UCLA NEWS
Embargoed for Release Until Wednesday, April 15, 1998
Rachel Champeau
([email protected])
(310) 206-1960
NEW IMMUNE MECHANISM FOUND IN FEMALE URINARY/REPRODUCTIVE TRACT; HOLDS PROMISE IN TREATING CHRONIC INFECTIONS
UCLA researchers have isolated a unique naturally-occurring antibiotic from the female urinary and reproductive systems, which could lead to novel treatments for a variety of common infections including pelvic inflammatory disease, urinary tract and vaginal infections. These chronic ailments afflict millions of women nationwide.
The antibiotic, named human beta defensin 1 (HBD-1), is a new member of the defensin family, a group of antibiotics originally discovered in white blood cells in 1985. The research, reported in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, determined the origin and function of HBD-1.
Naturally-occurring antibiotics suppress the growth of common bacteria. During the first few hours of an infection these chemicals form the most important part of the immune response. Researchers found that unlike other antibiotics produced by the body, HBD-1 does not require the onset of infection to stimulate its production.
"The next step is to determine what regulates production of HBD-1," said lead researcher Dr. Tomas Ganz, Professor of Medicine and Pathology, UCLA. "A number of factors may control release of this antibiotic such as female hormones, age and the menstrual cycle," he continued.
Researchers found the largest amount of HBD-1 in pregnant women's urine, demonstrating a heightened state of local immunity during pregnancy. This discovery offers the first evidence of a possible linkage between the production of HBD-1 and hormone levels.
"Although other antibiotics are found in the body, the defensin family may be the most important since the body produces the largest amounts of this group of antibiotics. The highest concentration of the new defensin HBD-1 has thus far been found in the female urogenital tract," said Ganz.
The research team specifically found HBD-1 in the mucosal layers of the female reproductive tract (vagina, cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes) and in the distal tubules of the kidney (where urine is drained). The team cloned the gene that encodes HBD-1, and replicated the synthetic defensin using recombinant DNA technology. Ganz and his colleagues then tested the material's ability to kill E. coli bacteria, and demonstrated that the substance functions as an antibiotic.
"If we can learn how to control the levels of this new antibiotic and learn how to increase its production, we have the potential of improving the natural resistance of the body to infections in this area," said Ganz.
"It is quite likely that after further study we will discover that some women suffering from chronic infections in the urogenital tract are deficient in these key antibiotics," added Ganz. "We can then look for ways to provide some artificial or natural source of HBD-1 to replace what is missing," he continued.
Several researchers collaborated on the study including Erika V. Valore and Christina H. Park, from UCLA's Department of Medicine and Will Rogers Institute for Pulmonary Research; Alison J. Quayle, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University; Kerry R. Wiles and Paul B. McCray, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa.
The National Institutes of Health funded the research.
Note: For a complete copy of the research paper and/or an interview with Dr. Tomas Ganz, please call Rachel Chapeau at (310) 206-1960.
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