Ovine trophoblasts express cathelicidin host defence peptide in response to infection

Coyle, Christopher; Wheelhouse, Nick; Jacques, Maxime; Longbottom, David; Svoboda, Pavel; Pohl, Jan; Colin Duncan, W; Rae, Michael T; Barlow, Peter G

Abstract

Cationic host defence peptides (CHDP; also known as antimicrobial peptides) are key components of the immune response in the female reproductive tract. The role of the placental trophoblast in ovine host defence remains poorly understood. This study characterises expression of genes for cathelicidin and defensin peptides in primary ovine placental tissues, the ovine trophoblast cell line (AH-1) and in response to the TLR-4 ligand LPS, the abortifacient organism Waddlia chondrophila and 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Using RT-PCR, expression of the CHDP SMAP-29, sBD-1 and sBD-2 was assessed in the AH-1 cell line in response to LPS, 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 exposure (a known stimulator of cathelicidin gene expression), or W. chondrophila infection. Expression of cathelicidin in the trophoblast compartment of the ovine placenta and in the ovine trophoblast cell line (AH-1) was also established. AH-1 cells did not upregulate expression of CHDP in response to LPS, but sBD-1 and sBD-2 expression was significantly increased in response to W. chondrophila infection. SMAP-29 expression was not altered by in vitro exposure to 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. This study demonstrates that the ovine trophoblast expresses cathelicidins, but does not upregulate expression of CHDP in response to LPS. Ovine trophoblasts are shown to differentially regulate expression of CHDP and lack a demonstrable vitamin D-mediated cathelicidin response.

Citation

Coyle, C., Wheelhouse, N., Jacques, M., Longbottom, D., Svoboda, P., Pohl, J., …Barlow, P. G. (2016). Ovine trophoblasts express cathelicidin host defence peptide in response to infection. Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 117, 10-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2016.06.006

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 17, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jun 21, 2016
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jul 21, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 3, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Reproductive Immunology
• Print ISSN: 0165-0378
• Electronic ISSN: 1872-7603
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 117
• Pages: 10-16
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2016.06.006
• Keywords: Chlamydia-related organisms; Waddlia; Cathelicidin; Defensin; Antimicrobial peptide; Trophoblast
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/304710