultrashort Peptide KR-8 for Engineering of LL-37mini to Combat Drug-Resistant Pathogens. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:2215-2225. [PMID: 37812567 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00293] [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] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Identification of novel antibiotics is of top importance because of the threat of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial screening in Mueller-Hinton broth is frequently the first step in antimicrobial discovery. Although widely utilized, this medium is not ideal as it could mask activity of candidates such as human cathelicidin LL-37 against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This study identified a sensitive medium where LL-37 displayed excellent activity against numerous pathogens, including MRSA. Our screen of ultrashort overlapping LL-37 peptides in this medium led to the identification of KR-8, four residues shorter than KR-12. Hence, our screen condition may increase positive compound hits during antimicrobial screening. KR-8 provided an appealing template for us to design LL-37mini, which was potent against MRSA, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa but not toxic to mammalian cells. LL-37mini also inhibited bacterial attachment and biofilm formation and disrupted preformed biofilms in vitro and killed MRSA in murine wound biofilms in vivo. Consistent with membrane targeting, MRSA failed to develop resistance to LL-37mini in a multiple-passage experiment. Because LL-37mini can be made cost effectively, it can be developed into new antibiofilm and antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Fikru Mechesso
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Yajuan Su
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Jingwei Xie
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Guangshun Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
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Muhammad T, Strömstedt AA, Gunasekera S, Göransson U. Transforming Cross-Linked Cyclic Dimers of KR-12 into Stable and Potent Antimicrobial Drug Leads. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020504. [PMID: 36831040 PMCID: PMC9953701 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020504] [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: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Is it possible to enhance structural stability and biological activity of KR-12, a truncated antimicrobial peptide derived from the human host defense peptide LL-37? Based on the mapping of essential residues in KR-12, we have designed backbone-cyclized dimers, cross-linked via a disulfide bond to improve peptide stability, while at the same time improving on-target activity. Circular dichroism showed that each of the dimers adopts a primarily alpha-helical conformation (55% helical content) when bound to lyso-phosphatidylglycerol micelles, indicating that the helical propensity of the parent peptide is maintained in the new cross-linked cyclic form. Compared to KR-12, one of the cross-linked dimers showed 16-fold more potent antimicrobial activity against human pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans and 8-fold increased activity against Escherichia coli. Furthermore, these peptides retained antimicrobial activity at physiologically relevant conditions, including in the presence of salts and in human serum, and with selective Gram-negative antibacterial activity in rich growth media. In addition to giving further insight into the structure-activity relationship of KR-12, the current work demonstrates that by combining peptide stabilization strategies (dimerization, backbone cyclization, and cross-linking via a disulfide bond), KR-12 can be engineered into a potent antimicrobial peptide drug lead with potential utility in a therapeutic context.
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Campoccia D, Montanaro L, Ravaioli S, Mariani V, Bottau G, De Donno A, Arciola CR. Antibacterial Activity on Orthopedic Clinical Isolates and Cytotoxicity of the Antimicrobial Peptide Dadapin-1. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24010779. [PMID: 36614222 PMCID: PMC9821071 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In orthopedic surgery, biomaterial-associated infections represent a complication of serious concern. Most promising strategies to prevent these infections currently rely on the use of anti-infective biomaterials. Desirably, in anti-infective biomaterials, the antibacterial properties should be achieved by doping, grafting, or coating the material surfaces with molecules that are alternative to conventional antibiotics and exhibit a potent and highly specific activity against bacteria, without altering the biocompatibility. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are among the most interesting candidate molecules for this biomaterial functionalization. Here, the potential expressed by the recently discovered peptide Dadapin-1 was explored by assaying its MIC, MBIC and MBC on clinical strains of relevant bacterial species isolated from orthopedic infections and by assessing its cytotoxicity on the human osteoblast-like MG63 cells. When appropriately tested in diluted Mueller Hinton Broth II (MHB II), Dadapin-1 exhibited significant antibacterial properties. MIC values were in the range of 3.1-6.2 µM for the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus warneri, and 12.4-24.9 µM for the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Interestingly, the peptide was found non-cytotoxic, with an IC50 exceeding the highest concentration tested of 179 µM. Overall, Dadapin-1 expresses considerable potential for future application in the production of anti-infective biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Campoccia
- Laboratorio di Patologia delle Infezioni Associate all’Impianto, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence: (D.C.); (C.R.A.); Tel.: +39-0516-366-666 (D.C.); +39-0516-366-599 (C.R.A.)
| | - Lucio Montanaro
- Laboratorio di Patologia delle Infezioni Associate all’Impianto, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Ravaioli
- Laboratorio di Patologia delle Infezioni Associate all’Impianto, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Mariani
- Laboratorio di Patologia delle Infezioni Associate all’Impianto, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Bottau
- Laboratorio di Patologia delle Infezioni Associate all’Impianto, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea De Donno
- Laboratorio di Patologia delle Infezioni Associate all’Impianto, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Carla Renata Arciola
- Laboratorio di Patologia delle Infezioni Associate all’Impianto, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence: (D.C.); (C.R.A.); Tel.: +39-0516-366-666 (D.C.); +39-0516-366-599 (C.R.A.)
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Abeysekera GS, Love MJ, Manners SH, Billington C, Dobson RCJ. Bacteriophage-encoded lethal membrane disruptors: Advances in understanding and potential applications. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1044143. [PMID: 36345304 PMCID: PMC9636201 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1044143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Holins and spanins are bacteriophage-encoded membrane proteins that control bacterial cell lysis in the final stage of the bacteriophage reproductive cycle. Due to their efficient mechanisms for lethal membrane disruption, these proteins are gaining interest in many fields, including the medical, food, biotechnological, and pharmaceutical fields. However, investigating these lethal proteins is challenging due to their toxicity in bacterial expression systems and the resultant low protein yields have hindered their analysis compared to other cell lytic proteins. Therefore, the structural and dynamic properties of holins and spanins in their native environment are not well-understood. In this article we describe recent advances in the classification, purification, and analysis of holin and spanin proteins, which are beginning to overcome the technical barriers to understanding these lethal membrane disrupting proteins, and through this, unlock many potential biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayan S. Abeysekera
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Michael J. Love
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Health and Environment Group, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Sarah H. Manners
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Craig Billington
- Health and Environment Group, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Renwick C. J. Dobson
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Chen R, Zhao H, Zhou J, Wang Y, Li J, Zhao X, Li N, Liu C, Zhou P, Chen Y, Song L, Yan H. Prognostic Impacts of LL-37 in Relation to Lipid Profiles of Patients with Myocardial Infarction: A Prospective Cohort Study. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12101482. [PMID: 36291690 PMCID: PMC9599865 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101482] [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: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. In vivo studies show that LL-37 inhibits the progression of atherosclerosis and predicts a lower risk of recurrent ischemia in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which could be mediated by the modulation of lipid metabolism. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of various lipid contents on the prognostic impacts of LL-37 in patients with AMI. Methods. A total of 1567 consecutive AMI patients were prospectively recruited from March 2017 to January 2020. Patients were firstly stratified into two groups by the median level of LL-37 and then stratified by levels of various lipid contents and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). Cox regression with multiple adjustments was performed to analyze associations between LL-37, lipid profiles, PCSK9, and various outcomes. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), a composite of all-cause death, recurrent MI, and ischemic stroke. Results. During a median follow-up of 786 (726−1107) days, a total of 252 MACEs occurred. A high level of LL-37 was associated with lower risk of MACE in patients with elevated lipoprotein(a) (≥300 mg/L, hazard ratio (HR): 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29−0.86, p = 0.012) or PCSK9 levels above the median (≥47.4 ng/mL, HR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.39−0.82, p < 0.001), which was not observed for those without elevated lp(a) (<300 mg/L, HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.70−1.31, p = 0.781, pinteraction = 0.035) or PCSK9 (<47.4 ng/mL, HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.68−1.54, p = 0.905, pinteraction = 0.032). Conclusions. For patients with AMI, a high level of LL-37 was associated with lower ischemic risk among patients with elevated lp(a) and PCSK9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runzhen Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
- Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen 510000, China
| | - Hanjun Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
- Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen 510000, China
- Coronary Heart Disease Center, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
- Correspondence: (H.Z.); (H.Y.)
| | - Jinying Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Jiannan Li
- Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Chen Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Peng Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Li Song
- Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
- Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen 510000, China
| | - Hongbing Yan
- Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen 510000, China
- Coronary Heart Disease Center, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
- Correspondence: (H.Z.); (H.Y.)
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de Tapia L, García-Fojeda B, Kronqvist N, Johansson J, Casals C. The collectin SP-A and its trimeric recombinant fragment protect alveolar epithelial cells from the cytotoxic and proinflammatory effects of human cathelicidin in vitro. Front Immunol 2022; 13:994328. [PMID: 36105805 PMCID: PMC9464622 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.994328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cathelicidin (LL-37) is a defense peptide with antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. However, LL-37 can also trigger tissue injury by binding to host cell membranes. The cytotoxic effects of LL-37 may be especially relevant in chronic respiratory diseases characterized by increased LL-37. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the human collectin SP-A and a trimeric recombinant fragment thereof (rfhSP-A) can regulate the activities of LL-37. To this end, we studied the interaction of LL-37 with SP-A and rfhSP-A by intrinsic fluorescence, dynamic light scattering, and circular dichroism, as well as the effects of these proteins on the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of LL-37. Both SP-A and rfhSP-A bound LL-37 with high affinity at physiological ionic strength (KD = 0.45 ± 0.01 nM for SP-A and 1.22 ± 0.7 nM for rfhSP-A). Such interactions result in the reduction of LL-37-induced cell permeability and IL-8 release in human pneumocytes, mediated by P2X7 channels. Binding of LL-37 to SP-A did not modify the properties of SP-A or the antibacterial activity of LL-37 against respiratory pathogens (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae). SP-A/LL-37 complexes showed a greater ability to aggregate LPS vesicles than LL-37, which reduces endotoxin bioactivity. These results reveal the protective role of native SP-A in controlling LL-37 activities and suggest a potential therapeutic effect of rfhSP-A in reducing the cytotoxic and inflammatory actions of LL-37, without affecting its microbicidal activity against Gram-negative pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia de Tapia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén García-Fojeda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nina Kronqvist
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Cristina Casals
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Cristina Casals,
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Lu F, Zhu Y, Zhang G, Liu Z. Renovation as innovation: Repurposing human antibacterial peptide LL-37 for cancer therapy. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:944147. [PMID: 36081952 PMCID: PMC9445486 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.944147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In many organisms, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) display wide activities in innate host defense against microbial pathogens. Mammalian AMPs include the cathelicidin and defensin families. LL37 is the only one member of the cathelicidin family of host defense peptides expressed in humans. Since its discovery, it has become clear that they have pleiotropic effects. In addition to its antibacterial properties, many studies have shown that LL37 is also involved in a wide variety of biological activities, including tissue repair, inflammatory responses, hemotaxis, and chemokine induction. Moreover, recent studies suggest that LL37 exhibits the intricate and contradictory effects in promoting or inhibiting tumor growth. Indeed, an increasing amount of evidence suggests that human LL37 including its fragments and analogs shows anticancer effects on many kinds of cancer cell lines, although LL37 is also involved in cancer progression. Focusing on recent information, in this review, we explore and summarize how LL37 contributes to anticancer effect as well as discuss the strategies to enhance delivery of this peptide and selectivity for cancer cells.
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Nikyar A, Bolhassani A, Rouhollah F, Heshmati M. In Vitro Delivery of HIV-1 Nef-Vpr DNA Construct Using the Human Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37. Curr Drug Deliv 2022; 19:1083-1092. [PMID: 35176981 DOI: 10.2174/1567201819666220217164055] [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: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES DNA-based therapeutic vaccines have been proposed as promising strategy for treatment of established HIV infections. However, these vaccines are often associated with certain shortcomings, such as poor immunogenicity and low transfection efficiency. In this study, we investigated ability of LL-37 to deliver a potential immunogenic fusion construct comprising HIV-1 nef and vpr genes into a mammalian cell line. METHODS First, the pEGFP-N1 eukaryotic expression vector harboring the HIV-1 nef-vpr fusion was produced free of endotoxin on large scale. Then, DNA/LL-37 complexes were prepared by co-incubation of pEGFP-nef-vpr with LL-37 for 45 minutes at different nitrogen to phosphate (N/P) ratios. Formation of DNA/peptide complexes was investigated by gel retardation assay. Next, stability and morphological characteristics of the nanoparticles were evaluated. Toxicity of LL-37 and the nanoparticles in HEK-293T cells was assessed by MTT assay. Transfection efficiency of the DNA/LL-37 complexes was studied by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis. RESULTS LL-37 formed stable complexes with pEGFP-nef-vpr (diameter of 150-200 nm) while providing good protection against nucleolytic and proteolytic degradation. The peptide significantly affected cell viability even at low concentrations. However, the LL-37/DNA complexes had no significant cytotoxic effect. Treatment of cells with pEGFP-N1/LL-37 and pEGFP-nef-vpr/LL-37 resulted in transfection of 36.32% ± 1.13 and 25.55% ± 2.07 of cells, respectively. CONCLUSION Given these findings and the important immunomodulatory and antiviral activities of LL-37, the use of this peptide can be further exploited in the development of novel gene delivery strategies and vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Nikyar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azam Bolhassani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDs, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rouhollah
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Heshmati
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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Tang WH, Wang SH, Wang CF, Mou Y, Lin MG, Hsiao CD, Liao YD. The lipid components of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are essential for the binding and transportation of antimicrobial peptides in human serum. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2576. [PMID: 35173253 PMCID: PMC8850444 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06640-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been developed for the treatment of bacterial infections, but their applications are limited to topical infections since they are sequestered and inhibited in serum. Here we have discovered that the inhibition of AMPs by human serum was mediated through high-density lipoproteins (HDL) which are known to remove cholesterol from peripheral tissues. The susceptibility of AMPs to HDL varied depending on the degree of hydrophobicity of AMPs and their binding affinities to HDL. The phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine, of HDL were essential for AMP-binding. The dynamic binding interactions between AMPs and HDL were mediated through the hydrophobic interactions rather than by ionic strength. Interestingly, some AMPs, such as SMAP29, dissociated from the AMP-HDL complex and translocated to bacteria upon contact, while some AMPs, such as LL37, remained in complex with HDL. These results suggest that HDL binds AMPs and facilitates the translocation of them to the bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hung Tang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Shi-Han Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Chiu-Feng Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Yun Mou
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Min-Guan Lin
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Chwan-Deng Hsiao
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - You-Di Liao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
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Hong L, Gontsarik M, Amenitsch H, Salentinig S. Human Antimicrobial Peptide Triggered Colloidal Transformations in Bacteria Membrane Lipopolysaccharides. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2104211. [PMID: 34825488 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202104211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Growing concerns of bacterial resistance against conventional antibiotics shifts the research focus toward antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-based materials. Most AMPs kill gram-negative bacteria by destroying their inner membrane, but have to first pass the outer membrane covered with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Their interplay with the LPS is crucial for bactericidal activity, but is yet to be elucidated in detail. In this study, self-assemblies of Escherichia coli LPS with the human cathelicidin AMP LL-37, free and encapsulated into glyceryl monooleate (GMO) lipid nanoparticles, are analyzed using synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering, dynamic light scattering, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. Circular dichroism spectroscopy is used to study modifications in LL-37's secondary structure. LPS is found to form elongated micelles and the addition of LL-37 induces their transformation to multilamellar structures. LPS' addition to GMO cubosomes triggers the swelling of the internal cubic structure, while in multilamellar GMO/LL-37 nanocarriers it causes transitions into unstructured particles. The insights on the interactions among LPS and LL-37, in its free form or encapsulated in GMO dispersions, may guide the design of LPS-responsive antimicrobial nanocarriers. The findings may further assist the formulation of antimicrobial nanomaterials with enhanced penetration of LPS layers for improved destruction of bacterial membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
| | - Mark Gontsarik
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
| | - Heinz Amenitsch
- Institute for Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayergasse 9/V, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Stefan Salentinig
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
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Lee MW, Luo EWC, Silvestre-Roig C, Srinivasan Y, Akabori K, Lemnitzer P, Schmidt NW, Lai GH, Santangelo CD, Soehnlein O, Wong GCL. Apolipoprotein Mimetic Peptide Inhibits Neutrophil-Driven Inflammatory Damage via Membrane Remodeling and Suppression of Cell Lysis. ACS NANO 2021; 15:15930-15939. [PMID: 34586780 PMCID: PMC8720511 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c03978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Neutrophils are crucial for host defense but are notorious for causing sterile inflammatory damage. Activated neutrophils in inflamed tissue can liberate histone H4, which was recently shown to perpetuate inflammation by permeating membranes via the generation of negative Gaussian curvature (NGC), leading to lytic cell death. Here, we show that it is possible to build peptides or proteins that cancel NGC in membranes and thereby suppress pore formation, and demonstrate that they can inhibit H4 membrane remodeling and thereby reduce histone H4-driven lytic cell death and resultant inflammation. As a demonstration of principle, we use apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) mimetic peptide apoMP1. X-ray structural studies and theoretical calculations show that apoMP1 induces nanoscopic positive Gaussian curvature (PGC), which interacts with the NGC induced by the N-terminus of histone H4 (H4n) to inhibit membrane permeation. Interestingly, we show that induction of PGC can inhibit membrane-permeating activity in general and "turn off" diverse membrane-permeating molecules besides H4n. In vitro experiments show an apoMP1 dose-dependent rescue of H4 cytotoxicity. Using a mouse model, we show that tissue accumulation of neutrophils, release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and extracellular H4 all strongly correlate independently with local tissue cell death in multiple organs, but administration of apoMP1 inhibits histone H4-mediated cytotoxicity and strongly prevents organ tissue damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle W Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Elizabeth Wei-Chia Luo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Carlos Silvestre-Roig
- Institute of Experimental Pathology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation (ZMBE), University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Yashes Srinivasan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Kiyotaka Akabori
- Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Patricia Lemnitzer
- Institute of Experimental Pathology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation (ZMBE), University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Nathan W Schmidt
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Ginkgo Bioworks, 27 Drydock Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, United States
| | - Ghee Hwee Lai
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, SBS-01N-27, Singapore 637551
| | - Christian D Santangelo
- Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Department of Physics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Oliver Soehnlein
- Institute of Experimental Pathology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation (ZMBE), University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (FyFa), Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Gerard C L Wong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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Lakshmaiah Narayana J, Golla R, Mishra B, Wang X, Lushnikova T, Zhang Y, Verma A, Kumar V, Xie J, Wang G. Short and Robust Anti-Infective Lipopeptides Engineered Based on the Minimal Antimicrobial Peptide KR12 of Human LL-37. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1795-1808. [PMID: 33890759 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This study aims to push the frontier of the engineering of human cathelicidin LL-37, a critical antimicrobial innate immune peptide that wards off invading pathogens. By sequential truncation of the smallest antibacterial peptide (KR12) of LL-37 and conjugation with fatty acids, with varying chain lengths, a library of lipopeptides is generated. These peptides are subjected to antibacterial activity and hemolytic assays. Candidates (including both forms made of l- and d-amino acids) with the optimal cell selectivity are subsequently fed to the second layer of in vitro filters, including salts, pH, serum, and media. These practices lead to the identification of a miniature LL-37 like peptide (d-form) with selectivity, stability, and robust antimicrobial activity in vitro against both Gram-positive and negative bacteria. Proteomic studies reveal far fewer serum proteins that bind to the d-form than the l-form peptide. C10-KR8d targets bacterial membranes to become helical, making it difficult for bacteria to develop resistance in a multiple passage experiment. In vivo, C10-KR8d is able to reduce bacterial burden of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) USA300 LAC in neutropenic mice. In addition, this designer peptide prevents bacterial biofilm formation in a catheter-associated mouse model. Meanwhile, C10-KR8d also recruits cytokines to the vicinity of catheters to clear infection. Thus, based on the antimicrobial region of LL-37, this study succeeds in identifying the smallest anti-infective peptide C10-KR8d with both robust antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and immune modulation activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayaram Lakshmaiah Narayana
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Radha Golla
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Biswajit Mishra
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Xiuqing Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Tamara Lushnikova
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Yingxia Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Atul Verma
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Vikas Kumar
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Core Facility, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Jingwei Xie
- Department of Surgery-Transplant and Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, United States
| | - Guangshun Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
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14
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Tang WH, Wang CF, Liao YD. Fetal bovine serum albumin inhibits antimicrobial peptide activity and binds drug only in complex with α1-antitrypsin. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1267. [PMID: 33446738 PMCID: PMC7809101 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80540-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Several antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been developed for the treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant microbes, but their applications are primarily limited to topical infections because in circulation they are bound and inhibited by serum proteins. Here we have found that some AMPs, such as TP4 from fish tilapia, and drugs, such as antipyretic ibuprofen, were bound by bovine serum albumin only in complex with α1-antitrypsin which is linked by disulfide bond. They existed in dimeric complex (2 albumin -2 α1-antitrypsin) in the bovine serum only at fetal stage, but not after birth. The hydrophobic residues of TP4 were responsible for its binding to the complex. Since bovine serum is a major supplement in most cell culture media, therefore the existence and depletion of active albumin/α1-antitrypsin complex are very important for the assay and production of biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hung Tang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Chiu-Feng Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - You-Di Liao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
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15
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Mercer DK, Torres MDT, Duay SS, Lovie E, Simpson L, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, de la Fuente-Nunez C, O'Neil DA, Angeles-Boza AM. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Antimicrobial Peptides to Better Predict Efficacy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:326. [PMID: 32733816 PMCID: PMC7358464 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During the development of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) as potential therapeutics, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) stands as an essential part of the process in identification and optimisation of candidate AMP. Standard methods for AST, developed almost 60 years ago for testing conventional antibiotics, are not necessarily fit for purpose when it comes to determining the susceptibility of microorganisms to AMP. Without careful consideration of the parameters comprising AST there is a risk of failing to identify novel antimicrobials at a time when antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is leading the planet toward a post-antibiotic era. More physiologically/clinically relevant AST will allow better determination of the preclinical activity of drug candidates and allow the identification of lead compounds. An important consideration is the efficacy of AMP in biological matrices replicating sites of infection, e.g., blood/plasma/serum, lung bronchiolar lavage fluid/sputum, urine, biofilms, etc., as this will likely be more predictive of clinical efficacy. Additionally, specific AST for different target microorganisms may help to better predict efficacy of AMP in specific infections. In this manuscript, we describe what we believe are the key considerations for AST of AMP and hope that this information can better guide the preclinical development of AMP toward becoming a new generation of urgently needed antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcelo D. T. Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Institute for Computational Science, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Searle S. Duay
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Emma Lovie
- NovaBiotics Ltd, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Institute for Computational Science, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Alfredo M. Angeles-Boza
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
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16
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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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17
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Wang W, Qu Q, Chen J. Identification, expression analysis, and antibacterial activity of Apolipoprotein A-I from amphioxus (Branchiostoma belcheri). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 238:110329. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2019.110329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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18
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Mishra B, Lakshmaiah Narayana J, Lushnikova T, Wang X, Wang G. Low cationicity is important for systemic in vivo efficacy of database-derived peptides against drug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:13517-13522. [PMID: 31209048 PMCID: PMC6613076 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1821410116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As bacterial resistance to traditional antibiotics continues to emerge, new alternatives are urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important candidates. However, how AMPs are designed with in vivo efficacy is poorly understood. Our study was designed to understand structural moieties of cationic peptides that would lead to their successful use as antibacterial agents. In contrast to the common perception, serum binding and peptide stability were not the major reasons for in vivo failure in our studies. Rather, our systematic study of a series of peptides with varying lysines revealed the significance of low cationicity for systemic in vivo efficacy against Gram-positive pathogens. We propose that peptides with biased amino acid compositions are not favored to associate with multiple host factors and are more likely to show in vivo efficacy. Thus, our results uncover a useful design strategy for developing potent peptides against multidrug-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswajit Mishra
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5900
| | - Jayaram Lakshmaiah Narayana
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5900
| | - Tamara Lushnikova
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5900
| | - Xiuqing Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5900
- Department of Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 750004 Yinchuan, China
| | - Guangshun Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5900;
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19
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Moir RD, Lathe R, Tanzi RE. The antimicrobial protection hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2018; 14:1602-1614. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.3040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert D. Moir
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit; MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease; Department of Neurology; Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Charlestown MA USA
| | - Richard Lathe
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine; University of Edinburgh; Little France Edinburgh UK
| | - Rudolph E. Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit; MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease; Department of Neurology; Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Charlestown MA USA
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20
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Woods EC, Edwards AN, Childress KO, Jones JB, McBride SM. The C. difficile clnRAB operon initiates adaptations to the host environment in response to LL-37. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007153. [PMID: 30125334 PMCID: PMC6117091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
To cause disease, Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile must resist killing by innate immune effectors in the intestine, including the host antimicrobial peptide, cathelicidin (LL-37). The mechanisms that enable C. difficile to adapt to the intestine in the presence of antimicrobial peptides are unknown. Expression analyses revealed an operon, CD630_16170-CD630_16190 (clnRAB), which is highly induced by LL-37 and is not expressed in response to other cell-surface active antimicrobials. This operon encodes a predicted transcriptional regulator (ClnR) and an ABC transporter system (ClnAB), all of which are required for function. Analyses of a clnR mutant indicate that ClnR is a pleiotropic regulator that directly binds to LL-37 and controls expression of numerous genes, including many involved in metabolism, cellular transport, signaling, gene regulation, and pathogenesis. The data suggest that ClnRAB is a novel regulatory mechanism that senses LL-37 as a host signal and regulates gene expression to adapt to the host intestinal environment during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily C. Woods
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Emory University Antibiotic Resistance Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Adrianne N. Edwards
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Emory University Antibiotic Resistance Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Kevin O. Childress
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Emory University Antibiotic Resistance Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Joshua B. Jones
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Emory University Antibiotic Resistance Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Shonna M. McBride
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Emory University Antibiotic Resistance Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
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21
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Cuperus T, Kraaij MD, Zomer AL, van Dijk A, Haagsman HP. Immunomodulation and effects on microbiota after in ovo administration of chicken cathelicidin-2. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198188. [PMID: 29870564 PMCID: PMC5988267 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Host Defense Peptides (HDPs) such as cathelicidins are multifunctional effectors of the innate immune system with both antimicrobial and pleiotropic immunomodulatory functions. Chicken cathelicidin-2 (CATH-2) has multiple immunomodulatory effects in vitro and the D-amino acid analog of this peptide has been shown to partially protect young chicks from a bacterial infection. However, the mechanisms responsible for CATH-2 mediated in vivo protection have not been investigated so far. In this study, D-CATH-2 was administered in ovo and the immune status and microbiota of the chicks were investigated at 7 days posthatch to elucidate the in vivo mechanisms of the peptide. In three consecutive studies, no effects on numbers and functions of immune cells were found and only small changes were seen in gene expression of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs). In two studies, intestinal microbiota composition was determined which was highly variable, suggesting that it was strongly influenced by environmental factors. In both studies, in ovo D-CATH-2 treatment caused significant reduction of Ruminococcaceae and Butyricicoccus in the cecum and Escherichia/Shigella in both ileum and cecum. In conclusion, this study shows that, in the absence of an infectious stimulus, in ovo administration of a CATH-2 analog alters the microbiota composition but does not affect the chicks' immune system posthatch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tryntsje Cuperus
- Division of Molecular Host Defence, Department of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marina D. Kraaij
- Division of Molecular Host Defence, Department of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Aldert L. Zomer
- Division Clinical Infectiology, Department of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Albert van Dijk
- Division of Molecular Host Defence, Department of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Henk P. Haagsman
- Division of Molecular Host Defence, Department of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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22
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Greco I, Hummel BD, Vasir J, Watts JL, Koch J, Hansen JE, Nielsen HM, Damborg P, Hansen PR. In Vitro ADME Properties of Two Novel Antimicrobial Peptoid-Based Compounds as Potential Agents against Canine Pyoderma. Molecules 2018; 23:E630. [PMID: 29534469 PMCID: PMC6017477 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23030630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) hold promise as the next generation of antimicrobial agents, but often suffer from rapid degradation in vivo. Modifying AMPs with non-proteinogenic residues such as peptoids (oligomers of N-alkylglycines) provides the potential to improve stability. We have identified two novel peptoid-based compounds, B1 and D2, which are effective against the canine skin pathogen Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, the main cause of antibiotic use in companion animals. We report on their potential to treat infections topically by characterizing their release from formulation and in vitro ADME properties. In vitro ADME assays included skin penetration profiles, stability to proteases and liver microsomes, and plasma protein binding. Both B1 and D2 were resistant to proteases and >98% bound to plasma proteins. While half-lives in liver microsomes for both were >2 h, peptoid D2 showed higher stability to plasma proteases than the peptide-peptoid hybrid B1 (>2 versus 0.5 h). Both compounds were suitable for administration in an oil-in-water cream formulation (50% release in 8 h), and displayed no skin permeation, in the absence or presence of skin permeability modifiers. Our results indicate that these peptoid-based drugs may be suitable as antimicrobials for local treatment of canine superficial pyoderma and that they can overcome the inherent limitations of stability encountered in peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Greco
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
- Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 30, DK-1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Jason Koch
- Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007, USA.
| | - Johannes E Hansen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
| | - Hanne Mørck Nielsen
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
| | - Peter Damborg
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Paul R Hansen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
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23
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Apolipoprotein A-I attenuates LL-37-induced endothelial cell cytotoxicity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 493:71-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.09.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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24
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García-Quiroz J, García-Becerra R, Lara-Sotelo G, Avila E, López S, Santos-Martínez N, Halhali A, Ordaz-Rosado D, Barrera D, Olmos-Ortiz A, Ibarra-Sánchez MJ, Esparza-López J, Larrea F, Díaz L. Chronic moderate ethanol intake differentially regulates vitamin D hydroxylases gene expression in kidneys and xenografted breast cancer cells in female mice. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2017; 173:148-156. [PMID: 27639478 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Factors affecting vitamin D metabolism may preclude anti-carcinogenic effects of its active metabolite calcitriol. Chronic ethanol consumption is an etiological factor for breast cancer that affects vitamin D metabolism; however, the mechanisms underlying this causal association have not been fully clarified. Using a murine model, we examined the effects of chronic moderate ethanol intake on tumoral and renal CYP27B1 and CYP24A1 gene expression, the enzymes involved in calcitriol synthesis and inactivation, respectively. Ethanol (5% w/v) was administered to 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-treated or control mice during one month. Afterwards, human breast cancer cells were xenografted and treatments continued another month. Ethanol intake decreased renal Cyp27b1 while increased tumoral CYP24A1 gene expression.Treatment with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 significantly stimulated CYP27B1 in tumors of non-alcohol-drinking mice, while increased both renal and tumoral CYP24A1. Coadministration of ethanol and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 reduced in 60% renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-dependent Cyp24a1 upregulation (P<0.05). We found 5 folds higher basal Cyp27b1 than Cyp24a1 gene expression in kidneys, whereas this relation was inverted in tumors, showing 5 folds more CYP24A1 than CYP27B1. Tumor expression of the calcitriol target cathelicidin increased only in 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-treated non-ethanol drinking animals (P<0.05). Mean final body weight was higher in 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 treated groups (P<0.001). Overall, these results suggest that moderate ethanol intake decreases renal and tumoral 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 bioconversion into calcitriol, while favors degradation of both vitamin D metabolites in breast cancer cells. The latter may partially explain why alcohol consumption is associated with vitamin D deficiency and increased breast cancer risk and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice García-Quiroz
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Rocío García-Becerra
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Galia Lara-Sotelo
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Euclides Avila
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Sofía López
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Nancy Santos-Martínez
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Ali Halhali
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - David Ordaz-Rosado
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - David Barrera
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Andrea Olmos-Ortiz
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - María J Ibarra-Sánchez
- Unidad de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - José Esparza-López
- Unidad de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Fernando Larrea
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Lorenza Díaz
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Avenida Vasco de Quiroga No. 15, Col. Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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25
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Peel E, Cheng Y, Djordjevic JT, Kuhn M, Sorrell T, Belov K. Marsupial and monotreme cathelicidins display antimicrobial activity, including against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2017; 163:1457-1465. [PMID: 28949902 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
With the growing demand for new antibiotics to combat increasing multi-drug resistance, a family of antimicrobial peptides known as cathelicidins has emerged as potential candidates. Expansions in cathelicidin-encoding genes in marsupials and monotremes are of specific interest as the peptides they encode have evolved to protect immunologically naive young in the harsh conditions of the pouch and burrow. Our previous work demonstrated that some marsupial and monotreme cathelicidins have broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and kill resistant bacteria, but the activity of many cathelicidins is unknown. To investigate associations between peptide antimicrobial activity and physiochemical properties, we tested 15 cathelicidin mature peptides from tammar wallaby, grey short-tailed opossum, platypus and echidna for antimicrobial activity against a range of bacterial and fungal clinical isolates. One opossum cathelicidin ModoCath4, tammar wallaby MaeuCath7 and echidna Taac-CATH1 had broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and killed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However, antimicrobial activity was reduced in the presence of serum or whole blood, and non-specific toxicity was observed at high concentrations. The active peptides were highly charged, potentially increasing binding to microbial surfaces, and contained amphipathic helical structures, which may facilitate membrane permeabilisation. Peptide sequence homology, net charge, amphipathicity and alpha helical content did not correlate with antimicrobial activity. However active peptides contained a significantly higher percentage of cationic residues than inactive ones, which may be used to predict active peptides in future work. Along with previous studies, our results indicate that marsupial and monotreme cathelicidins show potential for development as novel therapeutics to combat increasing antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Peel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,UQ Genomics Initiative, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Julianne T Djordjevic
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, and Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael Kuhn
- Zoetis, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
| | - Tania Sorrell
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, and Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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26
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D'Este F, Oro D, Boix-Lemonche G, Tossi A, Skerlavaj B. Evaluation of free or anchored antimicrobial peptides as candidates for the prevention of orthopaedic device-related infections. J Pept Sci 2017; 23:777-789. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.3026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca D'Este
- Department of Medicine; University of Udine; P.le Kolbe 4 33100 Udine Italy
| | - Debora Oro
- Department of Medicine; University of Udine; P.le Kolbe 4 33100 Udine Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Tossi
- Department of Life Sciences; University of Trieste; Via Giorgieri 5 34127 Trieste Italy
| | - Barbara Skerlavaj
- Department of Medicine; University of Udine; P.le Kolbe 4 33100 Udine Italy
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27
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Kahraman T, Gucluler G, Simsek I, Yagci FC, Yildirim M, Ozen C, Dinc A, Gursel M, Ikromzoda L, Sutlu T, Gay S, Gursel I. Circulating LL37 targets plasma extracellular vesicles to immune cells and intensifies Behçet's disease severity. J Extracell Vesicles 2017; 6:1284449. [PMID: 28326169 PMCID: PMC5345581 DOI: 10.1080/20013078.2017.1284449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Revised: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Behçet's disease (BD) activity is characterised by sustained, over-exuberant immune activation, yet the underlying mechanisms leading to active BD state are poorly defined. Herein, we show that the human cathelicidin derived antimicrobial peptide LL37 associates with and directs plasma extracellular vesicles (EV) to immune cells, thereby leading to enhanced immune activation aggravating BD pathology. Notably, disease activity was correlated with elevated levels of circulating LL37 and EV plasma concentration. Stimulation of healthy PBMC with active BD patient EVs induced heightened IL1β, IFNα, IL6 and IP10 secretion compared to healthy and inactive BD EVs. Remarkably, when mixed with LL37, healthy plasma-EVs triggered a robust immune activation replicating the pathology inducing properties of BD EVs. The findings of this study could be of clinical interest in the management of BD, implicating LL37/EV association as one of the major contributors of BD pathogenesis. Abbreviations: BD: Behçet's disease; EV: extracellular vesicle; BB: binding buffer; AnV: annexin V; autologEV: autologous extracellular vesicles; alloEV: allogeneic extracellular vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamer Kahraman
- Science Faculty, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University , Ankara , Turkey
| | - Gozde Gucluler
- Science Faculty, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University , Ankara , Turkey
| | - Ismail Simsek
- Division of Rheumatology, Gulhane School of Medicine , Ankara , Turkey
| | - Fuat Cem Yagci
- Science Faculty, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University , Ankara , Turkey
| | - Muzaffer Yildirim
- Science Faculty, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University , Ankara , Turkey
| | - Can Ozen
- Department of Biotechnology, Middle East Technical University , Ankara , Turkey
| | - Ayhan Dinc
- Division of Rheumatology, Gulhane School of Medicine , Ankara , Turkey
| | - Mayda Gursel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University , Ankara , Turkey
| | - Lolai Ikromzoda
- Nanotechnology Research and Application Center, Sabanci University , Istanbul , Turkey
| | - Tolga Sutlu
- Nanotechnology Research and Application Center, Sabanci University , Istanbul , Turkey
| | - Stephen Gay
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Ihsan Gursel
- Science Faculty, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University , Ankara , Turkey
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28
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Abstract
Human cathelicidin LL-37, the only member of the cathelicidin family of host defense peptides expressed in humans, plays a crucial role in host defense against pathogen invasion, as well as in regulating the functions of anti-inflammation, antitumorigenesis, and tissue repair. It is primarily produced by phagocytic leukocytes and epithelial cells, and mediates a wide range of biological responses. Emerging evidence from several studies indicates that LL-37 plays a prominent and complex role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although overexpression of LL-37 has been implicated in the inflamed and noninflamed colon mucosa in patients with ulcerative colitis, LL-37 expression was not changed in the inflamed or noninflamed colon or ileal mucosa in patients with Crohn's disease. Furthermore, studies in animal models and human patients further characterized the protective effect of cathelicidins both in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. These data suggest the intricate functions of LL-37 in IBD. They will also create many strategies and opportunities for therapeutic intervention in IBD in the future. This review aims to elucidate the structure and bioactivity of LL-37 and also discuss the recent progress in understanding the relationship between LL-37 and IBD.
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29
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Koro C, Hellvard A, Delaleu N, Binder V, Scavenius C, Bergum B, Główczyk I, Roberts HM, Chapple ILC, Grant MM, Rapala-Kozik M, Klaga K, Enghild JJ, Potempa J, Mydel P. Carbamylated LL-37 as a modulator of the immune response. Innate Immun 2016; 22:218-29. [PMID: 26878866 PMCID: PMC5143673 DOI: 10.1177/1753425916631404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbamylation of lysine residues and protein N-termini is an ubiquitous, non-enzymatic post-translational modification. Carbamylation at sites of inflammation is due to cyanate formation during the neutrophil oxidative burst and may target lysine residues within the antimicrobial peptide LL-37. The bactericidal and immunomodulatory properties of LL-37 depend on its secondary structure and cationic nature, which are conferred by arginine and lysine residues. Therefore, carbamylation may affect the biological functions of LL-37. The present study examined the kinetics and pattern of LL-37 carbamylation to investigate how this modification affects the bactericidal, cytotoxic and immunomodulatory function of the peptide. The results indicated that LL-37 undergoes rapid modification in the presence of physiological concentrations of cyanate, yielding a spectrum of diverse carbamylated peptides. Mass spectrometry analyses revealed that theN-terminal amino group of Leu-1 was highly reactive and was modified almost instantly by cyanate to generate the predominant form of the modified peptide, named LL-37(C1) This was followed by the sequential carbamylation of Lys-8, Lys-12, and Lys-15 to yield LL-37(C8), and Lys-15 to yield LL-37(C12,15) Carbamylation had profound and diverse effects on the structure and biological properties of LL-37. In some cases, anti-inflammatory LL-37 was rapidly converted to pro-inflammatory LL-37.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalin Koro
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Annelie Hellvard
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Nicolas Delaleu
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Veronika Binder
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Carsten Scavenius
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Brith Bergum
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Izabela Główczyk
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Helen M Roberts
- Periodontal Research Group MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Iain L C Chapple
- Periodontal Research Group MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Melissa M Grant
- Periodontal Research Group MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Maria Rapala-Kozik
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Kinga Klaga
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jan J Enghild
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jan Potempa
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Piotr Mydel
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
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30
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The human cathelicidin LL-37 — A pore-forming antibacterial peptide and host-cell modulator. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2016; 1858:546-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2015.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Scarsini M, Tomasinsig L, Arzese A, D'Este F, Oro D, Skerlavaj B. Antifungal activity of cathelicidin peptides against planktonic and biofilm cultures of Candida species isolated from vaginal infections. Peptides 2015; 71:211-21. [PMID: 26238597 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2015.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Revised: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a frequent gynecological condition caused by Candida albicans and a few non-albicans Candida spp. It has a significant impact on the quality of life of the affected women also due to a considerable incidence of recurrent infections that are difficult to treat. The formation of fungal biofilm may contribute to the problematic management of recurrent VVC due to the intrinsic resistance of sessile cells to the currently available antifungals. Thus, alternative approaches for the prevention and control of biofilm-related infections are urgently needed. In this regard, the cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of the innate immunity are potential candidates for the development of novel antimicrobials as many of them display activity against biofilm formed by various microbial species. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro antifungal activities of the cathelicidin peptides LL-37 and BMAP-28 against pathogenic Candida spp. also including C. albicans, isolated from vaginal infections, and against C. albicans SC5314 as a reference strain. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against planktonic and biofilm-grown Candida cells by using microdilution susceptibility and XTT [2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfo-phenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide] reduction assays and, in the case of established biofilms, also by CFU enumeration and fluorescence microscopy. BMAP-28 was effective against planktonically grown yeasts in standard medium (MIC range, 2-32μM), and against isolates of C. albicans and Candida krusei in synthetic vaginal simulated fluid (MIC range 8-32μM, depending on the pH of the medium). Established 48-h old biofilms formed by C. albicans SC5314 and C. albicans and C. krusei isolates were 70-90% inhibited within 24h incubation with 16μM BMAP-28. As shown by propidium dye uptake and CFU enumeration, BMAP-28 at 32μM killed sessile C. albicans SC5314 by membrane permeabilization with a faster killing kinetics compared to 32μM miconazole (80-85% reduced biofilm viability in 90min vs 48h). In addition, BMAP-28 at 16μM prevented Candida biofilm formation on polystyrene and medical grade silicone surfaces by causing a >90% reduction in the viability of planktonic cells in 30min. LL-37 was overall less effective than BMAP-28 against planktonic Candida spp. (MIC range 4-≥64μM), and was ineffective against established Candida biofilms. However, LL-37 at 64μM prevented Candida biofilm development by inhibiting cell adhesion to polystyrene and silicone surfaces. Finally, Candida adhesion was strongly inhibited when silicone was pre-coated with a layer of BMAP-28 or LL-37, encouraging further studies for the development of peptide-based antimicrobial coatings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Scarsini
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Linda Tomasinsig
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Alessandra Arzese
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Francesca D'Este
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Debora Oro
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Barbara Skerlavaj
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy.
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32
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Ye Y, Carlsson G, Karlsson-Sjöberg JMT, Borregaard N, Modéer TU, Andersson ML, Pütsep KLA. The antimicrobial propeptide hCAP-18 plasma levels in neutropenia of various aetiologies: a prospective study. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11685. [PMID: 26119962 PMCID: PMC4484407 DOI: 10.1038/srep11685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The underlying cause of neutropenia may be difficult to determine due to similar clinical presentation in many neutropenic conditions. The neutrophil protein hCAP-18 (pro-LL-37) is a major component of neutrophil secondary granules and in this prospective study we assessed the use of hCAP-18 levels in blood plasma for differential diagnosis of neutropenic patients (n = 133) of various aetiologies. Plasma levels of hCAP-18 were determined using immunoblot and ELISA. Patients with severe congenital neutropenia (n = 23) presented with the lowest levels of plasma hCAP-18 and differential diagnostic accuracy revealed high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (98.8%) for hCAP-18 ELISA. The correlation coefficient of the hCAP-18 ELISA versus immunoblotting was (R = 0.831) and that of the peptide LL-37 ELISA versus immunoblotting was (R = 0.405) (P < 0.001). Plasma hCAP-18 levels thus displayed high diagnostic value in differential diagnosis of chronic neutropenia. Neutropenic patients with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, Barth syndrome, Cohen syndrome, acute myeloid leukaemia and specific granule deficiency presented with reduced plasma hCAP-18 levels as well. The blood plasma level of hCAP-18 was thus low in conditions in which the neutrophil antibacterial propeptide hCAP-18 is deficient, i.e. severe congenital neutropenia and neutrophil-specific granule deficiency, and in conditions in which bone marrow myelopoiesis is negatively affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Ye
- Division of Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- School and Hospital of Stomatology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Göran Carlsson
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Niels Borregaard
- The Granulocyte Research Laboratory, Department of Haematology, National University Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas U. Modéer
- Division of Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Mats L. Andersson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katrin L-A. Pütsep
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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33
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Shin SH, Kim B, Park S, Jo S, Lee IH. Haloganan: a novel antimicrobial peptide for treatmentof wound infections. Peptides 2014; 62:137-43. [PMID: 25445605 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2014.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Revised: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
HG1 is a Leu-rich antimicrobial peptide (AMP). Previously, the peptide was shown to lose its activity in human serum although it possessed potent and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against a wide range of pathogenic microbes. In an attempt to design an HG1 isomer that can overcome the problem of HG1, a structure–activity relationship study was conducted by substitution of each of five Leu residues with a Gln residue. Each substitute was tested for its antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Candida strains. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of HG1 isomers was examined in the presence of glycosaminoglycans or lipid components occurring in the extracellular matrix, human serum and wound fluid. As a result, it was determined that the third residue (Leu) in the sequence of HG1 was mainly responsible for abrogation of its antimicrobial activity in human serum or wound fluid. An HG1 isomer (L3Q) with a Gln-3 substitution exhibited a potent antibacterial activity in 50% human serum. While the anti-MRSA activity of L3Q was equivalent to that of HG1, its anti-Candida activity was found to be substantially reduced. In order to improve anti-Candida activity of L3Q, its cationicity was enhanced by replacement of the C-terminal Ala-19 with a Lys residue. Overall, an HG1 isomer with two substitutions of Gln-3 and Lys-19, named haloganan, was verified to have an advantage over HG1 in that it exerted its potent antimicrobial activity under conditions containing human serum and/or wound fluid.
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Papareddy P, Kalle M, Bhongir RKV, Mörgelin M, Malmsten M, Schmidtchen A. Antimicrobial effects of helix D-derived peptides of human antithrombin III. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:29790-800. [PMID: 25202017 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.570465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Antithrombin III (ATIII) is a key antiproteinase involved in blood coagulation. Previous investigations have shown that ATIII is degraded by Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, leading to release of heparin binding fragments derived from its D helix. As heparin binding and antimicrobial activity of peptides frequently overlap, we here set out to explore possible antibacterial effects of intact and degraded ATIII. In contrast to intact ATIII, the results showed that extensive degradation of the molecule yielded fragments with antimicrobial activity. Correspondingly, the heparin-binding, helix D-derived, peptide FFFAKLNCRLYRKANKSSKLV (FFF21) of human ATIII, was found to be antimicrobial against particularly the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy studies demonstrated that FFF21 binds to and permeabilizes bacterial membranes. Analogously, FFF21 was found to induce membrane leakage of model anionic liposomes. In vivo, FFF21 significantly reduced P. aeruginosa infection in mice. Additionally, FFF21 displayed anti-endotoxic effects in vitro. Taken together, our results suggest novel roles for ATIII-derived peptide fragments in host defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Papareddy
- From the Division of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Tornavägen 10, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden, the Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Tornavägen 10, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden,
| | - Martina Kalle
- From the Division of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Tornavägen 10, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Ravi K V Bhongir
- the Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Tornavägen 10, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Matthias Mörgelin
- the Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Tornavägen 10, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Martin Malmsten
- the Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, SE-751 23, Uppsala, Sweden, and
| | - Artur Schmidtchen
- From the Division of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Tornavägen 10, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden, the LKCMedicine, Nanyang Technological University, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232
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35
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Zhang Y, Zhu M, Yang Z, Pan X, Jiang Y, Sun C, Wang Q, Xiao W. The human Cathelicidin LL-37 induces MUC5AC mucin production by airway epithelial cells via TACE-TGF-α-EGFR pathway. Exp Lung Res 2014; 40:333-42. [PMID: 24901072 DOI: 10.3109/01902148.2014.926434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
AIM To investigate the mechanism for LL-37 inducing MUC5AC mucin production in airway epithelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS The airway epithelial NCI-H292 cells were stimulated with various concentrations of LL-37 synthetic peptide and scrambled LL-37 (sLL-37) synthetic peptide ranged from 2.5 to 10 μg/mL. The effects of LL-37 and sLL-37 on TNF-α-converting enzyme (TACE) and EGFR activation and MUC5AC mucin production were evaluated by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay, Western blotting and ELISA respectively. Furthermore, we measured changes of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) in culture supernatants. A serious of inhibitors including TACE inhibitor TAPI-1, EGFR inhibitor AG1478, EGFR-neutralizing antibody, TGF-α-neutralizing antibody, amphiregulin (AR)-neutralizing antibody, and heparin binding-epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF)-neutralizing antibody were used to block the signaling pathway. Human serum and FBS were also used to investigate the effects of serum on LL-37-induced MUC5AC mucin production. RESULTS LL-37 induced TACE and EGFR activation, as well as TGF-α and MUC5AC mucin production by NCI-H292 cells in a dose-dependent manner. EGFR-neutralizing antibody and AG1478 inhibited LL-37-induced EGFR activation and subsequent MUC5AC mucin production, whereas TGF-α-neutralizing antibody increased LL-37-induced TGF-α production. TAPI-1 inhibited LL-37-induced TGF-α production, EGFR activation and subsequent MUC5AC mucin production, whereas TGF-α-neutralizing antibody, but not AR- or HB-EGF-neutralizing antibody, inhibited LL-37-induced EGFR activation and subsequent MUC5AC mucin production in NCI-H292 cells. The sLL-37 had no effect on TACE and EGFR activation and MUC5AC mucin production. Additionally, Human serum, rather than FBS, inhibited LL-37-induced MUC5AC mucin production. CONCLUSIONS LL-37 induces MUC5AC mucin production by airway epithelial cells via TACE-TGF-α-EGFR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuke Zhang
- 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University , Jinan , China
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Barlow PG, Findlay EG, Currie SM, Davidson DJ. Antiviral potential of cathelicidins. Future Microbiol 2014; 9:55-73. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb.13.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT: The global burden of morbidity and mortality arising from viral infections is high; however, the development of effective therapeutics has been slow. As our understanding of innate immunity has expanded over recent years, knowledge of natural host defenses against viral infections has started to offer potential for novel therapeutic strategies. An area of current research interest is in understanding the roles played by naturally occurring cationic host defense peptides, such as the cathelicidins, in these innate antiviral host defenses across different species. This research also has the potential to inform the design of novel synthetic antiviral peptide analogs and/or provide rationale for therapies aimed at boosting the natural production of these peptides. In this review, we will discuss our knowledge of the antiviral activities of cathelicidins, an important family of cationic host defense peptides, and consider the implications for novel antiviral therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter G Barlow
- Health, Life & Social Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh, EH11 4BN, UK
| | - Emily Gwyer Findlay
- University of Edinburgh/MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Silke M Currie
- University of Edinburgh/MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Donald J Davidson
- University of Edinburgh/MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
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Papareddy P, Kalle M, Sørensen OE, Malmsten M, Mörgelin M, Schmidtchen A. The TFPI-2 derived peptide EDC34 improves outcome of gram-negative sepsis. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003803. [PMID: 24339780 PMCID: PMC3855554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is characterized by a dysregulated host-pathogen response, leading to high cytokine levels, excessive coagulation and failure to eradicate invasive bacteria. Novel therapeutic strategies that address crucial pathogenetic steps during infection are urgently needed. Here, we describe novel bioactive roles and therapeutic anti-infective potential of the peptide EDC34, derived from the C-terminus of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2). This peptide exerted direct bactericidal effects and boosted activation of the classical complement pathway including formation of antimicrobial C3a, but inhibited bacteria-induced activation of the contact system. Correspondingly, in mouse models of severe Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, treatment with EDC34 reduced bacterial levels and lung damage. In combination with the antibiotic ceftazidime, the peptide significantly prolonged survival and reduced mortality in mice. The peptide's boosting effect on bacterial clearance paired with its inhibiting effect on excessive coagulation makes it a promising therapeutic candidate for invasive Gram-negative infections. Bacterial infections, especially sepsis, are worldwide a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Sepsis is characterized by an excessive and uncontrolled immune and coagulation response caused by bacteria and bacterial products, which eventually leads to multiple organ failure. Despite supportive treatments and administration of antibiotics, the incidence of sepsis is rising. Development of antibiotic resistance among bacteria, and the inability of antibiotics to target dysregulated host responses during severe infections and sepsis, motivates the search for novel anti-infective treatment modalities. Here, we describe a therapeutic potential of the peptide EDC34, derived from the C-terminus of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2). The peptide's boosting effect on bacterial clearance paired with its inhibiting effect on excessive coagulation makes it a promising therapeutic candidate for invasive Gram-negative infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Papareddy
- Division of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Martina Kalle
- Division of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ole E. Sørensen
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Matthias Mörgelin
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden
| | - Artur Schmidtchen
- Division of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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Zhang Z, Mu L, Tang J, Duan Z, Wang F, Wei L, Rong M, Lai R. A small peptide with therapeutic potential for inflammatory acne vulgaris. PLoS One 2013; 8:e72923. [PMID: 24013774 PMCID: PMC3755965 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A designed peptide named LZ1 with 15 amino acid residues containing strong antimicrobial activity against bacteria pathogens of acne vulgaris including Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus. Especially, it exerted strong anti-P. acnes ability. The minimal inhibitory concentration against three strains of P. acnes was only 0.6 µg/ml, which is 4 times lower than that of clindamycin. In experimental mice skin colonization model, LZ1 significantly reduced the number of P. acnes colonized on the ear, P. acnes-induced ear swelling, and inflammatory cell infiltration. It ameliorated inflammation induced by P. acnes by inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β. LZ1 showed little cytotoxicity on human keratinocyte and hemolytic activity on human blood red cells. Furthermore, LZ1 was very stable in human plasma. Combined with its potential bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties, simple structure and high stability, LZ1 might be an ideal candidate for the treatment of acne.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiye Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lixian Mu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Tang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zilei Duan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fengyu Wang
- Life Sciences College of Nanjing Agricultural University, 1st Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lin Wei
- Life Sciences College of Nanjing Agricultural University, 1st Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingqiang Rong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- * E-mail:
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Jendeberg AL, Strålin K, Hultgren O. Antimicrobial peptide plasma concentrations in patients with community-acquired pneumonia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 45:432-7. [PMID: 23317166 DOI: 10.3109/00365548.2012.760844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common and potentially life-threatening infection. Innate immunity is the first line of defence, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced by white blood cells and at epithelial barriers participate by killing microorganisms and neutralizing bacterial toxins. We wanted to investigate whether concentrations of AMPs (1) are increased in CAP, (2) predict the clinical outcome, and (3) differ depending on the causative microbe. METHODS Plasma concentrations of AMPs were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 89 patients with CAP, 21 patients with non-respiratory tract infections (non-RTI), and 63 healthy control subjects. RESULTS In subjects with CAP, mean plasma concentrations of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and bactericidal/ permeability-increasing protein (BPI) were significantly higher than in healthy control subjects (85 vs 45 ng/ml, p < 0.001 and 48 vs 10 ng/ml, p < 0.001, respectively), but less markedly increased in patients with non-RTI (68 ng/ml, p = 0.06 and 41 ng/ml, p = 0.43). LL-37 and human neutrophil peptides 1-3 (HNP 1-3) levels were not increased in subjects with CAP. Levels of BPI and SLPI did not correlate to severity of disease, and AMP levels did not differ depending on the causative agent. Interestingly, male subjects with CAP displayed increased concentrations of SLPI compared to females. This was not observed in subjects with non-RTI and healthy control subjects. CONCLUSIONS Subjects with CAP showed increased plasma concentrations of SLPI and BPI compared to healthy control subjects. The finding of higher SLPI levels in male subjects with CAP implies that there are sex-dependent immunological differences in SLPI turnover.
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Alba A, López-Abarrategui C, Otero-González AJ. Host defense peptides: an alternative as antiinfective and immunomodulatory therapeutics. Biopolymers 2013. [PMID: 23193590 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Host defense peptides are conserved components of innate immune response present among all classes of life. These peptides are potent, broad spectrum antimicrobial agents with potential as novel therapeutic compounds. Also, the ability of host defense peptides to modulate immunity is an emerging therapeutic concept since its selective modulation is a novel antiinfective strategy. Their mechanisms of action and the fundamental differences between pathogens and host cells surfaces mostly lead to a not widely extended microbial resistance and to a lower toxicity toward host cells. Biological libraries and rational design are novel tools for developing such molecules with promising applications as therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annia Alba
- Departamento de Parasitología, Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Pedro Kourí," La Habana, Cuba
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Human cathelicidin LL-37 prevents bacterial biofilm formation. Future Med Chem 2012; 4:1587-99. [PMID: 22917247 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.12.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Human pathogens often colonize their host by the formation of biofilms. These surface-attached aggregates of bacteria are characterized by a self-produced extracellular matrix, which makes them highly resistant towards antibiotic treatment. Their abilities to adhere to abiotic surfaces (e.g., catheters and other medical devices) also makes bacterial biofilm formation a challenge in modern medicine. Antimicrobial peptides have lately been introduced as a potential class of drug molecules for combating severe hospital-acquired infections. One of these peptides, human cathelicidin LL-37, has recently been demonstrated to bridge innate and adaptive host defence, in addition to facilitating a robust antibiofilm effect at sub-inhibitory concentrations. In this review we will discuss the evidence, potential and challenges for LL-37 as a candidate molecule for therapeutic use.
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Go JT, Belisle SE, Tchitchek N, Tumpey TM, Ma W, Richt JA, Safronetz D, Feldmann H, Katze MG. 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus elicits similar clinical course but differential host transcriptional response in mouse, macaque, and swine infection models. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:627. [PMID: 23153050 PMCID: PMC3532173 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2012] [Accepted: 11/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus emerged in swine and quickly became a major global health threat. In mouse, non human primate, and swine infection models, the pH1N1 virus efficiently replicates in the lung and induces pro-inflammatory host responses; however, whether similar or different cellular pathways were impacted by pH1N1 virus across independent infection models remains to be further defined. To address this we have performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis of acute phase responses to a single pH1N1 influenza virus, A/California/04/2009 (CA04), in the lung of mice, macaques and swine. Results Despite similarities in the clinical course, we observed differences in inflammatory molecules elicited, and the kinetics of their gene expression changes across all three species. We found genes associated with the retinoid X receptor (RXR) signaling pathway known to control pro-inflammatory and metabolic processes that were differentially regulated during infection in each species, though the heterodimeric RXR partner, pathway associated signaling molecules, and gene expression patterns varied among the three species. Conclusions By comparing transcriptional changes in the context of clinical and virological measures, we identified differences in the host transcriptional response to pH1N1 virus across independent models of acute infection. Antiviral resistance and the emergence of new influenza viruses have placed more focus on developing drugs that target the immune system. Underlying overt clinical disease are molecular events that suggest therapeutic targets identified in one host may not be appropriate in another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer T Go
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, USA.
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George SE, Chikkamadaiah R, Durgaiah M, Joshi AA, Thankappan UP, Madhusudhana SN, Sriram B. Biochemical characterization and evaluation of cytotoxicity of antistaphylococcal chimeric protein P128. BMC Res Notes 2012; 5:280. [PMID: 22682527 PMCID: PMC3464943 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-5-280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2011] [Accepted: 06/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibiotic resistant S. aureus infection is a global threat. Newer approaches are required to control this organism in the current scenario. Cell wall degrading enzymes have been proposed as antibacterial agents for human therapy. P128 is a novel antistaphylococcal chimeric protein under development against S. aureus for human use which derives its bacterial cell wall degrading catalytic endopeptidase domain from ORF56, the Phage K tail-structure associated enzyme. Lead therapeutic entities have to be extensively characterized before they are assessed in animals for preclinical safety and toxicity. P128 is effective against antibiotic resistant strains as well as against a panel of isolates of global significance. Its efficacy against S. aureus in vivo has been established in our lab. Against this background, this study describes the characterization of this protein for its biochemical properties and other attributes. RESULTS We evaluated the requirement or effect of divalent cations and the metal ion chelator, EDTA upon biological activity of P128. As the protein is intended for therapeutic use, we tested its activity in presence of body fluids and antibodies specific to P128. For the same reason, we used standard human cell lines to evaluate cytotoxic effects, if any.The divalent cations, calcium and magnesium at upto 25 mM and Zinc upto 2.5 mM neither inhibited nor enhanced P128 activity. Incubation of this protein with EDTA, human serum, plasma and blood also did not alter the antibacterial properties of the molecule. No inhibitory effect was observed in presence of hyper-immune sera raised against the protein. Finally, P128 did not show any cytotoxic effect on HEp2 and Vero cells at the highest concentration (5 mg/mL) tested. CONCLUSIONS The results presented here throw light on several properties of protein P128. Taken together, these substantiate the potential of P128 for therapeutic use against S. aureus. Further development of the protein and conduct of preclinical safety studies in animals is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa E George
- Gangagen Biotechnologies Pvt Ltd., No. 12, 5th Cross, Raghavendra Layout, Tumkur Road, Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, 560 022, India
| | - Ravisha Chikkamadaiah
- Gangagen Biotechnologies Pvt Ltd., No. 12, 5th Cross, Raghavendra Layout, Tumkur Road, Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, 560 022, India
| | - Murali Durgaiah
- Gangagen Biotechnologies Pvt Ltd., No. 12, 5th Cross, Raghavendra Layout, Tumkur Road, Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, 560 022, India
| | - Amruta A Joshi
- Gangagen Biotechnologies Pvt Ltd., No. 12, 5th Cross, Raghavendra Layout, Tumkur Road, Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, 560 022, India
| | - Ullas P Thankappan
- Current address: Department of Neurovirology, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560029, India
| | - Shampur N Madhusudhana
- Current address: Department of Neurovirology, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560029, India
| | - Bharathi Sriram
- Gangagen Biotechnologies Pvt Ltd., No. 12, 5th Cross, Raghavendra Layout, Tumkur Road, Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, 560 022, India
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Pegylation of antimicrobial peptides maintains the active peptide conformation, model membrane interactions, and antimicrobial activity while improving lung tissue biocompatibility following airway delivery. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012; 56:3298-308. [PMID: 22430978 DOI: 10.1128/aac.06335-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have therapeutic potential, particularly for localized infections such as those of the lung. Here we show that airway administration of a pegylated AMP minimizes lung tissue toxicity while nevertheless maintaining antimicrobial activity. CaLL, a potent synthetic AMP (KWKLFKKIFKRIVQRIKDFLR) comprising fragments of LL-37 and cecropin A peptides, was N-terminally pegylated (PEG-CaLL). PEG-CaLL derivatives retained significant antimicrobial activity (50% inhibitory concentrations [IC(50)s] 2- to 3-fold higher than those of CaLL) against bacterial lung pathogens even in the presence of lung lining fluid. Circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy confirmed that conformational changes associated with the binding of CaLL to model microbial membranes were not disrupted by pegylation. Pegylation of CaLL reduced AMP-elicited cell toxicity as measured using in vitro lung epithelial primary cell cultures. Further, in a fully intact ex vivo isolated perfused rat lung (IPRL) model, airway-administered PEG-CaLL did not result in disruption of the pulmonary epithelial barrier, whereas CaLL caused an immediate loss of membrane integrity leading to pulmonary edema. All AMPs (CaLL, PEG-CaLL, LL-37, cecropin A) delivered to the lung by airway administration showed limited (<3%) pulmonary absorption in the IPRL with extensive AMP accumulation in lung tissue itself, a characteristic anticipated to be beneficial for the treatment of pulmonary infections. We conclude that pegylation may present a means of improving the lung biocompatibility of AMPs designed for the treatment of pulmonary infections.
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Byfield FJ, Wen Q, Leszczynska K, Kulakowska A, Namiot Z, Janmey PA, Bucki R. Cathelicidin LL-37 peptide regulates endothelial cell stiffness and endothelial barrier permeability. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2011; 300:C105-12. [PMID: 20943960 PMCID: PMC3023190 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00158.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2010] [Accepted: 10/07/2010] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
LL-37 peptide is a multifunctional host defense molecule essential for normal immune responses to infection or tissue injury. In this study we assess the impact of LL-37 on endothelial stiffness and barrier permeability. Fluorescence microscopy reveals membrane localization of LL-37 after its incubation with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). A concentration-dependent increase in stiffness was observed in HUVECs, bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs), human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells, and mouse aorta upon LL-37 (0.5-5 μM) addition. Stiffening of BAECs by LL-37 was blocked by P2X7 receptor antagonists and by the intracellular Ca²(+) chelator BAPTA-AM. Increased cellular stiffness correlated with a decrease in permeability of HUVEC cell monolayers after LL-37 addition compared with nontreated cells, which was similar to the effect observed upon treatment with sphingosine 1-phosphate, and both treatments increased F-actin content in the cortical region of the cells. These results suggest that the antiinflammatory effect of LL-37 at the site of infection or injury involves an LL-37-mediated increase in cell stiffening that prevents increased pericellular permeability. Such a mechanism may help to maintain tissue fluid homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fitzroy J Byfield
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
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Leszczyńska K, Namiot A, Cruz K, Byfield FJ, Won E, Mendez G, Sokołowski W, Savage PB, Bucki R, Janmey PA. Potential of ceragenin CSA-13 and its mixture with pluronic F-127 as treatment of topical bacterial infections. J Appl Microbiol 2010; 110:229-38. [PMID: 20961363 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2010.04874.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Ceragenin CSA-13 is a synthetic mimic of cationic antibacterial peptides, with facial amphiphilic morphology reproduced using a cholic acid scaffold. Previous data have shown that this molecule displays broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, which decreases in the presence of blood plasma. However, at higher concentrations, CSA-13 can cause lysis of erythrocytes. This study was designed to assess in vitro antibacterial and haemolytic activity of CSA-13 in the presence of pluronic F-127. METHODS AND RESULTS CSA-13 bactericidal activity against clinical strains of bacteria associated with topical infections and in an experimental setting relevant to their pathophysiological environment, such as various epithelial tissue fluids and the airway sputum of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF), was evaluated using minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentration (MIC/MBC) measurements and bacterial killing assays. We found that in the presence of pluronic F-127, CSA-13 antibacterial activity was only slightly decreased, but CSA-13 haemolytic activity was significantly inhibited. CSA-13 exhibits bacterial killing activity against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa present in CF sputa, and biofilms formed by different Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria. CSA-13 bactericidal action is partially compromised in the presence of plasma, but is maintained in ascites, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The synergistic action of CSA-13, determined by the use of a standard checkerboard assay, reveals an increase in CSA-13 antibacterial activity in the presence of host defence molecules such as the cathelicidin LL-37 peptide, lysozyme, lactoferrin and secretory phospholipase A (sPLA). CONCLUSION These results suggest that CSA-13 may be useful to prevent and treat topical infection. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Combined application of CSA-13 with pluronic F-127 may be beneficial by reducing CSA-13 toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Leszczyńska
- Department of Diagnostic Microbiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
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Gustafsson A, Sigel S, Ljunggren L. The antimicrobial peptide LL37 and its truncated derivatives potentiates proinflammatory cytokine induction by lipoteichoic acid in whole blood. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 2010; 70:512-8. [DOI: 10.3109/00365513.2010.521255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Leszczyńska K, Namiot A, Janmey PA, Bucki R. Modulation of exogenous antibiotic activity by host cathelicidin LL-37. APMIS 2010; 118:830-6. [PMID: 20955455 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2010.02667.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The increasing number of infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria has spurred efforts to develop new therapeutic strategies. When applied locally, exogenous antibiotics work in an environment rich in endogenous antibacterial molecules such as the cathelicidin peptide LL-37, which has increased expression at infection sites because of the stimulatory effects of bacterial wall products on neutrophils and other cell types. To test for possible additive effects of exogenous and endogenous antibacterial agents, we evaluated the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) to assess the antibacterial activity of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (AMC), tetracycline (T), erythromycin (E) and amikacin (AN) against different clinical isolates of Staphyloccocus aureus in combination with synthetic LL-37. These studies revealed that the antibacterial activity of AMC was strongly potentiated when added in combination with LL-37. However, in the presence of LL-37, we did not observe any decrease in the MIC values of T and E, particularly against methicillin-resistant S. aureus and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS(B))(+)/β-lactamase (+) strains, indicating a lack of synergistic action between these molecules. Interaction between exogenous antibiotics and host antibacterial molecules should be considered to provide optimal treatment, especially in cases of topical infections accompanied by increasing expression of host antibacterial molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Leszczyńska
- Department of Diagnostic Microbiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
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Méndez-Samperio P. The human cathelicidin hCAP18/LL-37: a multifunctional peptide involved in mycobacterial infections. Peptides 2010; 31:1791-8. [PMID: 20600427 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2010.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2010] [Revised: 06/18/2010] [Accepted: 06/18/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are predominantly small cationic polypeptides that are classified together on the basis of these molecules to directly kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms including mycobacteria, and to activate mechanisms of cellular and adaptive immunity. Various families of antimicrobial peptides have been identified, including the cathelicidins. The cathelicidin family is characterised by a conserved N-terminal cathelin domain and a variable C-terminal antimicrobial domain that can be released from the precursor protein after cleavage by proteinases. LL-37 is the C-terminal part of the only human cathelicidin identified to date called human cationic antimicrobial protein (hCAP18), which is mainly expressed by neutrophils and epithelial cells. The cathelicidin hCAP18/LL-37 is a multifunctional molecule that may mediate various host responses, including bactericidal action, chemotaxis, epithelial cell activation, angiogenesis, epithelial wound repair and activation of chemokine secretion. The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 is produced from human cells during infection of mycobacteria and exerts a microbicidal effect. The discussion will (1) describe recent work on the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions of the cathelicidin hCAP18/LL-37, (2) highlight the effectiveness of the cathelicidin hCAP18/LL-37 as a potent component in antimycobacterial immune responses and (3) summarise current progress in the understanding of the therapeutic application of hCAP18/LL-37 and its derivates antimicrobial peptides in mycobacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Méndez-Samperio
- Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, IPN., Prol. Carpio y Plan de Ayala, 11340 Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
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Papareddy P, Kalle M, Kasetty G, Mörgelin M, Rydengård V, Albiger B, Lundqvist K, Malmsten M, Schmidtchen A. C-terminal peptides of tissue factor pathway inhibitor are novel host defense molecules. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:28387-98. [PMID: 20592020 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.127019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) inhibits tissue factor-induced coagulation, but may, via its C terminus, also modulate cell surface, heparin, and lipopolysaccharide interactions as well as participate in growth inhibition. Here we show that C-terminal TFPI peptide sequences are antimicrobial against the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as the fungi Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. Fluorescence studies of peptide-treated bacteria, paired with analysis of peptide effects on liposomes, showed that the peptides exerted membrane-breaking effects similar to those seen for the "classic" human antimicrobial peptide LL-37. The killing of E. coli, but not P. aeruginosa, by the C-terminal peptide GGLIKTKRKRKKQRVKIAYEEIFVKNM (GGL27), was enhanced in human plasma and largely abolished in heat-inactivated plasma, a phenomenon linked to generation of antimicrobial C3a and activation of the classic pathway of complement activation. Furthermore, GGL27 displayed anti-endotoxic effects in vitro and in vivo in a mouse model of LPS shock. Importantly, TFPI was found to be expressed in the basal layers of normal epidermis, and was markedly up-regulated in acute skin wounds as well as wound edges of chronic leg ulcers. Furthermore, C-terminal fragments of TFPI were associated with bacteria present in human chronic leg ulcers. These findings suggest a new role for TFPI in cutaneous defense against infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Papareddy
- Division of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
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