Upregulated expression of human alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 in hypercholesteremia and its relationship with serum lipid levels.
Human alpha-defensins are natural antimicrobial peptides of neutrophils evolved in host defense reactions and circulating nonstressed alpha-defensins may be associated with serum lipid levels. The aim of this work was to examine whether the expression of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 genes are changed and whether this changes are reversed following treatment in patients with hypercholesteremia. A total of 40 individuals of hypercholesteremia group were studied, compared with 40 individuals of normal control group. Protein levels and gene expression levels of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 were significantly higher in patients with hypercholesteremia compared with subjects in normal control group. In patients with hypercholesteremia, protein levels of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 correlated positively with the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Protein levels and gene expression levels of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 were decreased significantly after a treatment with atorvastatin calcium 20mg daily compared with the patients before the treatment. Our results suggest that the expression of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 genes is involved in dyslipidemia in patients with hypercholesteremia.
['Li|Yun-Xi|YX|', 'Lin|Chao-Qun|CQ|', 'Shi|Da-Yu|DY|', 'Zeng|Shu-Ying|SY|', 'Li|Wen-Sheng|WS|']
D000368:Aged D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents D000069059:Atorvastatin D016022:Case-Control Studies D002784:Cholesterol D008078:Cholesterol, LDL D005260:Female D005786:Gene Expression Regulation D006538:Heptanoic Acids D006801:Humans D006937:Hypercholesterolemia D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009504:Neutrophils D011758:Pyrroles D023084:alpha-Defensins
Hypercholesteremia Gene expression Defensin Human neutrophil peptide