The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 facilitates the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps

article
NETs (neutrophil extracellular traps) have been described as a fundamental innate immune defence mechanism. Duringformation of NETs, the nuclear membrane is disrupted by an asyet unknown mechanism. In the present study we investigated the role of human cathelicidin LL-37 in nuclear membrane disruption and formation of NETs. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that 5 μMLL-37 significantly facilitated NET formation by primary human blood-derived neutrophils alone, in the presence of the classical chemical NET inducer PMA or in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. Parallel assays with a random LL-37 fragment library indicated that the NET induction is mediated by the hydrophobic character of the peptide. The translocalization of LL-37 towards the nucleus and the disruption of the nuclear membrane were visualized using confocal fluorescence microscopy. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates a novel role for LL-37 in the formation of NETs.
TNO Identifier
519653
ISSN
0264-6021
Source
Biochemical Journal, 464, pp. 3-11.
Pages
3-11
Files
To receive the publication files, please send an e-mail request to TNO Repository.