| authors | Dijk, Albert van; Tersteeg-Zijderveld, M.H.G.; Tjeerdsma-van Bokhoven, J.L.M.; Jansman, A.J.M.; Veldhuizen, E.J.A.; Haagsman, H.P. |
| source | Molecular Immunology, Volume: 46 (2009), pp. 1517-1526 |
| full text | The full text of this item is not available due to the copyrights policy of the publisher.
|
| publisher | Elsevier |
| URL publisher | [Website publisher]
|
| document type | Article |
| version | Publisher version |
| disciplines | Diergeneeskunde |
| abstract | The biological functions of avian cathelicidins are poorly defined. Inmammals,cathelicidins have shownto
possess potent broad-range antimicrobial activity aswell as immunomodulatory activities. Therefore,we
investigated the microbicidal activities and localization of Cathelicidin-2 in non-infected and Salmonellachallenged
broiler chickens. Using immunohistochemistry, Cathelicidin-2 was shown to be abundantly
present in heterophils, localized in the large rod-shaped granules, but absent in other peripheral blood
cells and intestinal epithelial cells. Cathelicidin-2 synthesis was observed to be initiated at the early
promyelocyte stage. Considerable infiltration of Cathelicidin-2 containing heterophilswas observed in the
jejunum of Salmonella enteritidis-challenged broilers within 8 h post-infection. Heterophilswere shownto
release mature Cathelicidin-2 peptide upon stimulation with Salmonella-derived LPS in a time-dependent
way. Processing of the Cathelicidin-2 precursor was mediated by serine proteases with a divalent cation
dependency. Cathelicidin-2 peptide showed potent bactericidal and fungicidal activity against all tested
microorganisms, including chicken-specific Salmonella isolates. These results underscore the importance
of avian heterophils as a first line of defence against invading pathogens and implicate that via heterophilmediated
release, cathelicidins may greatly contribute to avian innate immunity. |
| keywords | Antimicrobial peptide, Cathelicidin, Chicken, Heterophils, Innate Immunity, Salmonella enteritidis |
| ISSN | 0161-5890 |
