BACKGROUND: Human defensin peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity have been implicated in the human defence response towards microbial invasion. Two families of defensins designated alpha- and beta-defensins, respectively, have been identified. Little is known about the expression of both defensin families in human peripheral blood. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of alpha- and beta-defensin genes in human peripheral blood. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-one healthy blood donors were screened for defensin expression. Blood from defensin responders was stimulated by lipopolysaccharide or heat-inactivated Pseudomonas aeruginosa ex vivo. Levels of mRNA were assessed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Southern blot analysis and sequencing were used to confirm the identity of defensin gene transcripts. Western blotting analysis was used to detect the expression of defensin peptides. RESULTS: beta-defensin was undetected in human peripheral blood without stimulation. Following stimulation by lipopolysaccharide or heat-inactivated bacterial cells, the majority (88.2%) of healthy individuals had a detectable expression for beta-defensin-1 gene and 39.2% for beta-defensin-2 gene, compared with none for beta-defensin-3. beta-defensin-1 and -2 mRNAs in the stimulated human peripheral blood of responders became detectable at 3 h and showed a maximum at 6 h following induction by 100 ng mL-1 of lipopolysaccharide or bacterial cells. In contrast, human alpha-defensins 1-3 mRNA are constitutively expressed in peripheral leukocytes but not up-regulated by lipopolysaccharide or bacterial cells. CONCLUSIONS: In human peripheral blood, beta-defensin-1 and -2 genes were transiently transcribed and translated following the induction of lipopolysaccharide or heat-inactivated bacterial cells, whereas alpha-defensins 1-3 genes were constitutively transcribed, and beta-defensin-3 gene was not expressed. The inducible expression of beta-defensin-1 and -2 genes showed interindividual variability.
BACKGROUND:Human defensin peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity have been implicated in the human defence response towards microbial invasion. Two families of defensins designated alpha- and beta-defensins, respectively, have been identified. Little is known about the expression of both defensin families in human peripheral blood. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of alpha- and beta-defensin genes in human peripheral blood. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-one healthy blood donors were screened for defensin expression. Blood from defensin responders was stimulated by lipopolysaccharide or heat-inactivated Pseudomonas aeruginosa ex vivo. Levels of mRNA were assessed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Southern blot analysis and sequencing were used to confirm the identity of defensin gene transcripts. Western blotting analysis was used to detect the expression of defensin peptides. RESULTS: beta-defensin was undetected in human peripheral blood without stimulation. Following stimulation by lipopolysaccharide or heat-inactivated bacterial cells, the majority (88.2%) of healthy individuals had a detectable expression for beta-defensin-1 gene and 39.2% for beta-defensin-2 gene, compared with none for beta-defensin-3. beta-defensin-1 and -2 mRNAs in the stimulated human peripheral blood of responders became detectable at 3 h and showed a maximum at 6 h following induction by 100 ng mL-1 of lipopolysaccharide or bacterial cells. In contrast, human alpha-defensins 1-3 mRNA are constitutively expressed in peripheral leukocytes but not up-regulated by lipopolysaccharide or bacterial cells. CONCLUSIONS: In human peripheral blood, beta-defensin-1 and -2 genes were transiently transcribed and translated following the induction of lipopolysaccharide or heat-inactivated bacterial cells, whereas alpha-defensins 1-3 genes were constitutively transcribed, and beta-defensin-3 gene was not expressed. The inducible expression of beta-defensin-1 and -2 genes showed interindividual variability.
Authors: Lars Steinstraesser; Till Koehler; Frank Jacobsen; Adrien Daigeler; Ole Goertz; Stefan Langer; Marco Kesting; Hans Steinau; Elof Eriksson; Tobias Hirsch Journal: Mol Med Date: 2008 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 6.354
Authors: Bruno Rivas-Santiago; Stephan K Schwander; Carmen Sarabia; Gill Diamond; Marcia E Klein-Patel; Rogelio Hernandez-Pando; Jerrold J Ellner; Eduardo Sada Journal: Infect Immun Date: 2005-08 Impact factor: 3.441
Authors: Marta Rodríguez-García; Núria Climent; Harold Oliva; Víctor Casanova; Rafael Franco; Agathe Leon; José M Gatell; Felipe García; Teresa Gallart Journal: PLoS One Date: 2010-02-25 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Balázs Csaba Németh; Tamás Várkonyi; Ferenc Somogyvári; Csaba Lengyel; Katalin Fehértemplomi; Szabolcs Nyiraty; Péter Kempler; Yvette Mándi Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2014-07-21 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Christopher J Sample; Kathryn E Hudak; Brice E Barefoot; Matthew D Koci; Moses S Wanyonyi; Soman Abraham; Herman F Staats; Elizabeth A Ramsburg Journal: Peptides Date: 2013-07-26 Impact factor: 3.750