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Serum antimicrobial peptides in patients with familial Mediterranean fever

Abdurrahman Tufan1, Rıdvan Mercan1, Ozge Tugce Pasaoglu2

  • 1Gazi University, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey.

Peptides
|April 22, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), including cathelicidin (LL37) and defensins, are elevated in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) patients. These immune components may play a role in FMF pathogenesis, even after treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) involves recurrent inflammation of serosal and synovial membranes.
  • While genetic, FMF attacks can be triggered by environmental factors like infections.
  • Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key innate immunity components with immunomodulatory roles in inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate serum concentrations of specific antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in newly diagnosed Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) patients.
  • To compare AMP levels in FMF patients with healthy controls and assess changes during attacks and after colchicine therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Serum samples collected from 23 newly diagnosed FMF patients at baseline, during attacks, and 6 months post-colchicine treatment.
  • Serum samples from 24 healthy individuals served as controls.
  • Concentrations of cathelicidin (LL37), alpha-1, beta-1, and beta-2 defensins measured using ELISA.

Main Results:

  • Serum AMP levels did not significantly change during FMF attacks or correlate with acute phase reactants.
  • FMF patients exhibited significantly higher serum concentrations of LL37 and defensins compared to healthy controls.
  • Elevated AMP levels persisted in FMF patients even 6 months after initiating colchicine therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Serum LL37 and defensins are markedly elevated in FMF patients, suggesting a potential role in the disease's pathogenesis.
  • AMPs may be involved in the underlying inflammatory processes of FMF, independent of acute attack status or standard treatment.
Keywords:
Antimicrobial peptideCathelicidinDefensinFamilial Mediterranean feverInflammationPathogenesis

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