Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Cooper, Morris D.
• Roberts, Melissa H.
• Barauskas, Ona L.
• Jarvis, Gary A.

Titel

Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor Binds to Neisseria gonorrhoeae Outer Membrane Opacity Protein and is Bactericidal

Ist Teil von

• American journal of reproductive immunology (1989), 2012-08, Vol.68 (2), p.116-127

Ort / Verlag

Denmark: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2012

Quelle

Wiley Online Library Journals Frontfile Complete

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Problem Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is an innate immune peptide present on the genitourinary tract mucosa that has antimicrobial activity. In this study, we investigated the interaction of SLPI with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Method of study ELISA and far‐Western blots were used to analyze binding of SLPI to gonococci. The binding site for SLPI was identified by tryptic digests and mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial activity of SLPI for gonococci was determined using bactericidal assays. SLPI protein levels in cell supernatants were measured by ELISA, and SLPI mRNA levels were assessed by quantitative RT‐PCR. Results SLPI bound directly to the gonococcal Opa protein and was bactericidal. Epithelial cells from the reproductive tract constitutively expressed SLPI at different levels. Gonococcal infection of cells did not affect SLPI expression. Conclusion We conclude that SLPI is bactericidal for gonococci and is expressed by reproductive tract epithelial cells and thus is likely to play a role in the pathogenesis of gonococcal infection.