title: Proline-arginine rich (PR-39) cathelicidin: Structure, expression and functional implication in intestinal health.
abstract: Proline-Arginine-39 (PR-39) is a small cationic, proline and arginine rich, cathelicidin that plays an important role in the porcine innate immune system. Although PR-39 was first discovered in intestinal cell lysates of pigs, subsequent research has indicated that it is primarily expressed in bone marrow and other lymphoid tissues including the thymus and spleen, as well as in leukocytes. Mature PR-39 cathelicidin has anti-microbial activity against many gram-negative and some gram-positive bacteria. PR-39 is also a bridge between the innate and adaptive immune system with recognized immunomodulatory, wound healing, anti-apoptotic, and pro-angiogenic functions. The purpose of this review is to summarize our current knowledge about the structure, expression, and functions of PR-39 and its potential to promote intestinal homeostasis. This understanding is relevant in the search of alternative therapeutics against diarrheic enterocolitis, a major problem faced by pork producers both in terms of costs and risk of zoonosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holani
authors.affiliation: Bachelor of Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Chaitanya
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Bachelor of Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Qahir
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Haji
authors.affiliation: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Canada.
authors.forename: G Douglas
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Inglis
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Richard R E
authors.initials: RRE
authors.lastname: Uwiera
authors.affiliation: Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada. Electronic address: ecobo@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Eduardo R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Cobo
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D006706:Homeostasis; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C072212:PR 39; D054804:Cathelicidins
keywords: Antimicrobial; Cathelicidin; Immunemodulator; Infectious disease; Intestine; Neutrophil; PR-39; Pig; Proline-arginine-peptide