Polymorphic expression of defensins in neutrophils from outbred rats.
We isolated and characterized a rat neutrophil defensin, RatNP-2, that differs from the previously described defensin RatNP-1 by containing Ser-7 in place of Arg-7. Although the resulting charge difference rendered RatNP-2 easily distinguishable from RatNP-1 on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels, the two defensins exhibited very similar antimicrobial efficacies against Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The polymorphonuclear leukocytes of Sprague-Dawley rats obtained from one of two breeders also showed a marked polymorphism for defensin RatNP-4. This defensin was absent in two of seven animals and present in 1x or 2x relative amounts in the others. These observations indicate that a striking degree of defensin polymorphism exists in the polymorphonuclear leukocytes of outbred rodents.
Eisenhauer
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P
Department of Medicine, UCLA Center for the Health Sciences 90024.
Harwig
S S
SS
Szklarek
D
D
Ganz
T
T
Lehrer
R I
RI
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D023082:Defensins; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects
D000596:Amino Acids; D001798:Blood Proteins; D023082:Defensins