Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.2.1.17 (lysozyme)
 21,489 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Antimicrobial peptides and proteins are an important part of the innate host defense. In the present study, the expression profile of three human alpha-defensins, of two human beta-defensins (hBD) and of phospholipase A-2 (PLA-2) and lysozyme was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 56 non-inflamed and 18 inflamed oral tissue samples and primary oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts. The transcripts for hBD-1 and -2 as well as for PLA-2 and lysozyme were found to be widely expressed. In the group of the alpha-defensins, the message for the human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP-1) was frequently detected, whereas an expression of human Paneth's cell defensin-5 (HD-5) was identified in only a minority of samples. Transcripts for HD-6 were not detectable in any sample. Oral keratinocytes but not fibroblasts contained transcripts for the beta-defensins, suggesting that these defensins are produced in the epithelial compartment. In contrast, mRNA expression of neutrophil-derived HNP-1 and PLA-2 was not observed in any of these cells. These results suggest an important role for hBD-1 and hBD-2 in the innate oral epithelial host defense.
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PMID:Expression profile of human defensins and antimicrobial proteins in oral tissues. 1127 30

The objective of this study was to determine the expression and production of antimicrobial peptides by healthy and inflamed human synovial membranes. Deposition of the antimicrobial peptides lysozyme, lactoferrin, secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPA(2)), matrilysin (MMP7), human neutrophil alpha-defensins 1-3 (HNP 1-3), human beta-defensin 1 (HBD-1), and human beta-defensin 2 (HBD-2) was determined by immunohistochemistry. Expression of mRNA for the antimicrobial peptides bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (BPI), heparin binding protein (CAP37), human cationic antimicrobial protein (LL37), human alpha-defensin 5 (HD5), human alpha-defensin 6 (HD6), HBD-1, HBD-2, and human beta-defensin 3 (HBD-3) was analysed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RT-PCR revealed CAP37 and HBD-1 mRNA in samples of healthy synovial membrane. Additionally, HBD-3 and/or LL37 mRNA was detected in synovial membrane samples from patients with pyogenic arthritis (PA), osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). BPI, HD5, HD6, and HBD-2 mRNAs were absent from all samples investigated. Immunohistochemistry identified lysozyme, lactoferrin, sPA(2), and MMP7 in type A synoviocytes of all samples. HBD-1 was only present in type B synoviocytes of some of the samples. Immunoreactive HBD-2 peptide was only visible in some inflamed samples. HNP1-3 was detected in both healthy and inflamed synovial membranes. The data suggest that human synovial membranes produce a broad spectrum of antimicrobial peptides. Under inflammatory conditions, the expression pattern changes, with induction of HBD-3 in PA (LL37 in RA; HBD-3 and LL37 in OA) as well as down-regulation of HBD-1. HBD-3 holds therapeutic potential in PA as it has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and accelerates epithelial healing. However, caution is appropriate since defensins also promote fibrin formation and cell proliferation - key elements in joint infection. Clarification of the role of antimicrobial peptides in OA and RA will require further investigation.
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PMID:Antimicrobial peptides are expressed and produced in healthy and inflamed human synovial membranes. 1237 70

The impact of chronic inflammation on the expression of human alpha-defensins 5 and 6 (HD-5, HD-6), beta-defensins 1 and 2 (hBD-1, hBD-2) and lysozyme in epithelial cells of small and large intestine was investigated. Intestinal specimens from 16 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 14 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 40 controls with no history of inflammatory bowel disease were studied. mRNA expression levels of the five defence molecules were determined in freshly isolated epithelial cells by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Specific copy standards were used allowing comparison between the expression levels of the different defensins. HD-5 and lysozyme protein expression was also studied by immunohistochemistry. Colonic epithelial cells from patients with UC displayed a significant increase of hBD-2, HD-5, HD-6 and lysozyme mRNA as compared to epithelial cells in controls. Lysozyme mRNA was expressed at very high average copy numbers followed by HD-5, HD-6, hBD-1 and hBD-2 mRNA. HD-5 and lysozyme protein was demonstrated in metaplastic Paneth-like cells in UC colon. There was no correlation between hBD-2 mRNA levels and HD-5 or HD-6 mRNA levels in colon epithelial cells of UC patients. Colonic epithelial cells of Crohn's colitis patients showed increased mRNA levels of HD-5 and lysozyme mRNA whereas ileal epithelial cells of Crohn's patients with ileo-caecal inflammation did not. Chronic inflammation in colon results in induction of hBD-2 and alpha-defensins and increased lysozyme expression. hBD-1 expression levels in colon remain unchanged in colitis. The high antimicrobial activity of epithelial cells in chronic colitis may be a consequence of changes in the epithelial lining, permitting adherence of both pathogenic bacteria and commensals directly to the epithelial cell surface.
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PMID:Increased expression of antimicrobial peptides and lysozyme in colonic epithelial cells of patients with ulcerative colitis. 1251 91