TitleRegulation of antimicrobial peptide gene expression by nutrients and by-products of microbial metabolism.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsCampbell Y, Fantacone ML, Gombart AF
JournalEur J Nutr
Volume51
Issue8
Pagination899-907
Date Published2012 Dec
ISSN1436-6215
KeywordsAnimals, Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides, Bacteria, Bile Acids and Salts, Butyrates, Cathelicidins, Defensins, Drug Resistance, Microbial, Epithelial Cells, Gene Expression Regulation, Histone Deacetylases, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Intestinal Mucosa, Intestines, Isothiocyanates, Lipopolysaccharides, Thiocyanates, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamins
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are synthesized and secreted by immune and epithelial cells that are constantly exposed to environmental microbes. AMPs are essential for barrier defense, and deficiencies lead to increased susceptibility to infection. In addition to their ability to disrupt the integrity of bacterial, viral and fungal membranes, AMPs bind lipopolysaccharides, act as chemoattractants for immune cells and bind to cellular receptors and modulate the expression of cytokines and chemokines. These additional biological activities may explain the role of AMPs in inflammatory diseases and cancer. Modulating the endogenous expression of AMPs offers potential therapeutic treatments for infection and disease.

METHODS: The present review examines the published data from both in vitro and in vivo studies reporting the effects of nutrients and by-products of microbial metabolism on the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes in order to highlight an emerging appreciation for the role of dietary compounds in modulating the innate immune response.

RESULTS: Vitamins A and D, dietary histone deacetylases and by-products of intestinal microbial metabolism (butyrate and secondary bile acids) have been found to regulate the expression of AMPs in humans. Vitamin D deficiency correlates with increased susceptibility to infection, and supplementation studies indicate an improvement in defense against infection. Animal and human clinical studies with butyrate indicate that increasing expression of AMPs in the colon protects against infection.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that diet and/or consumption of nutritional supplements may be used to improve and/or modulate immune function. In addition, by-products of gut microbe metabolism could be important for communicating with intestinal epithelial and immune cells, thus affecting the expression of AMPs. This interaction may help establish a mucosal barrier to prevent invasion of the intestinal epithelium by either mutualistic or pathogenic microorganisms.

DOI10.1007/s00394-012-0415-4
Alternate JournalEur J Nutr
PubMed ID22797470
PubMed Central IDPMC3587725
Grant ListR01 AI065604 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
5R01AI065604 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States