Evidence that changes in antimicrobial peptides during tuberculosis are related to disease severity, clinical presentation, specific therapy and levels of immune-endocrine mediators

• Published in: Cytokine (Philadelphia, Pa.) Pa.), 2020-02, Vol.126, p.154913-154913, Article 154913
• Main Authors: Bongiovanni, Bettina, Marín-Luevano, Sara, D'Attilio, Luciano, Díaz, Ariana, Fernández, Rocío del Valle, Santucci, Natalia, Bértola, Diego, Bay, María Luisa, Rivas-Santiago, Bruno, Bottasso, Oscar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antimicrobial peptides; Immune-endocrine mediators; Specific therapy; Tuberculosis
• ISSN: 1043-4666; 1096-0023
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2019.154913

[Display omitted] Given the role of host defense peptides (HDPs) in the defensive response against mycobacteria, we analyzed the circulating levels of LL-37, β-defensin-2 and -3 in newly diagnosed patients with pulmonary (PTB) or pleural tuberculosis (PLTB) in whom measurements of pleural fluids were also performed. Severe PTB patients displayed higher circulating amounts of β-defensin-3, statistically different from controls, further decreasing upon antimycobacterial treatment. LL-37 concentrations appeared within the normal range at diagnosis, but tended to increase during treatment, becoming statistically upon its completion in moderate cases. PLTB patients revealed decreased levels of β-defensin-2 in presence of increased amounts of β-defensin-3 and LL-37; in their plasma or pleural fluids. Considering the immune-endocrine dysregulation of tuberculosis, we also performed correlation analysis detecting positive associations between levels of cortisol, IL-6 and β-defensin-3 in plasma from untreated severe patients as did their dehydroepiandrosterone and LL-37 values. Increased presence of β-defensins, may represent an attempt to improve defensive mechanisms; which also take part in the inflammatory reaction accompanying TB, reinforced by the association with immune-endocrine mediators. The divergent profile of PLTB patients, decreased β-defensin-2 but increased β-defensin-3 and LL-37 levels, suggests a differential role of these HDPs in a situation characterized for its better protective response.