Li YX, Lin CQ, Shi DY, Zeng SY, Li WS. Upregulated expression of human alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 in hypercholesteremia and its relationship with serum lipid levels.
Hum Immunol 2014;
75:1104-9. [PMID:
25300997 DOI:
10.1016/j.humimm.2014.09.014]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2013] [Revised: 09/27/2014] [Accepted: 09/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Human alpha-defensins are natural antimicrobial peptides of neutrophils evolved in host defense reactions and circulating nonstressed alpha-defensins may be associated with serum lipid levels. The aim of this work was to examine whether the expression of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 genes are changed and whether this changes are reversed following treatment in patients with hypercholesteremia. A total of 40 individuals of hypercholesteremia group were studied, compared with 40 individuals of normal control group. Protein levels and gene expression levels of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 were significantly higher in patients with hypercholesteremia compared with subjects in normal control group. In patients with hypercholesteremia, protein levels of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 correlated positively with the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Protein levels and gene expression levels of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 were decreased significantly after a treatment with atorvastatin calcium 20mg daily compared with the patients before the treatment. Our results suggest that the expression of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 genes is involved in dyslipidemia in patients with hypercholesteremia.
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