Generation of multiple stable dermcidin-derived antimicrobial peptides in sweat of different body sites.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are effector molecules of innate immunity. Dermcidin (DCD), a recently discovered AMP with broad-spectrum activity, is produced constitutively by the eccrine sweat glands and secreted into sweat. In this study, we investigated the proteolytic processing, site-specific expression, and stability of DCD peptides in eccrine sweat. Using surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) and reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis, we identified in eccrine sweat 14 proteolytically processed DCD peptides. Semiquantitative SELDI-TOF-MS analysis indicated that processing of DCD-1L is individually different, but generates a few dominant peptides. At body sites with a high probability for contact with pathogenic microorganisms, a high amount of antimicrobial active DCD peptides was detected in sweat. Furthermore, we show that the secretion rate of DCD is constant during a period of prolonged sweating and that DCD peptides are stable in sweat over several hours. Other known AMPs like the human cathelicidin LL-37 and alpha- or beta-defensins were not detected in significant quantity in eccrine sweat. Owing to the durable and abundant presence, DCD-derived peptides contribute to the first line of defense by building a constant barrier that overlies the epithelial skin.
Rieg
Siegbert
S
Department of Dermatology, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Seeber
Silke
S
Steffen
Heiko
H
Humeny
Andreas
A
Kalbacher
Hubert
H
Stevanovic
Stefan
S
Kimura
Akihiko
A
Garbe
Claus
C
Schittek
Birgit
B
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D054804:Cathelicidins; D023082:Defensins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004439:Eccrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013542:Sweat / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054804:Cathelicidins; D023082:Defensins; D010455:Peptides; C442243:dermcidin