title: [Activity of defensins from human neutrophils against Mycobacterium avium complex].
abstract: We examined the activity of defensins from human neutrophils against Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). MAC were cultured in the presence of defensins at 37 degrees C for 4-48 hours. After incubation, colony counts were enumerated by colony-forming units (CFU). Human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP-1) at 5 micrograms/ml had the ability to kill MAC. We tested 8 strains of MAC. HNP-1 was successful in killing every strain, although the degree of killing varied from strain to strain. We also found that HNP-2 and HNP-3 were as effective in killing MAC as HNP-1. We suggest that defensins play an important role in the host defenses against MAC.
authors.affiliation: Koga Hospital, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koga
mesh_terms: D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D023082:Defensins; D006801:Humans; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D023084:alpha-Defensins
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D023082:Defensins; D023084:alpha-Defensins; C406413:human neutrophil peptide 1; C406416:human neutrophil peptide 2; C406427:human neutrophil peptide 3