Summary
Human neutrophil peptides (HNPs) 1, 2 and 3, also called defensins, have high antimicrobial activity and are cytotoxic to both normal and transformed human cells. The localization of HNPs 1–3 and their mRNAs in cells of normal human bone marrow and peripheral blood was investigated. Immunoreactivity for HNPs 1–3 appeared in the promyelocyte stage and increased with the maturation of the neutrophil series. HNPs 1–3 were absent from such mononuclear phagocyte systems as peripheral monocytes, alveolar macrophages, and Kupffer cells in the liver. HNP 1–3 mRNAs were detected in bone marrow cells by Northern blot analysis and in peripheral leukocytes by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HNPs 1–3 are restricted to cells of neutrophil lineage and seem to function as microbicidal agents in the neutrophil-mediated defense system.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chomczynski P, Sacchi N (1987) Single-step method of RNA isolation by acid guanidium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction. Anal Biochem 162:156–159
Daher KA, Lehrer RI, Ganz T, Kronenberg M (1988) Isolation and characterization of human defensin cDNA clones. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85:7327–7331
Eisenhauer PB, Harwig SSL, Szklarek D, Ganz T, Selsted ME, Lehrer RI (1989) Purification and antimicrobial properties of three defensins from rat neutrophils. Infect Immun 57:2021–2027
Ganz T (1987) Extracellular release of antimicrobial defensins by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Infect Immun 88:3952–3956
Ganz T, Selsted ME, Szklarek D, Harwig SSL, Daher K, Bainton DF, Lehrer RI (1985) Defensins: natural peptide antibiotics of human neutrophils. J Clin Invest 76:1427–1435
Granelli-Piperno A, Vassalli J-D, Reich E (1979) RNA and protein synthesis in human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes. J Exp Med 149:284–289
Jones DE, Bevins CL (1992) Paneth cells of the human small intestine express an antimicrobial peptide gene. J Biol Chem 267:23 216–23 225
Jones DE, Bevins CL (1993) Defensin-6 mRNA in human Paneth cells: implications for antimicrobial peptides in host defense of the human bowel. FEBS Lett 315:187–192
Kagan BL, Selsted ME, Ganz T, Lehrer RI (1990) Antimicrobial defensin peptides from voltage-dependent ion-permeable channels in planar lipid bilayer membranes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87:210–214
Lambert J, Keppi E, Dimarcq JL, Wicker C, Reichhart JM, Dunbar B, Lepage P, Van Dorsselaer A, Hoffmann J, Fothergill J, Hoffmann D (1989) Insect immunity: isolation from immune blood of the dipteranPhormia terranovae of two insect antibacterial peptides with sequence homology to rabbit lung macrophage bactericidal peptides. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86:262–266
Leffell MS, Spitznagel JK (1974) Intracellular and extracellular degranulation of human polymorphonuclear azurophil and specific granules induced by immune complexes. Infect Immun 10:1241–1249
Panyutich AV, Panyutich EA, Krapivin VA, Baturevich EA, Ganz T (1993) Plasma defensin concentrations are elevated in patients with septicemia or bacterial meningitis. J Lab Clin Med 122:202–207
Selsted ME, Brown DM, DeLange RJ, Lehrer RI (1983) Primary structures of MCP-1 and MCP-2, natural peptide antibiotics of rabbit lung macrophages. J Biol Chem 258:14485–14489
Selsted ME, Brown DM, DeLange RJ, Harwig SSL, Lehrer RI (1985) Primary structures of six antimicrobial peptides of rabbit peritoneal neutrophils. J Biol Chem 260:4579–4584
Shiomi K, Nakazato M, Ihi T, Kangawa K, Matsuo H, Matsukura S (1993) Establishment of radioimmunoassay for human neutrophil peptides and their increases in plasma and neutrophil in infection. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 195:1336–1344
Singh A, Bateman A, Zhu Q, Shimasaki S, Esch F, Solomon S (1988) Structure of a novel human granulocyte peptide with anti-ACTH activity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 155:524–529
Tominaga T, Fukata J, Hayashi Y, Satoh Y, Fuse N, Segawa H, Ebisui O, Nakai Y, Osamura Y, Imura H (1992) Distribution and characterization of immunoreactive corticostatin in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Endocrinology 130:1593–1598
Toshimori H, Toshimori K, Ohura C, Matsuo H, Matsukura S (1988) The distribution of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP)-containing cells in the adult rat heart. Anat Embryol 177:477–484
Wilde CG, Griffith JE, Marra MN, Snable JL, Scott RW (1989) Purification and characterization of human neutrophil peptide 4, a novel member of the defensin family. J Biol Chem 264:11 200–11 203
Yamashita T, Saito K (1989) Purification, primary structure, and biological activity of guinea pig neutrophil cationic peptides. Infect Immun 57:2405–2409
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Date, Y., Nakazato, M., Shiomi, K. et al. Localization of human neutrophil peptide (HNP) and its messenger RNA in neutrophil series. Ann Hematol 69, 73–77 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01698485
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01698485