title: Upregulated expression of human alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 in hypercholesteremia and its relationship with serum lipid levels.
abstract: Human alpha-defensins are natural antimicrobial peptides of neutrophils evolved in host defense reactions and circulating nonstressed alpha-defensins may be associated with serum lipid levels. The aim of this work was to examine whether the expression of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 genes are changed and whether this changes are reversed following treatment in patients with hypercholesteremia. A total of 40 individuals of hypercholesteremia group were studied, compared with 40 individuals of normal control group. Protein levels and gene expression levels of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 were significantly higher in patients with hypercholesteremia compared with subjects in normal control group. In patients with hypercholesteremia, protein levels of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 correlated positively with the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Protein levels and gene expression levels of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 were decreased significantly after a treatment with atorvastatin calcium 20mg daily compared with the patients before the treatment. Our results suggest that the expression of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 genes is involved in dyslipidemia in patients with hypercholesteremia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory, Southern Medical University Affiliated the First People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, China. Electronic address: 510912624@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yun-Xi
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory, Southern Medical University Affiliated the First People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, China. Electronic address: 1826597792@qq.com.
authors.forename: Chao-Qun
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Southern Medical University Affiliated the First People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, China. Electronic address: 909579687@qq.com.
authors.forename: Da-Yu
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory, Southern Medical University Affiliated the First People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, China. Electronic address: 565785764@qq.com.
authors.forename: Shu-Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Southern Medical University Affiliated the First People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, China. Electronic address: lws95160@163.com.
authors.forename: Wen-Sheng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023084:alpha-Defensins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D023084:alpha-Defensins; C406413:human neutrophil peptide 1; C406416:human neutrophil peptide 2; C406427:human neutrophil peptide 3; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin
keywords: Defensin; Gene expression; Human neutrophil peptide; Hypercholesteremia