Impaired expression of α-defensin antimicrobial peptides and overproduction of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease. In this study, we examine the interactions between α-defensins and IL-1β and the role of defensin deficiency in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. It was found that matrix metalloproteinase-7-deficient (MMP-7−/−) mice, which produce procryptdins but not mature cryptdins (α-defensins) in the intestine, were more susceptible to dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Furthermore, both baseline and dextran sulfate sodium-induced IL-1β production in the intestine were significantly up-regulated in MMP-7−/− mice compared with that in control C57BL/6 mice. To elucidate the molecular mechanism for the increased IL-1β production in defensin deficiency in vivo, we evaluated the effect of defensins on IL-1β posttranslational processing and release. It was found that α-defensins, including mouse Paneth cell defensins cryptdin-3 and cryptdin-4, human neutrophil defensin HNP-1, and human Paneth cell defensin HD-5, blocked the release of IL-1β from LPS-activated monocytes, whereas TNF-α expression and release were not affected. Unlike α-defensins, human β-defensins and mouse procryptdins do not have any effect on IL-1β processing and release. Thus, α-defensins may play an important role in intestinal homeostasis by controlling the production of IL-1β.

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SynopsisThe crystal structure of a hypothetical protein (MPN555) from Mycoplasma pneumoniae revealed a tri-lobal molecule with at least one central binding pocket or channel. The molecule has structural homology with two bacterial chaperone proteins, which suggests a similar chaperone function for MPN555. AbstractThe crystal structure of the hypothetical protein MPN555 from Mycoplasma pneumoniae (gi| 1673958) has been determined to a resolution of 2.8 Å using anomalous diffraction data at the Se peak wavelength. Structure determination revealed a mostly α-helical protein with a three-lobed shape. The three lobes or fingers delineate a central binding groove and additional grooves between lobes 1 and 3, and between lobes 2 and 3. For one of the molecules in the asymmetric unit, the central binding pocket was filled with a peptide from the uncleaved N-terminal affinity tag. The MPN555 structure has structural homology to two bacterial chaperone proteins, SurA and trigger factor from Escherichia coli. The structural data and the homology to other chaperone proteins suggests an involvement in protein folding as a molecular chaperone for MPN555.

These data suggest that caspase-1 activation/processing of pro-IL-1β by caspase-1 and the release of mature IL-1β from human monocytes are distinct and separable events.

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