PURPOSE: The antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin LL-37 plays a role in the immune response in the course of lung infections; however, the exact role of LL-37 in defense mechanisms against bacteria within the respiratory tract is has not been precisely described. The aim of our study was to evaluate LL-37 concentrations in the serum of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients, patients with pneumonia caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and to compare them with those of healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty TB patients, 30 patients with pneumonia caused by Gram-positive bacteria, 30 patients with pneumonia caused by Gram-negative bacteria, and 30 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Serum LL-37 concentration was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The mean (± SEM) LL-37 concentration in patients with TB (13.94±5.13 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that in patients with Gram-positive bacteria-induced pneumonia (7.87±4.58 ng/mL, P=0.00077), in patients with Gram-negative bacteria-induced pneumonia (10.27±3.60 ng/mL, P=0.00730), and in control healthy subjects (1.75±0.71 ng/mL, P=0.00004). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that cathelicidin LL-37 is an important element of host defense in the course of bacterial diseases within the respiratory tract, particularly when the infection is caused by an intracellular pathogen.
PURPOSE: The antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin LL-37 plays a role in the immune response in the course of lung infections; however, the exact role of LL-37 in defense mechanisms against bacteria within the respiratory tract is has not been precisely described. The aim of our study was to evaluate LL-37 concentrations in the serum of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients, patients with pneumonia caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and to compare them with those of healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty TB patients, 30 patients with pneumonia caused by Gram-positive bacteria, 30 patients with pneumonia caused by Gram-negative bacteria, and 30 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Serum LL-37 concentration was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The mean (± SEM) LL-37 concentration in patients with TB (13.94±5.13 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that in patients with Gram-positive bacteria-induced pneumonia (7.87±4.58 ng/mL, P=0.00077), in patients with Gram-negative bacteria-induced pneumonia (10.27±3.60 ng/mL, P=0.00730), and in control healthy subjects (1.75±0.71 ng/mL, P=0.00004). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that cathelicidin LL-37 is an important element of host defense in the course of bacterial diseases within the respiratory tract, particularly when the infection is caused by an intracellular pathogen.
Authors: Robert M Burkes; Jacquie Astemborski; Allison A Lambert; Todd T Brown; Robert A Wise; Gregory D Kirk; M Bradley Drummond Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-02-27 Impact factor: 3.752
Authors: Ester Lilian Acen; David Patrick Kateete; William Worodria; Ronald Olum; Moses L Joloba; Mudarshiru Bbuye; Irene Andia Biraro Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-08-26 Impact factor: 3.752
Authors: Emily C Sanders; Robert M Burkes; Jason R Mock; Todd T Brown; Robert A Wise; Nadia N Hansel; Mark C Liu; M Bradley Drummond Journal: Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis Date: 2021-07-28