title: Responses of Candida albicans to the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37.
abstract: Candida albicans is amajor fungal pathogen in humans. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are critical components of the innate immune response in vertebrates and represent the first line of defense against microbial infection. LL-37 is the only member of the human family of cathelicidin AMPs and is commonly expressed by various tissues and cells, including surfaces of epithelia. The candidacidal effects of LL-37 have been well documented, but the mechanisms by which LL-37 kills C. albicans are not completely understood. In this study, we examined the effects of LL-37 on cell wall and cellular responses in C. albicans. Using transmission electron microscopy, carbohydrate analyses, and staining for β-1,3-glucan, changing of C. albicans cell wall integrity was detected upon LL-37 treatment. In addition, LL-37 also affected cell wall architecture of the pathogen. Finally, DNA microarray analysis and quantitative PCR demonstrated that sub-lethal concentrations of LL-37 modulated the expression of genes with a variety of functions, including transporters, regulators for biological processes, response to stress or chemical stimulus, and pathogenesis. Together, LL-37 induces complex responses in C. albicans, making LL-37 a promising candidate for use as a therapeutic agent against fungal infections.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Wen
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yin-Lien
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Wen-Ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Chung-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lan
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D054804:Cathelicidins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002241:Carbohydrates; D054804:Cathelicidins