Figure ?Physique4B4B and C demonstrate that, when nonopsonized or cells were ingested by PMNs, their uptake in the presence of neuropeptides remained unchanged or was slightly diminished (up to 15% inhibition) compared to non-stimulated positive control indicating no effect or slightly inhibitory action. correlation with several FGF3 physicochemical properties and amino acid composition of the neuropeptides. was more sensitive to neuropeptides than nontypeable and was observed both in the ingestion (pathogen uptake) and reactive oxygen species generation stages. This effect was also dependent on the distinct type of pathogen recognition (opsonic versus nonopsonic). Conclusions The present results indicate that neuropeptides such as CGRP, NPY, and SP can effectively participate in the direct and indirect elimination of human-specific respiratory pathogens. Because the studied NPs show both direct and indirect modulating antimicrobial potency, they seem to be important molecules involved in the innate host defense against and nontypeable with effusion or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been postulated [15,16]. Airway lymphoid organs such as lymph nodes and tonsils receive both autonomic/sympathetic and sensory peptidergic innervations [10]. Interestingly, NPY, SP, and CGRP can be synthesized and released also from the immune cells such as lymphocytes or monocytes/macrophages [17-19]. Due to their cationic charge at neutral pH, low molecular mass (<10 kDa), and amphipathic properties, neuropeptides interact with the negatively charged surface of the microbial membrane resulting in membrane disruption and direct killing of the target cell [20]. Similarities between the NPs and the endogenous antimicrobial peptides led to the discovery of NPs antimicrobial activity directed against various bacteria and fungi [21-23], and place neuropeptides among factors that are capable of forming the local barriers of defense against pathogens. and nontypeable are important human-restricted respiratory tract KRN 633 pathogens that may occasionally cause invasive diseases [24,25]. They are both predominant etiological factors KRN 633 of and form biofilms in children with recurrent or chronic and nontypeable ATCC 25238 and ATCC 49247 strains were used. Two clinical nasopharyngeal isolates of (Mc5, Mc6) and nontypeable (NTHi3, NTHi6) were also included in some experiments. In ONPG assay, KRN 633 was made using a standardized commercial identification system API-NH (Bio-Merieux, France). strains were identified by both X and V factor requirements, growth on chocolate agar but not on blood agar. The absence of gene was confirmed by PCR capsular genotyping using type b as positive control [31]. NTHi strains were cultivated on HAEM chocolate agar plates or in BHI broth supplemented with hemin and NAD at final concentrations of 15 g/ml. strains were produced in BHI. ML-35p was maintained on TSB. All Mc and NTHi strains were produced at 37C with 5% CO2. The strains were stored in relevant medium made up of 16% glycerol at ?70C. Antimicrobial assays To evaluate antimicrobial properties of purified neuropeptides two assays were used: (i) a radial diffusion assay [32] and (ii) a slightly modified liquid broth assay [33] referred to as the time kill assay from 0 to 1 1.5 h. For the radial diffusion assay a mid-log phase bacteria were diluted to the concentration of ~ 1C2 106 CFU/ml in 10 ml of melted and cooled to 42C, 1% agarose (w/v, molecular biology grade) in 10 mM sodium phosphate made up of 1/100 dilution of full strength BHI and 0.02% (v/v) Tween 20 (Sigma). After vigorous mixing, the bacteria in the agarose were poured onto Petri plate forming under-layer in which 3 mm diameter sterile wells were cut. The wells were filled with serially diluted neuropeptides (5 l) at concentrations ranging from 10?6 M to 10?3 M and plates were incubated for 3 h at 37C to allow peptide diffusion. The plates were then overlaid with 10 ml of the buffered 1% agarose made up of 6% BHI (w/v) and allowed to harden. After overnight incubation at 37C the diameters of inhibition zones were measured and antimicrobial activities of NPs expressed as minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were evaluated. The MIC value was decided as the x-axis intercept obtained from the relationship between the diameter of radial diffusion zones versus NP concentration. Resistance was defined for MIC greater than 500 g/ml [22]. Polymyxin B was used as a positive control. For the time kill assay.
Figure ?Physique4B4B and C demonstrate that, when nonopsonized or cells were ingested by PMNs, their uptake in the presence of neuropeptides remained unchanged or was slightly diminished (up to 15% inhibition) compared to non-stimulated positive control indicating no effect or slightly inhibitory action