Protective and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Protegrin-1 on Citrobacter rodentium Intestinal Infection in Mice

Intestinal disorders and colitis affect millions of humans and food-animals world-wide. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity represent a valuable potential therapeutic solution. Specifically, the potent pig-originated protegrin-1 (PG-1) has previously been shown to reduce the pathological effects of chemically induced digestive tract inflammation (colitis) along with modulation of immune responses and tissue-repair. This study aimed to extend these findings by investigating the potential protective effects of PG-1 on pathogen-induced intestinal colitis. We found that oral administration of PG-1 reduced Citrobacter rodentium intestinal infection in mice evidenced by; reduced histopathologic change in the colon, prevention of body weight loss, milder clinical signs of disease, and ultimately more effective clearance of bacterial infection relative to challenged mice. Additionally, PG-1 treatment altered the expression of various inflammatory mediators during infection to resolve inflammation and re-establish intestinal homeostasis. Interestingly, PG-1 administered in its mature form was most effective relative to the pro-form (ProPG-1).

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Guelph

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Osakowicz, Celina

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Li, Julang

• Citrobacter rodentium
• colitis
• Mice
• Protegrin-1
• antimicrobial peptide
• inflammation
• colon
• intestine
• recombinant protein
• PG-1

Statement dc:rights

• Attribution 2.5 Canada

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ca/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10214/13002

OAI record oai:identifier

https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Aatrium.lib.uoguelph.ca%3A10214%2F13002