The Human Cationic Antimicrobial Protein (hCAP18), a Peptide Antibiotic, Is Widely Expressed in Human Squamous Epithelia and Colocalizes with Interleukin-6
AUTOR(ES)
Frohm Nilsson, Margareta
FONTE
American Society for Microbiology
RESUMO
Peptide antibiotics are widespread in nature and, by providing a rapid first line of defense, may be key players in the innate immune system. Although epithelia are the main barriers shielding the internal environment from microorganisms, the role for peptide antibiotics in epithelial protection is unclear. We recently reported that the human cationic antimicrobial protein hCAP18, the precursor of the antimicrobial peptide called LL-37, is not expressed by normal human keratinocytes but is induced in various inflammatory skin disorders. In the present study we demonstrate that hCAP18 is consistently expressed at both mRNA and protein levels in squamous epithelia of the mouth, tongue, esophagus, cervix, and vagina in humans. The gene for hCAP18 contains promoter elements that are potentially regulated by interleukin-6, and our data further show a colocalization between interleukin-6 and hCAP18 expression in these tissues. Our finding that hCAP18 is widely produced in squamous epithelia suggests a role for this peptide in epithelial antimicrobial defense. Furthermore, colocalization with interleukin-6 indicates a potential local mechanism for the upregulation of hCAP18 at the epithelial surfaces.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=116004Documentos Relacionados
- The peptide antibiotic LL-37/hCAP-18 is expressed in epithelia of the human lung where it has broad antimicrobial activity at the airway surface
- The Human Cationic Antimicrobial Protein (hCAP-18) Is Expressed in the Epithelium of Human Epididymis, Is Present in Seminal Plasma at High Concentrations, and Is Attached to Spermatozoa
- An angiogenic role for the human peptide antibiotic LL-37/hCAP-18
- Bacterial Phosphorylcholine Decreases Susceptibility to the Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37/hCAP18 Expressed in the Upper Respiratory Tract
- Protective Effects of a Human 18-Kilodalton Cationic Antimicrobial Protein (CAP18)-Derived Peptide against Murine Endotoxemia