15038 studies
Polyamines are biogenic polycationic molecules involved in key cellular functions. Extracellular polyamines found in bodily fluids or laboratory media can be imported by bacteria or bind to negatively charged bacterial surface structures, where they…
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recent discoveries cast doubt on granuloma formation solely as a protective mechanism, and highlight the importance of innate immunity of the host response to pathogenic mycobacteria. Here, we briefly review evidence that mycobacte…
Mast cells are emerging as contributors to innate immunity. Mouse mast cells have a pivotal role in protection against bacterial infection, and human cord blood-derived mast cells reduce bacterial viability in culture. The objectives of this study we…
Macrolide resistance is a major concern in the treatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Inducible macrolide resistance in this pneumococcus is mediated by the efflux pump MefE/Mel. We show here that the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 induces the mef…
Human cathelicidin LL-37, a host defense peptide derived from leukocytes and epithelial cells, plays a crucial role in innate and adaptive immunity. Not only does LL-37 eliminate pathogenic microbes directly but also modulates host immune responses.…
Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) release during periodontal infection is a significant component of periodontal disease. We hypothesized that some bacterial LPS release results from bacterial exposure to antibiotics. Therefore, we examined the abil…
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether soluble molecules with known anti-HIV-1 activity are increased in saliva of HIV-1 exposed uninfected individuals of discordant couples of men who have sex with men (MSM), and whether the levels of these molecules are…
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of LL-37 and IL-8 in chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps. METHOD: Semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the expression…
Autophagy is an ancient mechanism of protein degradation and a novel antimicrobial strategy. With respect to host defences against mycobacteria, autophagy plays a crucial role in antimycobacterial resistance, and contributes to immune surveillance of…
In human monocytes, Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/1 activation leads to vitamin D3-dependent antimycobacterial activities, but the molecular mechanisms by which TLR2/1 stimulation induces antimicrobial activities against mycobacteria remain unclear. Her…
TLRs are required for generation of protective lung mucosal immune responses against microbial pathogens. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the TLR5 ligand flagellin on stimulation of antibacterial mucosal immunity in a lethal murine Pseudomo…
The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 is known to have a potent LPS-neutralizing activity in monocytes and macrophages. Recently, LL-37 in gingival crevicular fluids is suggested to be the major protective factor preventing infection of periodontogenic pat…
We wanted to investigate if plasma levels of antimicrobial polypeptides (AMPs) are increased in severe sepsis and if they correlate with severity and mortality. Samples were collected from 31 sepsis patients at the intensive care unit. The Sequential…
King cobra cathelicidin (OH-CATH) is composed of 34 amino acid residues having strong antibacterial and very weak hemolytic activities as reported by us recently. OH-CATH can be served as a valuable template to develop novel therapeutic drugs. In thi…
Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) inhibits tissue factor-induced coagulation, but may, via its C terminus, also modulate cell surface, heparin, and lipopolysaccharide interactions as well as participate in growth inhibition. Here we show that C-…
Antimicrobial peptides are predominantly small cationic polypeptides that are classified together on the basis of these molecules to directly kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms including mycobacteria, and to activate mechanisms of cellular…
Among bacterial pathogens, Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa infection is the most sight threatening. The corneal innate immune responses are key mediators of the host's defense to P. aeruginosa. Using a mouse model of Pseudomonas keratitis, we evaluated t…
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D insufficiency is common in industrialized and developing nations. Recent studies have shown that vitamin D insufficiency is associated with a higher risk of active tuberculosis. Laboratory studies provided a mechanism for this l…
The human cathelicidin LL-37 has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. It also participates at the interface of innate and adaptive immunity by chemoattracting immune effector cells, modulating the production of a variety of inflammatory mediators b…