title: Protective role of murine β-defensins 3 and 4 and cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide in Fusarium solani keratitis.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), such as β-defensins and cathelicidins, are essential components of innate and adaptive immunity owing to their extensive multifunctional activities. However, their role in fungal infection in vivo remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of murine β-defensin 3 (mBD3), mBD4, and the cathelicidin cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) in a murine model of Fusarium solani keratitis. C57BL/6 mice showed significant corneal disease 1 and 3 days after infection, which was accompanied by enhanced expression of β-defensins and CRAMP. Disease severity was significantly improved 7 days after infection, at which time AMP expression was returning to baseline. Mice deficient in mBD3 (genetic knockout), mBD4 (short interfering RNA knockdown), or CRAMP (genetic knockout) exhibited enhanced disease severity and progression, increased neutrophil recruitment, and delayed pathogen elimination compared to controls. Taken together, these data suggest a vital role for AMPs in defense against F. solani keratitis, a potentially blinding corneal disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Houston, College of Optometry, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Satya Sree N
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kolar
authors.forename: Hasna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baidouri
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanlon
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: McDermott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054804:Cathelicidins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D060585:Fusariosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007634:Keratitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054804:Cathelicidins; D023083:beta-Defensins