title: PR-39, a porcine antimicrobial peptide, inhibits apoptosis: involvement of caspase-3.
abstract: The porcine antimicrobial peptide, PR-39, has several activities beyond its function of killing bacteria. Here we report that PR-39 alters macrophage viability by inhibiting apoptosis, which was induced by nutrient depletion, LPS stimulation or camptothecin treatment. This antiapoptotic effect was pronounced resulting in significant reductions in annexin-V binding to externalized phosphatidylserine and was associated with a decrease in caspase-3 activity. These findings suggest that PR-39, a porcine neutrophil-derived antimicrobial peptide, might function in the inflammatory milieu not only to kill bacteria, but also to aid in modulating the viability of inflammatory cells by regulating apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Coles Hall 228, 1600 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506-5602, USA.
authors.forename: Balaji
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blecha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000494:pharmacology; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C072212:PR 39; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D002166:Camptothecin