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- Al Adwani, Salma, et al.
(författare)
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Citrullination Alters the Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Functions of the Host Defense Peptide Canine Cathelicidin K9CATH In Vitro
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Immunology. - : The American Association of Immunologists. - 0022-1767 .- 1550-6606. ; 207:3, s. 974-984
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- K9CATH is the sole cathelicidin in canines (dogs) and exhibits broad antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. K9CATH also modulates inflammatory responses and binds to LPS. These activities depend on the secondary structure and a net-positive charge of the peptide. Peptidylarginine deiminases (PAD) convert cationic peptidyl arginine to neutral citrulline. Thus, we hypothesized that citrullination is a biologically relevant modification of the peptide that would reduce the antibacterial and LPS-binding activities of K9CATH. Recombinant PAD2 and PAD4 citrullinated K9CATH to various extents and circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed that both native and citrullinated K9CATH exhibited similar α-helical secondary structures. Notably, citrullination of K9CATH reduced its bactericidal activity, abolished its ability to permeabilize the membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and reduced the hemolytic capacity. Electron microscopy showed that citrullinated K9CATH did not cause any morphological changes of Gram-negative bacteria, whereas the native peptide caused clear alterations of membrane integrity, concordant with a rapid bactericidal effect. Finally, citrullination of K9CATH impaired its capacity to inhibit LPS-mediated release of proinflammatory molecules from mouse and canine macrophages. In conclusion, citrullination attenuates the antibacterial and the LPS-binding properties of K9CATH, demonstrating the importance of a net positive charge for antibacterial lysis of bacteria and LPS-binding effects and suggests that citrullination is a means to regulate cathelicidin activities.
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| 2. |
- Muvva, Jagadeeswara Rao, et al.
(författare)
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Immunomodulatory Agents Combat Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis by Improving Antimicrobial Immunity
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Infectious Diseases. - : Oxford University Press. - 0022-1899 .- 1537-6613. ; 224:2, s. 332-344
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis has low treatment success rates, and new treatment strategies are needed. We explored whether treatment with active vitamin D-3 (vitD) and phenylbutyrate (PBA) could improve conventional chemotherapy by enhancing immune-mediated eradication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Methods. A clinically relevant model was used consisting of human macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis isolates (n = 15) with different antibiotic resistance profiles. The antimicrobial effect of vitD+PBA, was tested together with rifampicin or isoniazid. Methods included colony-forming units (intracellular bacterial growth), messenger RNA expression analyses (LL-37, beta-defensin, nitric oxide synthase, and dual oxidase 2), RNA interference (LL-37-silencing in primary macrophages), and Western blot analysis and confocal microscopy (LL-37 and LC3 protein expression). Results. VitD+PBA inhibited growth of clinical MDR tuberculosis strains in human macrophages and strengthened intracellular growth inhibition of rifampicin and isoniazid via induction of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and I,C3-dependent autophagy. Gene silencing of LL-37 expression enhanced MDR tuberculosis growth in vitD+PBA-treated macrophages. Me combination of vitD+PBA and isoniazid were as effective in reducing intracellular MDR tuberculosis growth as a >125-fold higher dose of isoniazid alone, suggesting potent additive effects of vitD+PBA with isoniazid. Conclusions. Immunomodulatory agents that trigger multiple immune pathways can strengthen standard MDR tuberculosis treatment and contribute to next-generation individualized treatment options for patients with difficult-to-treat pulmonary tuberculosis.
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