title: Endotoxin-neutralizing effects of histidine-rich peptides.
abstract: Inflammatory responses of human peripheral blood monocytes to the Gram-negative endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are enhanced by structurally diverse substances, such as anionic polysaccharides or cationic polypeptides. Only a few substances are known to effectively blunt LPS-induced monocyte activation. We now show that synthetic poly-L-histidine (Hn) binds to LPS and abrogates the release of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) in LPS-stimulated human whole blood. LPS-induced stimulation of monocytes was strictly pH-dependent with only minor amounts of IL-8 secreted in acidic blood. Maximum levels of IL-8 secretion occurred at a strongly basic pH. Hn inhibition of the release of IL-8 from LPS-stimulated monocytes was observed under acidic, neutral and physiological conditions. With increasing alkalosis, the effectiveness of Hn was gradually lost, suggesting that protonated, but not deprotonated, Hn was effective in inhibiting LPS-induced monocyte responses. Histidine-rich protein 2 from the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, inhibited the ability of LPS to evoke an inflammatory response in CD14-transfected THP-1 cells. Further, a short synthetic peptide derived from human histidine- and proline-rich glycoprotein also exhibited LPS-inhibitory effects in CD14 transfectants. Taken together, these observations demonstrate the capacity of histidine-rich peptides, irrespective of their origin, to neutralize LPS-induced proinflammatory host responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zurich, Switzerland. herbert.bosshart@usz..ch
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bosshart
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heinzelmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D006639:Histidine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011522:Protons; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D016209:Interleukin-8; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; D011522:Protons; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein; C015462:polyarginine; C033223:polyhistidine; D006639:Histidine; C029899:imidazole