title: Inhibition of growth and cysteine proteinase activity of Staphylococcus aureus V8 by phosphorylated cystatin alpha in skin cornified envelope.
abstract: The activity of a cysteine proteinase purified from Staphylococcus aureus V8 (SAV8) was inhibited by phosphorylated cystatin alpha (P-cystatin alpha) and by purified cornified envelope protein of newborn rat, a conjugated form of P-cystatin alpha. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a marked decrease in P-cystatin alpha content in cornified envelope treated with sphingosine. The inhibition of papain activity by proteins from sphingosine-treated skin was much weaker than that exerted by proteins from the untreated skin. The suppression of SAV8 colony formation inoculated on the sphingosine-treated skin was examined. Colony formation on the sphingosine-treated skin was enhanced compared to that on normal skin. These findings suggest that P-cystatin alpha in the cornified envelope may have a bacteriostatic barrier function against bacterial infection, such as that with SAV8.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tezuka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katunuma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D015891:Cystatins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010206:Papain / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C070572:Csta protein, rat; D015891:Cystatins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D010206:Papain