title: Ascorbic acid, ultraviolet C rays, and glucose but not hyperthermia are elicitors of human β-defensin 1 mRNA in normal keratinocytes.
abstract: Hosts' innate defense systems are upregulated by antimicrobial peptide elicitors (APEs). Our aim was to investigate the effects of hyperthermia, ultraviolet A rays (UVA), and ultraviolet C rays (UVC) as well as glucose and ascorbic acid (AA) on the regulation of human β-defensin 1 (DEFB1), cathelicidin (CAMP), and interferon-γ (IFNG) genes in normal human keratinocytes (NHK). The indirect in vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes of these potential APEs was tested. We found that AA is a more potent APE for DEFB1 than glucose in NHK. Glucose but not AA is an APE for CAMP. Mild hypo- (35°C) and hyperthermia (39°C) are not APEs in NHK. AA-dependent DEFB1 upregulation below 20 mM predicts in vitro antimicrobial activity as well as glucose- and AA-dependent CAMP and IFNG upregulation. UVC upregulates CAMP and DEFB1 genes but UVA only upregulates the DEFB1 gene. UVC is a previously unrecognized APE in human cells. Our results suggest that glucose upregulates CAMP in an IFN-γ-independent manner. AA is an elicitor of innate immunity that will challenge the current concept of late activation of adaptive immunity of this vitamin. These results could be useful in designing new potential drugs and devices to combat skin infections.
authors: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Biosecurity Area, Pharmaceutical and Medical Biotechnology Unit (UBMF), Research Center in Technology and Design Assistance of Jalisco State (CIATEJ, AC), National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico.
authors: Luis Antonio
authors: LA
authors: Cruz Díaz
authors: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Biosecurity Area, Pharmaceutical and Medical Biotechnology Unit (UBMF), Research Center in Technology and Design Assistance of Jalisco State (CIATEJ, AC), National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico.
authors: María Guadalupe
authors: MG
authors: Flores Miramontes
authors: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Biosecurity Area, Pharmaceutical and Medical Biotechnology Unit (UBMF), Research Center in Technology and Design Assistance of Jalisco State (CIATEJ, AC), National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico.
authors: Paulina
authors: 0000-0003-4613-3151
authors: P
authors: Chávez Hurtado
authors: In silico Laboratory, UBMF, CIATEJ AC, CONACYT, Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico ; Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
authors: Kirk
authors: K
authors: Allen
authors: Human Digestive Tract Simulator, UBMF, CIATEJ, AC, CONACYT, Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico.
authors: Marisela
authors: M
authors: Gonzalez Ávila
authors: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Biosecurity Area, Pharmaceutical and Medical Biotechnology Unit (UBMF), Research Center in Technology and Design Assistance of Jalisco State (CIATEJ, AC), National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico ; In silico Laboratory, UBMF, CIATEJ AC, CONACYT, Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico.
authors: Ernesto
authors: E
authors: Prado Montes de Oca
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005334:Fever; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D005947:Glucose; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D054804:Cathelicidins