Among the antimicrobial proteins and peptides of humans is the cationic 55 kDa bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), which possesses antibacterial, endotoxin-neutalizing and opsonic activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Although identified originally as an abundant constituent of neutrophil granules, we have recently identified functional expression of BPI by human mucosal epithelia. BPI expression was markedly up-regulated by exposure of epithelia to lipoxins, endogenous anti-inflammatory eicosanoids that are generated in vivo in the context of aspirin treatment (aspirin-triggered lipoxins). Epithelial BPI was found to be surface expressed and fully functional, as measured by antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimurium as well as lipopolysaccharide (LPS; endotoxin)-neutralizing activity. These results suggest a role for BPI as an effector of epithelial antibacterial activity and as a modulator of epithelial responses to LPS. Both BPI and the lipoxins are currently the subject of intensive biopharmaceutical development, raising the possibility that therapeutic use of BPI or modulation of epithelial BPI expression may be a useful adjunctive therapy for conditions in which epithelial inflammation is associated with Gram-negative infections and/or endotoxin.
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August 2003
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Conference Article|
August 01 2003
Expression of BPI (bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein) in human mucosal epithelia
O. Levy;
O. Levy
1
*Children's Hospital of Boston, Boston, MA 02115, U.S.A.
†Channing Laboratory, Boston, MA 02115, U.S.A.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail olevy@rics.bwh.harvard.edu).
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G. Canny;
G. Canny
‡Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, U.S.A.
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C.N. Serhan;
C.N. Serhan
‡Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, U.S.A.
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S.P. Colgan
S.P. Colgan
†Channing Laboratory, Boston, MA 02115, U.S.A.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© 2003 Biochemical Society
2003
Biochem Soc Trans (2003) 31 (4): 795–800.
Citation
O. Levy, G. Canny, C.N. Serhan, S.P. Colgan; Expression of BPI (bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein) in human mucosal epithelia. Biochem Soc Trans 1 August 2003; 31 (4): 795–800. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0310795
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