title: Ovine trophoblasts express cathelicidin host defence peptide in response to infection.
abstract: Cationic host defence peptides (CHDP; also known as antimicrobial peptides) are key components of the immune response in the female reproductive tract. The role of the placental trophoblast in ovine host defence remains poorly understood. This study characterises expression of genes for cathelicidin and defensin peptides in primary ovine placental tissues, the ovine trophoblast cell line (AH-1) and in response to the TLR-4 ligand LPS, the abortifacient organism Waddlia chondrophila and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Using RT-PCR, expression of the CHDP SMAP-29, sBD-1 and sBD-2 was assessed in the AH-1 cell line in response to LPS, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 exposure (a known stimulator of cathelicidin gene expression), or W. chondrophila infection. Expression of cathelicidin in the trophoblast compartment of the ovine placenta and in the ovine trophoblast cell line (AH-1) was also established. AH-1 cells did not upregulate expression of CHDP in response to LPS, but sBD-1 and sBD-2 expression was significantly increased in response to W. chondrophila infection. SMAP-29 expression was not altered by in vitro exposure to 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. This study demonstrates that the ovine trophoblast expresses cathelicidins, but does not upregulate expression of CHDP in response to LPS. Ovine trophoblasts are shown to differentially regulate expression of CHDP and lack a demonstrable vitamin D-mediated cathelicidin response.
authors.affiliation: School of Life, Sport and Social Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coyle
authors.affiliation: Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wheelhouse
authors.affiliation: School of Life, Sport and Social Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jacques
authors.affiliation: Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Longbottom
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Core Facility Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta GA 30333, United States.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Svoboda
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Core Facility Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta GA 30333, United States.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queens Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: W Colin
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: School of Life, Sport and Social Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rae
authors.affiliation: School of Life, Sport and Social Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, United Kingdom. Electronic address: p.barlow@napier.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Barlow
mesh_terms: D015650:24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054804:Cathelicidins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D002695:Chlamydiales / Q000276:immunology*; D023082:Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000662:veterinary; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology*; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001798:Blood Proteins; D054804:Cathelicidins; D023082:Defensins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C403305:SMAP29 protein, Ovis aries; D015650:24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3
keywords: Antimicrobial peptide; Cathelicidin; Chlamydia-related organisms; Defensin; Trophoblast; Waddlia