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Exogenous LL-37 but not homogenates of desquamated oral epithelial cells shows activity against Streptococcus mutans

Aidoukovitch, Alexandra LU ; Bankell, Elisabeth LU ; Davies, Julia R. and Nilsson, Bengt Olof LU orcid (2021) In Acta Odontologica Scandinavica 79(6). p.466-472
Abstract

Objective: The antimicrobial peptide hCAP18/LL-37 is detected in desquamated epithelial cells of human whole saliva, but the functional importance of this pool of hCAP18/LL-37 is not understood. Here, we assess the impact of homogenates of desquamated oral epithelial cells and exogenous, synthetic LL-37 on two oral bacteria: S. mutans and S. gordonii. Material and methods: Desquamated epithelial cells of unstimulated whole saliva were isolated and cellular and extracellular levels of hCAP18/LL-37 analyzed by ELISA. Bacterial viability was determined by BacLight Live/Dead staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results: Desquamated oral epithelial cells harboured hCAP18/LL-37, and they spontaneously released/leaked the peptide... (More)

Objective: The antimicrobial peptide hCAP18/LL-37 is detected in desquamated epithelial cells of human whole saliva, but the functional importance of this pool of hCAP18/LL-37 is not understood. Here, we assess the impact of homogenates of desquamated oral epithelial cells and exogenous, synthetic LL-37 on two oral bacteria: S. mutans and S. gordonii. Material and methods: Desquamated epithelial cells of unstimulated whole saliva were isolated and cellular and extracellular levels of hCAP18/LL-37 analyzed by ELISA. Bacterial viability was determined by BacLight Live/Dead staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results: Desquamated oral epithelial cells harboured hCAP18/LL-37, and they spontaneously released/leaked the peptide to their medium. Exogenous, synthetic LL-37 showed cytotoxic activity against S. mutans but not S gordonii, suggesting that LL-37 acts differentially on these two types of oral bacteria. Homogenates of desquamated oral epithelial cells had no effect on S. mutans viability. Treatment with exogenous, synthetic LL-37 (8 and 10 μM) reduced S. mutans viability, whereas lower concentrations (0.1 and 1 µM) of the peptide lacked effect. Conclusions: Desquamated oral epithelial cells contain hCAP18/LL-37, but their cellular levels of hCAP18/LL-37 are too low to affect S. mutans viability, whereas exogenous, synthetic LL-37 has a strong effect on these bacteria.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Cathelicidin, host defense peptide, innate immunity, oral bacteria, saliva
in
Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
volume
79
issue
6
pages
466 - 472
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85102250279
  • pmid:33687301
ISSN
0001-6357
DOI
10.1080/00016357.2021.1892180
project
Production and transport of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and other peptides in saliva: physiological and pathophysiological importance
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ff5f7bb2-3d2c-4087-bb90-e4d7d65f8699
date added to LUP
2021-03-26 11:24:14
date last changed
2024-06-15 08:35:19
@article{ff5f7bb2-3d2c-4087-bb90-e4d7d65f8699,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective: The antimicrobial peptide hCAP18/LL-37 is detected in desquamated epithelial cells of human whole saliva, but the functional importance of this pool of hCAP18/LL-37 is not understood. Here, we assess the impact of homogenates of desquamated oral epithelial cells and exogenous, synthetic LL-37 on two oral bacteria: S. mutans and S. gordonii. Material and methods: Desquamated epithelial cells of unstimulated whole saliva were isolated and cellular and extracellular levels of hCAP18/LL-37 analyzed by ELISA. Bacterial viability was determined by BacLight Live/Dead staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results: Desquamated oral epithelial cells harboured hCAP18/LL-37, and they spontaneously released/leaked the peptide to their medium. Exogenous, synthetic LL-37 showed cytotoxic activity against S. mutans but not S gordonii, suggesting that LL-37 acts differentially on these two types of oral bacteria. Homogenates of desquamated oral epithelial cells had no effect on S. mutans viability. Treatment with exogenous, synthetic LL-37 (8 and 10 μM) reduced S. mutans viability, whereas lower concentrations (0.1 and 1 µM) of the peptide lacked effect. Conclusions: Desquamated oral epithelial cells contain hCAP18/LL-37, but their cellular levels of hCAP18/LL-37 are too low to affect S. mutans viability, whereas exogenous, synthetic LL-37 has a strong effect on these bacteria.</p>}},
  author       = {{Aidoukovitch, Alexandra and Bankell, Elisabeth and Davies, Julia R. and Nilsson, Bengt Olof}},
  issn         = {{0001-6357}},
  keywords     = {{Cathelicidin; host defense peptide; innate immunity; oral bacteria; saliva}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{466--472}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Acta Odontologica Scandinavica}},
  title        = {{Exogenous LL-37 but not homogenates of desquamated oral epithelial cells shows activity against Streptococcus mutans}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00016357.2021.1892180}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/00016357.2021.1892180}},
  volume       = {{79}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}