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Higazi AAR, Maraga E, Baraghithy S, Udi S, Azar S, Saada A, Glaser B, Avrahami D, Abdeen S, Hamdan Z, Tam J, Fanne RA. Characterization of metabolic alterations in the lean metabolically unhealthy alpha defensin transgenic mice. iScience 2024; 27:108802. [PMID: 38318380 PMCID: PMC10839648 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is consistently linked to dysmetabolism. In transgenic mice (Def+/+) model the neutrophilic peptide, alpha defensin, proved atherogenic. This phenotype occurred despite favorable cholesterol and glucose levels, and lower body weight and blood pressure. In this study, integration of metabolic&behavioral phenotyping system, endocrine, biochemical and mitochondrial assessment, pathological and immunohistochemical tests, and multiple challenge tests was established to explore the metabolic impact of alpha defensin. Compared to the control group, Def+/+ mice exhibited lower total energy expenditure and carbohydrate utilization, and higher fat oxidation. Their ACTH-cortisol and thyroid profiles were intact. Intriguingly, they had low levels of glucagon, with high ammonia, uric acid, triglyceride, and lactate. Mitochondrial evaluations were normal. Overall, defensin-induced hypoglucagonemia is associated with lipolysis, restricted glucose oxidation, and enhanced wasting. Def+/+ mice may be a useful model for studying the category of lean, apparently metabolically healthy, and atherosclerotic phenotype, with insight into a potential inflammatory-metabolic link.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abd Al-Roof Higazi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Emad Maraga
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Saja Baraghithy
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, The Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Shiran Udi
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, The Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Shahar Azar
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, The Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Ann Saada
- Department of Genetics, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Isarel
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Isarel
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Hadassah Academic College, Jerusalem, Isarel
| | - Benjamin Glaser
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Department, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Dana Avrahami
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Suhair Abdeen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Zenab Hamdan
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Department, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Joseph Tam
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, The Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Rami Abu Fanne
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
- Department of Cardiology, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel
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Sultana A, Luo H, Ramakrishna S. Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Applications in Biomedical Sector. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:1094. [PMID: 34572676 PMCID: PMC8465024 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10091094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In a report by WHO (2014), it was stated that antimicrobial resistance is an arising challenge that needs to be resolved. This resistance is a critical issue in terms of disease or infection treatment and is usually caused due to mutation, gene transfer, long-term usage or inadequate use of antimicrobials, survival of microbes after consumption of antimicrobials, and the presence of antimicrobials in agricultural feeds. One of the solutions to this problem is antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are ubiquitously present in the environment. These peptides are of concern due to their special mode of action against a wide spectrum of infections and health-related problems. The biomedical field has the highest need of AMPs as it possesses prominent desirable activity against HIV-1, skin cancer, breast cancer, in Behcet's disease treatment, as well as in reducing the release of inflammatory cells such as TNFα, IL-8, and IL-1β, enhancing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and GM-CSF, and in wound healing properties. This review has highlighted all the major functions and applications of AMPs in the biomedical field and concludes the future potential of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afreen Sultana
- Center for Nanotechnology & Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117581, Singapore;
| | - Hongrong Luo
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China;
| | - Seeram Ramakrishna
- Center for Nanotechnology & Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117581, Singapore;
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