The only human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, playing key roles in innate immune defense, wound healing, and modulation of inflammatory responses.
PR39, a porcine cathelicidin rich in the amino acids proline and arginine can interact with the negatively charged component of the cell surface, and rapidly penetrate cell membranes. Therefore, we hypothesized that PR39, as a membrane penetrating pe…
The ClpXP protease is a critical bacterial intracellular protease that regulates protein turnover in many bacterial species. Here we identified a pharmacological inhibitor of the ClpXP protease, F2, and evaluated its action in Bacillus anthracis and…
RATIONALE: Neutrophils have been reported to contribute to early atherosclerotic lesion formation. Mechanisms of neutrophil-driven atherosclerosis remain unclear so far. OBJECTIVE: Investigation of the role of the neutrophil granule protein cathelici…
BACKGROUND: Although numerous genetic studies have been performed, only 0.9% of blood pressure phenotypic variance has been elucidated. This phenomenon could be partially due to epistatic interactions. Our aim was to identify epistatic interaction(s)…
Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) suffer from chronic lung infection and inflammation leading to respiratory failure. Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with CF, and correction of vitamin D deficiency may improve innate immunity and reduce i…
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 is expressed in periodontal tissue, and variations in LL-37 levels have been associated with periodontal disease. The effects of LL-37 on periodontal ligament cell function have not been descr…
Cathelicidins are a family of endogenous antimicrobial peptides that exert diverse immune functions, including both direct bacterial killing and immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we examined the contribution of the murine cathelicidin, catheli…
BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that innate immune system was more important than the acquired immune system in the pathogenesis of COPD. LL-37 is the only human cathelicidin identified so far. As an integral part of the innate immune system,…
Cathelicidins are a major family of antimicrobial peptides present in vertebrate animals with potent microbicidal and immunomodulatory activities. Four cathelicidins, namely fowlicidins 1 to 3 and cathelicidin B1, have been identified in chickens. As…
BACKGROUND: Obstructive jaundice is associated with bacterial translocation and inflammatory cytokine induction. It is unknown if toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their upstream molecule high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) are involved in the pathogeneti…
BACKGROUND: Intestinal helminthiasis modulates immune responses to vaccines and environmental allergens. To explore the impact on intestinal host defense, we assessed expression of antimicrobial peptide genes, together with T cell subset markers and…
Haemophilus ducreyi resists killing by antimicrobial peptides encountered during human infection, including cathelicidin LL-37, α-defensins, and β-defensins. In this study, we examined the role of the proton motive force-dependent multiple transferab…
Cathelicidin-type antimicrobial peptides (CAMP) are important mediators of innate immunity against microbial pathogens acting through direct interaction with and disruption of microbial membranes and indirectly through modulation of host cell migrati…
Inflammatory diseases remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Cathelicidins are immunomodulatory and antimicrobial peptides with potent anti-endotoxic properties. Although the effects of the human cathelicidin LL-37 on cellular response…
Bacterial pathogens display a variety of protection mechanisms against the inhibitory and lethal effects of host cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs). To identify Yersinia pestis genes involved in CAMP resistance, libraries of DSY101 (KIM6 caf1 pl…
BACKGROUND: Chronic, infected wounds typically contain multiple genera of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, many of which are strong biofilm formers. Bacterial biofilms are thought to be a direct impediment to wound healing. New therapies th…
Vitamin D receptor (VDR)-dependent mechanisms regulate human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP)/LL-37 in various cell types, but CAMP expression also increases after external perturbations (such as infection, injuries, UV irradiation, and perm…
The external auditory canal is vulnerable to bacterial infections, but little is known about thechemical compositions of ear wax regarding antimicrobial peptides. We, therefore, studied the proteinconcentrations of ten well-known human antimicrobial…
In humans, the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) are important proinflammatory mediators, whereas lipoxin A(4) (LXA(4)) and resolvin E1 (RvE1) possess anti-inflammatory, proresolving properties. Previously, we reported that LT…