Synergistic Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Antimicrobial Peptides Human Beta-Defensin-3 (hBD-3) and Cathelicidin (LL-37) in a Three-Dimensional Co-Culture Model of Gingival Epithelial Cells and Fibroblasts

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106766
• Publication Date: 2014-09-05T02:15:53Z
• Authors: Telma Blanca Lomb...; Márcia Pinto Alve...; Denise Palomari S...; Daniel Grenier
• Keywords: Beta defensin; Cathelicidin; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans

Given the spread of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens, antimicrobial peptides that can also modulate immune response may be a novel approach for effectively controlling periodontal infections. In present study, we used three-dimensional (3D) co-culture model gingival epithelial cells and fibroblasts stimulated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to investigate anti-inflammatory properties human beta-defensin-3 (hBD-3) cathelicidin (LL-37) determine whether these act synergy. The 3D composed embedded collagen matrix overlaid had synergistic effect respect secretion IL-6 IL-8 LPS stimulation compared alone. was non-cytotoxic concentrations hBD-3 (10 20 µM) LL-37 (0.1 0.2 individually combination presence A. LPS. A multiplex ELISA assay quantify 41 different cytokines. acted synergy reduce GRO-alpha, G-CSF, IP-10, IL-6, MCP-1, but only an additive on reducing stimulation. study showed cytokines by LPS-stimulated mucosa. This thus shows promising potential as adjunctive therapy treating inflammatory periodontitis.