Expression Of Antimicrobial Peptides And Cytokines In Human Omentum Following Abdominal Surgery

IntroductionOmentum can secrete out biological agents like different growth factors, cytokines, and antimicrobial peptides. The aim of our study was to determine the expression of antimicrobial peptides and cytokines in human omentum tissue and its response to intra-abdominal infection.MethodologyOmentum tissue was obtained from 60 patients: control (n=20) and cases (n=40). mRNA expression of antimicrobial peptides (LL-37, HBD-1, HBD-2, HNP1-3) and cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-8, IL-10, IL1 beta) was evaluated using Real-Time PCR. Protein quantification was done by Immunoblotting and ELISA.ResultsSignificantly higher expression of antimicrobial peptides (LL-37, HBD-1, HBD-2, HNPI -3) and cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-8, IL-10, IL1 beta) was observed in cases as compared to control at both the transcriptional and translational level (p<0.0001).ConclusionOmentum governs a population of antimicrobial peptides with potent immunologic functions. The expression of antimicrobial peptides and cytokines is inducible and increases with the severity of infection. Omentum is thus an immunologically active and adaptable organ but its complete regulatory mechanism is still elusive.