Journal
BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL
Volume 436, Issue -, Pages 537-546Publisher
PORTLAND PRESS LTD
DOI: 10.1042/BJ20101977
Keywords
beta-defensin; chemotaxis; host defence; infrared microspectroscopy (IRMS); innate immunity; membrane interaction
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Funding
- Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) [LR26, R3A2]
- Italian National Grant PRIN [2007K9RFLS]
- Elettra Synchrotron Light Laboratory
- Trieste University
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beta-Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that exert their host-defence functions at the interface between the host and microbial biota. They display a direct, salt- and medium-sensitive cidal activity, in vitro, against a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi, and there is increasing evidence that they also play a role in alerting and enhancing cellular components of innate and adaptive immunity. Their interaction with biological membranes plays a central role in both of these types of activities. In the present study, we have investigated the interaction of fluorescently labelled hBD2 (human beta-defensin 2) with monocytes, macrophages and iDCs (immature dendritic cells), observing a differential capacity to be rapidly internalized into these cells. Complementary microscopy techniques [TEM (transmission electron microscopy), optical microscopy and IR microspectroscopy] were used to explore the functional and biological implications of these interactions on iDCs. Short-term exposure to the peptide resulted in significant alterations in membrane composition and re-organization of the endomembrane system, with the induction of degranulation. These events may be associated with the antigen-presenting activities or the chemotaxis of iDCs, which appears to occur via both CCR6 (CC chemokine receptor 6)-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
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