PLoS ONE (Jan 2013)

Human chemokines as antimicrobial peptides with direct parasiticidal effect on Leishmania mexicana in vitro.

  • Sara K Söbirk,
  • Matthias Mörgelin,
  • Arne Egesten,
  • Paul Bates,
  • Oonagh Shannon,
  • Mattias Collin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058129
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 3
p. e58129

Abstract

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Chemokines and chemokine receptor-mediated effects are important mediators of the immunological response and cure in human leishmaniasis. However, in addition to their signalling properties for leukocytes, many chemokines have also been shown to act directly as antimicrobial peptides on bacteria and fungi. We screened ten human chemokines (CXCL2, CXCL6, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, CCL2, CCL3, CCL20, CCL27, CCL28) for antimicrobial effects on the promastigote form of the protozoan parasite Leishmania mexicana, and observed direct parasiticidal effects of several, CCL28 being the most potent. Damage to the plasma membrane integrity could be visualised by entrance of propidium iodide, as measured with flow cytometry, and by scanning electron microscopy, which showed morphological changes and aggregation of cells. The findings were in concordance with parasiticidal activity, measured by decreased mitochondrial activity in an MTT-assay. This is the first report of direct antimicrobial activity by chemokines on parasites. This component of immunity against Leishmania parasites identified here warrants further investigation that might lead to new insight in the mechanisms of human infection and/or new therapeutic approaches.