title: Antimicrobial peptides human beta-defensins and cathelicidin LL-37 induce the secretion of a pruritogenic cytokine IL-31 by human mast cells.
abstract: In addition to their microbiocidal properties, human beta-defensins (hBDs) and cathelicidin LL-37 stimulate a number of mammalian cell activities, including migration, proliferation, and cytokine/chemokine production. Because hBDs and LL-37 cause mast cells to release pruritogens such as histamine and PGs, we hypothesized that these peptides would stimulate the secretion of a novel pruritogenic mediator IL-31, predominantly produced by T cells. hBDs and LL-37 enhanced IL-31 gene expression and IL-31 protein production and release in the human mast cell line LAD2, as well as in peripheral blood-derived cultured mast cells, suggesting that mast cells are another source of IL-31. Moreover, the expression of IL-31 was elevated in psoriatic skin mast cells, and hBD-2-4 and LL-37, but not hBD-1, enhanced its expression in vivo in rat skin mast cells. hBDs and LL-37 also induced the release of other pruritogenic mediators, including IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, GM-CSF, nerve growth factor, PGE(2), and leukotriene C(4), and increased mRNA expression of substance P. hBD- and LL-37-mediated IL-31 production/release was markedly reduced by pertussis toxin and wortmannin, inhibitors of G-protein and PI3K, respectively. As evidenced by the inhibitory effects of MAPK-specific inhibitors, hBD-2-4 and LL-37 activated the phosphorylation of MAPKs p38, ERK, and JNK that were required for IL-31 production and release. The ability of hBDs and LL-37 to stimulate the production and release of IL-31 by human mast cells provides a novel mechanism by which skin-derived antimicrobial peptides/proteins may contribute to inflammatory reactions and suggests a central role of these peptides in the pathogenesis of skin disorders.
authors.affiliation: Atopy Allergy Research Center, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. francois@juntendo.ac.jp
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Niyonsaba
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ushio
authors.forename: Mutsuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokoi
authors.forename: Mitsutoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takamori
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kajiwara
authors.forename: Hirohisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nagaoka
authors.forename: Hideoki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okumura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D054804:Cathelicidins / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D054804:Cathelicidins; C502187:IL31 protein, human; D007378:Interleukins; D023083:beta-Defensins