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Saliva induces expression of antimicrobial peptides and promotes intracellular killing of bacteria in keratinocytes by epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation

Mohanty, T. LU ; Alberius, P. LU ; Schmidtchen, A. LU ; Reiss, K. ; Schröder, J. M. and Sørensen, O. E. LU (2017) In British Journal of Dermatology 176(2). p.403-412
Abstract

Background: Wounds in the oral cavity, constantly exposed to both saliva and bacteria, heal quickly without infection. Furthermore, during licking of skin wounds, saliva promotes wound healing and plays a role in keeping the wound free of infection. Objectives: To investigate whether saliva induces expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in human epidermal keratinocytes and whether saliva promotes clearance of intracellular bacteria in these cells. Methods: Expression of AMPs was investigated in the oral mucosa and ex vivo injured skin by immunohistochemistry. Human beta-defensin-3 expression was investigated in epidermal keratinocytes after saliva stimulation, using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence.... (More)

Background: Wounds in the oral cavity, constantly exposed to both saliva and bacteria, heal quickly without infection. Furthermore, during licking of skin wounds, saliva promotes wound healing and plays a role in keeping the wound free of infection. Objectives: To investigate whether saliva induces expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in human epidermal keratinocytes and whether saliva promotes clearance of intracellular bacteria in these cells. Methods: Expression of AMPs was investigated in the oral mucosa and ex vivo injured skin by immunohistochemistry. Human beta-defensin-3 expression was investigated in epidermal keratinocytes after saliva stimulation, using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence. Results: We found higher expression of AMPs in the oral mucosa than in the epidermis. Saliva accelerated the injury-induced expression of AMPs in human skin ex vivo and was a potent inducer of the expression of AMPs in epidermal keratinocytes. The expression of AMPs was induced by metalloproteinase-dependent epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation mediated by a salivary lipid. Saliva increased the intracellular clearance of Staphylococcus aureus in keratinocytes through EGFR activation. Conclusions: These findings suggest a previously unreported role of saliva in innate immunity and demonstrate for the first time that saliva induces gene expression in epidermal keratinocytes.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
British Journal of Dermatology
volume
176
issue
2
pages
10 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:27453053
  • wos:000394755100037
  • scopus:85014005203
ISSN
0007-0963
DOI
10.1111/bjd.14883
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2b1cd402-cedf-4e5c-9347-00b8b89720c1
date added to LUP
2017-03-24 11:17:26
date last changed
2024-04-14 07:42:33
@article{2b1cd402-cedf-4e5c-9347-00b8b89720c1,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Wounds in the oral cavity, constantly exposed to both saliva and bacteria, heal quickly without infection. Furthermore, during licking of skin wounds, saliva promotes wound healing and plays a role in keeping the wound free of infection. Objectives: To investigate whether saliva induces expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in human epidermal keratinocytes and whether saliva promotes clearance of intracellular bacteria in these cells. Methods: Expression of AMPs was investigated in the oral mucosa and ex vivo injured skin by immunohistochemistry. Human beta-defensin-3 expression was investigated in epidermal keratinocytes after saliva stimulation, using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence. Results: We found higher expression of AMPs in the oral mucosa than in the epidermis. Saliva accelerated the injury-induced expression of AMPs in human skin ex vivo and was a potent inducer of the expression of AMPs in epidermal keratinocytes. The expression of AMPs was induced by metalloproteinase-dependent epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation mediated by a salivary lipid. Saliva increased the intracellular clearance of Staphylococcus aureus in keratinocytes through EGFR activation. Conclusions: These findings suggest a previously unreported role of saliva in innate immunity and demonstrate for the first time that saliva induces gene expression in epidermal keratinocytes.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mohanty, T. and Alberius, P. and Schmidtchen, A. and Reiss, K. and Schröder, J. M. and Sørensen, O. E.}},
  issn         = {{0007-0963}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{403--412}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{British Journal of Dermatology}},
  title        = {{Saliva induces expression of antimicrobial peptides and promotes intracellular killing of bacteria in keratinocytes by epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjd.14883}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/bjd.14883}},
  volume       = {{176}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}