MURAL - Maynooth University Research Archive Library



    The Human Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 Promotes the Growth of the Pulmonary Pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus


    Sheehan, Gerard, Bergsson, Gudmundur, McElvaney, Noel G., Reeves, Emer P. and Kavanagh, Kevin (2018) The Human Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 Promotes the Growth of the Pulmonary Pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Infection and Immunity, 86 (7). ISSN 0019-9567

    [thumbnail of KK_the human cathelicidin.pdf]
    Preview
    Text
    KK_the human cathelicidin.pdf

    Download (1MB) | Preview

    Abstract

    The pulmonary mucus of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients displays elevated levels of the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide LL-37, and the aim of this work was to assess the effect of LL-37 on the growth of Aspergillus fumigatus, a common pathogen of CF patients. Exposure of A. fumigatus to LL-37 and its derived fragment RK-31 (1.95 μg/ml) for 24 h had a positive effect on growth (199.94% ± 6.172% [P < 0.05] and 218.20% ± 4.63% [P < 0.05], respectively), whereas scrambled LL-37 peptide did not (85.12% ± 2.92%). Exposure of mycelium (preformed for 24 h) to 5 μg/ml intact LL-37 for 48 h increased hyphal wet weight (4.37 ± 0.23 g, P < 0.001) compared to the control (2.67 ± 0.05 g) and scrambled LL-37 (2.23 ± 0.09 g) treatments. Gliotoxin secretion from LL-37 exposed hyphae (169.1 ± 6.36 ng/mg hyphae, P < 0.05) was increased at 24 h compared to the results seen with the control treatment (102 ± 18.81 ng/mg hyphae) and the scrambled LL-37 treatment (96.09 ± 15.15 ng/mg hyphae). Shotgun proteomic analysis of 24-h LL-37-treated hyphae revealed an increase in the abundance of proteins associated with growth (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A [eIF-5A] [16.3-fold increased]), tissue degradation (aspartic endopeptidase [4.7-fold increased]), and allergic reactions (Asp F13 [10-fold increased]). By 48 h, there was an increase in protein levels indicative of cellular stress (glutathione peroxidase [9-fold increased]), growth (eIF-5A [6-fold increased]), and virulence (RNase mitogillin [3.7-fold increased]). These results indicate that LL-37 stimulates A. fumigatus growth and that this stimulation can result in increased fungal growth and secretion of toxins in the lungs of CF patients.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus; antimicrobial peptide; cathelicidin; LL-37; cystic fibrosis; innate immunity;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology
    Item ID: 12446
    Identification Number: 10.1128/IAI.00097-18
    Depositing User: Dr. Kevin Kavanagh
    Date Deposited: 18 Feb 2020 15:06
    Journal or Publication Title: Infection and Immunity
    Publisher: American Society of Microbiology
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    URI: https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/id/eprint/12446
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

    Repository Staff Only (login required)

    Item control page
    Item control page

    Downloads

    Downloads per month over past year

    Origin of downloads