title: Serum antimicrobial peptides in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.
abstract: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent inflammation of serosal and synovial membranes. Despite the fact that it is a genetic disease, environmental factors, including infections, are shown to be triggering factors associated with the precipitation of attacks in FMF. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are components of innate immunity which exert antimicrobial activity against many microorganisms. Human AMPs; cathelicidin (LL37) and defensins have immunomodulatory properties and are involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory disorders. Hence, we investigated serum AMPs in 23 newly diagnosed FMF patients. Blood samples were obtained at baseline, 6 months after initiation of colchicine and during an attack. Twenty-four healthy individuals constituted the control group. The concentrations of LL37, alpha-1, beta-1 and beta-2 defensins were determined by ELISA. Serum AMPs did not change during attacks and did not correlate with acute phase reactants. However, serum LL37 and defensins were found to be remarkably higher in FMF patients compared to healthy individuals both at baseline and 6 months after initiation of colchicine therapy which suggest that AMPs might have a role in the pathogenesis of FMF.
authors.affiliation: Gazi University, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: dratufan@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tufan
authors.affiliation: Gazi University, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rıdvan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mercan
authors.affiliation: Gazi University, Department of Biochemistry, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozge Tugce
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Pasaoglu
authors.affiliation: Gazi University, Department of Biochemistry, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pasaoglu
authors.affiliation: Gazi University, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Akif
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.affiliation: Gazi University, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goker
authors.affiliation: Gazi University, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seminur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haznedaroglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D003078:Colchicine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D023084:alpha-Defensins / Q000097:blood*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000097:blood*; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D023084:alpha-Defensins; D023083:beta-Defensins; C406413:human neutrophil peptide 1; D003078:Colchicine; D054804:Cathelicidins
keywords: Antimicrobial peptide; Cathelicidin; Defensin; Familial Mediterranean fever; Inflammation; Pathogenesis