Original Article
Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor Binds to Neisseria gonorrhoeae Outer Membrane Opacity Protein and is Bactericidal
Morris D. Cooper,
Melissa H. Roberts,
Ona L. Barauskas,
Gary A. Jarvis,
Morris D. Cooper
Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorMelissa H. Roberts
Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorOna L. Barauskas
Center for Immunochemistry, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Gary A. Jarvis
Center for Immunochemistry, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
Correspondence
Dr. Gary Jarvis, Center for Immunochemistry, VA Medical Center, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorMorris D. Cooper,
Melissa H. Roberts,
Ona L. Barauskas,
Gary A. Jarvis,
Morris D. Cooper
Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorMelissa H. Roberts
Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorOna L. Barauskas
Center for Immunochemistry, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Gary A. Jarvis
Center for Immunochemistry, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
Correspondence
Dr. Gary Jarvis, Center for Immunochemistry, VA Medical Center, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
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.
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