Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides and proteins are effector molecules in the protection of epithelial surfaces. We have evaluated the presence of antimicrobial peptides/proteins that can participate in human colonic defence against microbes. A peptide/protein extract of normal human colon mucosa was found to be active against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. Four polypeptides with antimicrobial activity were isolated from this material and they were identified by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis as ubiquicidin, histone H2B, eosinophil cationic protein, and phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)). Using immunodetection and mass spectrometry, LL-37, HNP1-3, and HBD-1 were also identified. Combined, these results indicate that the colon mucosa is protected by a complex mixture of polypeptides, able to kill invading microbes and working in synergy as a barrier against bacterial invasion.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / pharmacology
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Bacteria / immunology
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Blood Proteins / chemistry
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Blotting, Southern
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Blotting, Western
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Cathelicidins
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
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Colon / pathology*
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Defensins / chemistry
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Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
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Eosinophil Granule Proteins
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Histones / chemistry
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Humans
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Mass Spectrometry
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Mucous Membrane / pathology*
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Peptides / chemistry
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Peptides / pharmacology
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Phospholipases A / chemistry
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Ribonucleases / chemistry
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Ribosomal Proteins / chemistry
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Time Factors
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alpha-Defensins / chemistry
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beta-Defensins / chemistry
Substances
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Anti-Infective Agents
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Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
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Blood Proteins
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Cathelicidins
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DEFB1 protein, human
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Defensins
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Eosinophil Granule Proteins
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Histones
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Peptides
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RNA, Messenger
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Ribosomal Proteins
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alpha-Defensins
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beta-Defensins
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human neutrophil peptide 1
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ribosomal protein S30
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Ribonucleases
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Phospholipases A