Laryngoscope. 2008 Jan 30; [Epub ahead of print]
An Antimicrobial Peptide Modulates Epithelial Responses to Bacterial
Products.
Vonk MJ, Hiemstra PS, Grote JJ.
From the departments of Otorhinolaryngology (m.j.v., j.j.g.) and
Pulmonology (p.s.h.), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The
Netherlands, and OctoPlus N.V. (m.j.v.), Leiden, The Netherlands.
INTRODUCTION:: Changes in the respiratory epithelium and chronic and
recurrent infections are thought to play a central role in the
pathogenesis of otitis media and sinusitis. The airway epithelium is the
primary defense system of the respiratory tract. Bacterial cell membrane
components like lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) can
affect the mucociliary clearance function of the respiratory epithelium.
P60.4-Ac is a synthetic antimicrobial peptide based on the structure of
the cathelicidin LL-37 that neutralizes the pro-inflammatory activity of
LPS and LTA. MATERIALS AND METHODS:: Normal respiratory sinus epithelium
was cultured at the air liquid interface. The cells were incubated with
LPS or LTA in the presence or absence of P60.4-Ac. RESULTS:: P60.4-Ac
neutralized the LPS- and LTA- induced effect on air-liquid interface
cultured epithelial cells. P60.4-Ac significantly inhibited the increase
in the epithelial layer caused by LPS or LTA. CONCLUSION:: These data
demonstrate that P60.4-Ac might be of clinical benefit in the management
of otitis media with effusion and sinusitis.
PMID: 18300705


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