Serum proteomics of lung adenocarcinomas induced by targeted overexpression of c-raf in alveolar epithelium identifies candidate biomarkers

We previously reported a proteome map of lung adenocarcinomas in serine-threonine kinase of the Raf family (c-raf) transgenic mice. We now extend our initial studies to serum proteins at early stage (1 month) and advanced stages of tumorigenesis (12 months). Notably, serum proteins from wild-type and tumor bearing mice were extracted with a lysis buffer containing 5 mol/L urea, 2 mol/L thiourea, 40 mmol/L Tris, 4% CHAPS, 100 mmol/L DTT, 0.5% BioLyte 3-10, separated by 2-DE and studied by image analysis. On average 400 protein spots per gel were excised and analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS. We identified 45 common and 5 uniquely expressed proteins in wild-type and tumor bearing mice. Apart from uniquely identified proteins we observed for n = 9 proteins differential expression when wild-type and tumor bearing mice were compared. This included serpins and other protease inhibitors, lipocalins, transthyretins, globins, and Igs. Notably, we demonstrate significant regulation of alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, hemoglobin subunit alpha, vitamin D-binding protein, major urinary proteins, and transthyretin (up to eight-fold) in serum of lung tumor bearing mice. Disease association of these proteins in human malignancies has been reported. Thus, an identification of regulated serum proteins in this lung cancer disease model provides excellent opportunities for the search of novel biomarkers.     

Up-Regulation of S100A11 in Lung Adenocarcinoma – Its Potential Relationship with Cancer Progression

We previously reported that patients with lung adenocarcinomas with KRAS gene mutations and strong proliferating activity had poorer outcomes, even in the early stage of the disease. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the potential molecular basis of these highly malignant lung tumors by focusing on S100 proteins (S100A2, S100A7, and S100A11), which are downstream targets of oncogenic KRAS and promoters of tumor progression. The immunohistochemical expression of S100 proteins was examined in 179 primary lung adenocarcinomas, and the potential relationships between their levels and clinicopathologic factors were analyzed. Among the three subtypes, S100A11 levels were significantly higher in adenocarcinomas with KRAS mutations and strong proliferating activity. They were also higher in adenocarcinomas with poorly differentiated tumors. Furthermore, higher levels of S100A11 were associated with shorter disease-free survival. These results suggest that the up-regulation of S100A11 plays a role in tumor progression, particularly in KRAS-mutated lung adenocarcinomas.     

融合牛肠激酶轻链EKL包涵体蛋白的复性纯化

大肠杆菌高密度发酵表达肠激酶轻链融合蛋白DsbA-rEKL,主要以包涵体形式存在。包涵体经4mol/L尿素和0.5%TritonX-100洗涤,以6mol/L盐酸胍、100mmol/LDTT溶解,在胱氨酸存在下,以脉冲加样方式复性。融合蛋白复性在6mmol/L胱氨酸存在下、脉冲加量0.03mg/mL和复性终蛋白浓度0.3mg/mL为最佳复性方案。复性的融合蛋白加2mmol/LCaCL2后快速自切。经IDA-Sepharose及Q-Sepharose纯化,rEKL纯度可达95%以上,可高效酶切重组瑞特普酶融合蛋白Trx-rPA。实现了大规模生产rEKL,每升发酵液经复性及纯化后,可得rEKL60mg/L以上,使以融合蛋白表达rPA等药用蛋白成为现实。     

Refolding of the Fusion Protein of Recombinant Enterokinase Light Chain rEKL

The fusion protein of enterokinase light chain, DsbA-rEK_L, was expressed mainly in the inclusion body in E. coli. The recombinant bacteria were fermented to high density, with high expression of the fusion protein. After being washed with 0.5 % Triton X-100 and 4 mol/L urea, the inclusion body was dissolved in 6 mol/L guanidine and 100 mmol/L DTT, derivatized by cystine and refolded by pulse refolding. The strategy of pulse refolding involved the addition of 0.03 mg/mL of fusion protein until its final concentration reached 0.3 mg/mL. The refolded protein was autocleaved, and the active EK_L molecule was released after the addition of 2 mmol/L of CaCl₂. Using the two-step purification processes of IDA-Sepharose chromatography and Q-Sepharose chromatography, the purity of rEK_L was found to be above 95 %, with a high activity to cleave the recombinant reteplase fusion protein, Trx-rPA. The yield of purified rEK_L was more than 60 mg/L of cultures. As a result, the therapeutic proteins like rPA could be produced on a large scale in a way such as expressed in the form of fusion proteins.     

二氮嗪预处理上调Bcl-2/Bax蛋白比值减少缺氧复氧所致体外培养的海马神经元凋亡

线粒体内膜ATP敏感钾通道（mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel,mitoKATP通道）的激活在药物预处理增强神经元对各种损伤的耐受力过程中发挥着重要作用。神经元内含有丰富的mito KATP,通道,二氮嗪（diazoxide,DZ）为选择性的mitoKATP通道开放剂,本实验探讨了DZ预处理能否减少缺氧复氧所致的海马神经元凋亡,以及DZ如何调控Bcl-2蛋白和Bax蛋白的表达。原代培养9～10d的Sprague-Dawley大鼠海马神经元随机分为5组：对照组、DZ0μmol／L、DZ30μmol／L、DZ100μmol／L和DZ100μmol／L＋5-羟癸酸（5-hydroxydecanoate,5-HD）100μmol／L。除对照组外,其他四组神经元白缺氧前3d开始,每天DZ预处理1h,连续3d。体外缺氧4h,于复氧后24h,四唑蓝比色法测定海马神经元存活率,annexin V-FITC流式细胞术测定凋亡率,Western blot法检测Bcl-2和Bax蛋白的表达量。结果显示：与对照组比较,缺氧复氧损伤显著降低海码神经元的存活率,升高凋亡率。与其他浓度比较,100μmol／LDZ预处理使神经元存活率升高约15％,而凋亡率降低约12％：Bcl-2蛋白表达增强约60％,Bax蛋白表达下降近30％。5-HD消除DZ对神经元的保护作用。因此,100μmol／LDZ可通过上调Bcl-2蛋白表达,降低Bax蛋白表达,减少缺氧复氧后海马神经元的凋亡。     

Proteomic tracking of serum protein isoforms as screening biomarkers of ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women. Due to the asymptomatic nature and poor survival characteristic of the disease, screening for specific biomarkers for ovarian cancer is a major health priority. Differentially expressed proteins in the serum of ovarian cancer patients have the potential to be used as cancer-specific biomarkers. In this study, proteomic methods were used to screen 24 serum samples from women with high-grade ovarian cancer and compared to a control group of 11 healthy women. Affigel-Blue treated serum samples were processed either by linear (pH 4-7) or narrow range (pH 5.5-6.7) IEF strips for the first dimension. Proteins separated in first dimension were resolved by 8-16% gradient SDS-PAGE. Protein spots were visualized by SYPRO Ruby staining, imaged by FX-imager and compared and analyzed by PDQuest software. Twenty-two protein spots were consistently differentially expressed between normal and ovarian cancer patients by resolving proteins in a linear pH strip of 4-7 for the first dimension. Six of the protein spots, significantly up-regulated in grade 3 ovarian cancer patients (p < 0.05), were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and Western blotting as the isoforms of haptoglobin precursor. When serum proteins were resolved on narrow pH range strips (5.5-6.7), 23 spots were consistently differentially expressed between normal and grade 3 ovarian cancer patients. Of these, 4 protein spots significantly down regulated in grade 3 ovarian cancer patients (p < 0.05) were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and Western blotting, as isoforms of transferrin precursor. Increased expression of serum haptoglobin and transferrin was also identified in peritoneal tumor fluid obtained from women diagnosed with grade 2/3 ovarian cancer (n = 7). Changes in the expression of haptoglobin and transferrin in the serum of women with different pathological grades of ovarian cancer was examined by one-dimensional Western blotting method. Serum samples collected from women suffering from benign, borderline, grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 cancer (n = 4 for haptoglobin and n = 5 for transferrin in each group) were analyzed and compared to the serum of normal healthy women. The mean serum haptoglobin expression in grade 3 ovarian cancer patients was fourfold higher than in the control subjects (p < 0.05). On the other hand, transferrin expression in grade 3 ovarian cancer patients was decreased by twofold than in normal healthy women (p < 0.05). Haptoglobin expression in the serum of cancer patients (n = 7) decreased following chemotherapy (six cycles of taxol/carboplatin). Concomitant with the decrease of haptoglobin, transferrin expression remained constant in four patients, but increased in three out of seven patients included in the study. Changes in serum expression of haptoglobin correlated with the change of CA 125 levels before and after chemotherapy. In conclusion, proteomic profiling of differentially expressed proteins in the sera of normal women compared to women with ovarian cancer can greatly facilitate the discovery of a panel of biomarkers that may aid in the detection of ovarian cancer with greater specificity.     

二氢杨梅素对高糖诱导的H9C2心肌细胞损伤的影响

目的探讨二氢杨梅素（DHM）对高糖（HG）诱导的心肌细胞H9C2损伤的影响及机制。 方法细胞处理分为对照组、35 mmol/L HG组、35mmol/L HG+50 μmol/L DHM组及50 μmol/L DHM组。CCK-8法检测细胞活力,化学比色法检测丙二醛（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）水平,流式细胞术检测ROS水平;荧光定量PCR法及Elisa法分别检测TNFα、IL1β、IL6 mRNA和含量,Western Blotting检测p-IκBα、IκBα蛋白及核蛋白NF-κB p65的表达水平。采用单因素方差分析进行组间比较。 结果对照组、35mmol/?L HG组、35?mmol/L HG+50?μmol/L DHM组、35?mmol/L HG+100?μmol/L DHM组的细胞活力分别是（100±0.00） ﹪、（52.23±5.69） ﹪、（74.58±6.12） ﹪和（86.04±3.76）﹪,差异具有统计学意义（F?= 40.61,P?< 0.01）。对照组、35?mmol/L HG组和35?mmol/L HG+100?μmol/L DHM组的MDA和ROS水平,SOD和CAT活性分别是（0.44±0.06）?nmol/?ml,（2.33±0.40）?nmol/?ml,（1.48±0.41）?nmol/ml、（156.0±9.00）U/ml,（325.3±10.69）U/ml,（244.0±9.54）?U/ml,（10.62± 1.59）?U/?ml,（5.18±0.34）U/ml,（7.75±0.53）U/ml,（11.31±0.98）?U/ml,（5.20±1.12）?U/?ml和（8.06±0.66）U/ml,差异具有统计学意义（F?= 30.34,29.75,14.72,P均< 0.01）。DHM预处理可明显拮抗HG对H9C2心肌细胞TNFα、IL1β和IL6 mRNA及含量的上调作用,差异存在统计学意义（P?均< 0.01）。DHM可抑制HG对H9C2心肌细胞p-IκBα/?IκBα蛋白和核蛋白NF-κB p65表达的增加作用,差异存在统计学意义（P均< 0.01）。 结论DHM可拮抗HG诱导的H9C2心肌细胞损伤,这可能与其抑制NF-κB信号通路有关。     

Calpain对细胞骨架蛋白tau降解作用的研究(英文)

Calpain是钙依赖性中性蛋白酶 ,根据其对钙敏感性的不同 ,可分为m 和 μ calpain两型 .分别用不同浓度CaCl2 溶液孵育Wistar大鼠脑皮质匀浆液 ,并用蛋白质印迹和定量图像分析技术检测不同亚型calpain对tau蛋白的降解作用 .研究发现 :在 3 7℃用 1mmol/LCa2 孵育底物 15min ,可见tau蛋白明显降解 ,并在分子质量为 2 9ku处出现tau蛋白降解片段 ;当Ca2 浓度为 5mmol/L时 ,tau蛋白几乎全部被降解 ;这种tau蛋白降解可被calpain特异性抑制剂完全逆转 .进一步的研究发现 ,分别用 μ calpain抑制剂 (0 0 5μmol/Lcalpastatin) ,m calpain抑制剂 (10 0 μmol/LcalpaininhibitorⅣ )或总calpain抑制剂 (552 μmol/Lcalpeptin)与 1mmol/LCa2 共同孵育Wistar大鼠脑皮质匀浆液 ,Ca2 激活的tau蛋白降解分别被抑制8 6% ,92 5%和 97 8% .结果表明一定浓度的Ca2 可同时激活 μ calpain和m calpain ,这两种亚型calpain均参与降解tau蛋白 ,但m calpain的作用比 μ calpain更强     

Proteome analysis of sorbitol fermentation specific protein in Vibrio cholerae by 2-DE and MS

Vibrio cholerae can be differentiated into epidemic and non-epidemic strains by sorbitol fermentation speed, but little research has been done on its mechanisms. In this study, we investigated differential protein expression of the two strains in response to sorbitol metabolism. V. cholerae strains were cultured in media with and without sorbitol, respectively. Proteins were separated by 2-DE, and those that showed different expression in the two media were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Fifteen proteins in epidemic strains and 11 proteins in non-epidemic strains showed a different expression in sorbitol medium. Among them, 4 proteins were common to epidemic and non-epidemic strains. Gene sequence analysis showed that some mutations occurred in these proteins between the two strains. Potential functions of these proteins included sugar uptake, amino acid uptake, electron transport, sulfate and thiosulfate transport.     

红菇属两种凝集素的分离纯化与比较研究

以红菇属大白菇Russula delica和美丽红菇Russula lepida子实体为材料,利用离子交换柱层析、凝胶过滤层析的手段,分离获得新的凝集素RDL和RLL。结合凝胶过滤层析和SDS-PAGE的手段,确定RDL和RLL分别是分子量为60kDa和32kDa的双亚基蛋白,其N-末端部分氨基酸序列分别为GLKLAKQFAL和VWYIVAIKTDVPRTT。性质研究表明,RDL在20－70℃、低于25mmol/L HCl或12.5mmol/L NaOH下稳定,其凝集活性可以被邻硝基苯酚-β-D呋喃型半乳糖苷（25mmol/L）和菊糖（50mmol/L）所抑制;RDL具有抑制人肝癌Hep G2和人乳腺癌MCF7细胞增殖以及HIV-1反转录酶（RT）的活性,其半抑制浓度IC50分别为0.88μmol/L、0.52μmol/L和0.26μmol/L。RLL在20－70℃、低于12.5mmol/L HCl或NaOH下稳定,其凝集活性可以被菊糖（25mmol/L）和邻硝基苯酚-β-D呋喃型半乳糖苷（100mmol/L）所抑制;RDL具有抑制人肝癌Hep G2和人乳腺癌MCF7细胞增殖的活性,其半抑制浓度IC50分别为1.60μmol/L和0.90μmol/L,但不具有抑制HIV-1 RT的活性。     

Aspartate aminotransferase ofLactobacillus murinus

Aspartate aminotransferase from Lactobacillus murinus is thermostable, its activity being not changed for two months at temperatures between 4 and -70 degrees C. Maximum activity was observed at 40 degrees C and pH 7.3 in phosphate buffer (30 mmol/L). delta G* Value of 26.3 kJ/mol was calculated from the Arrhenius plot. The Km values for L-aspartate and 2-oxoglutarate at pH 7.3 were 25 and 100 mmol/L, respectively. Sodium maleate and glutamate acted as inhibitors of the enzyme activity. The Ki values for sodium maleate with L-aspartate of 2-oxoglutarate as variable substrates were 1.1 and 0.5 mmol/L, respectively. The Ki values for glutamate with L-aspartate or 2-oxoglutarate were 8.0 and 4.0 mmol/L, respectively. An inhibitory effect was observed with 1 mM Hg2+ ions (1 mmol/L). The activity of the enzyme was diminished by only 12% in the absence of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.     

Taurine supplementation restores glucose and carbachol-induced insulin secretion in islets from low-protein diet rats: involvement of Ach-M3R, Synt 1 and SNAP-25 proteins

Isolated islets from low-protein (LP) diet rats showed decreased insulin secretion in response to glucose and carbachol (Cch). Taurine (TAU) increases insulin secretion in rodent islets with a positive effect upon the cholinergic pathway. Here, we investigated the effect of TAU administration upon glucose tolerance and insulin release in rats fed on a normal protein diet (17%) without (NP) or with 2.5% of TAU in their drinking water (NPT), and LP diet fed rats (6%) without (LP) or with TAU (LPT). Glucose tolerance was found to be higher in LP, compared to NP rats. However, plasma glucose levels, during ipGTT, in LPT rats were similar to those of controls. Isolated islets from LP rats secreted less insulin in response to increasing glucose concentrations (2.8-22.2 mmol/L) and to 100 μmol/L Cch. This lower secretion was accompanied by a reduction in Cch-induced internal Ca(2+) mobilization. TAU supplementation prevents these alterations, as judged by the higher secretion induced by glucose or Cch in LPT islets. In addition, Ach-M3R, syntaxin 1 and synaptosomal associated protein of 25 kDa protein expressions in LP were lower than in NP islets. The expressions of these proteins in LPT were normalized. Finally, the sarcoendoplasmatic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase 3 protein expression was higher in LPT and NPT, compared with controls. In conclusion, TAU supplementation to LP rats prevented alterations in glucose tolerance as well as in insulin secretion from isolated islets. The latter effect involves the normalization of the cholinergic pathway, associated with the preservation of exocytotic proteins.     

Discordant protein and mRNA expression in lung adenocarcinomas

The relationship between gene expression measured at the mRNA level and the corresponding protein level is not well characterized in human cancer. In this study, we compared mRNA and protein expression for a cohort of genes in the same lung adenocarcinomas. The abundance of 165 protein spots representing 98 individual genes was analyzed in 76 lung adenocarcinomas and nine non-neoplastic lung tissues using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Specific polypeptides were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. For the same 85 samples, mRNA levels were determined using oligonucleotide microarrays, allowing a comparative analysis of mRNA and protein expression among the 165 protein spots. Twenty-eight of the 165 protein spots (17%) or 21 of 98 genes (21.4%) had a statistically significant correlation between protein and mRNA expression (r > 0.2445; p < 0.05); however, among all 165 proteins the correlation coefficient values (r) ranged from -0.467 to 0.442. Correlation coefficient values were not related to protein abundance. Further, no significant correlation between mRNA and protein expression was found (r = -0.025) if the average levels of mRNA or protein among all samples were applied across the 165 protein spots (98 genes). The mRNA/protein correlation coefficient also varied among proteins with multiple isoforms, indicating potentially separate isoform-specific mechanisms for the regulation of protein abundance. Among the 21 genes with a significant correlation between mRNA and protein, five genes differed significantly between stage I and stage III lung adenocarcinomas. Using a quantitative analysis of mRNA and protein expression within the same lung adenocarcinomas, we showed that only a subset of the proteins exhibited a significant correlation with mRNA abundance.     

镉及其与钙组合对褐脉少花龙葵毛状根生长、抗氧化酶活性和吸收镉的影响

为了探讨利用褐脉少花龙葵毛状根来修复重金属镉(Cd)污染的可能性,采用溶液培养法研究了Cd单独及其与钙(Ca)组合对褐脉少花龙葵毛状根生长、抗氧化酶超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性及对Cd吸收的影响。结果表明,Cd≤50μmol/L时能促进毛状根生长,而高于100μmol/LCd则抑制毛状根生长,使其侧根根尖变褐和变短,数目减少。与对照相比,不同浓度Cd培养的毛状根可溶性蛋白含量和SOD活性先升高后逐渐下降;其丙二醛(MDA)含量显著提高;100μmol/LCd使毛状根POD活性逐渐升高,但300μmol/LCd则使毛状根POD活性逐渐降低。与对照(仅添加100μmol/L或300μmol/LCd的毛状根)相比,Cd和10～30mmol/LCaCl2组合培养使毛状根可溶性蛋白含量和MDA含量降低;但提高其SOD活性;而100μmol/LCd和10～30mmol/LCaCl2结合培养的毛状根POD活性均比对照低;而300μmol/LCd和10～30mmol/LCaCl2结合培养的毛状根POD活性则均比对照提高。原子吸收分光光度法测定结果表明,毛状根吸收和吸附的重金属Cd含量随着培养基中Cd浓度的升高而增加。但外源加入10～30mmol/LCaCl2能减少毛状根对Cd的吸收,并调节其抗氧化酶SOD和POD活性,降低其膜脂过氧化水平而解除重金属Cd对毛状根生长的抑制或毒害。     

Mitochondrial protein patterns correlating with impaired insulin secretion from INS-1E cells exposed to elevated glucose concentrations

Extended hyperglycaemia leads to impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and eventually beta-cell apoptosis in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In an attempt to dissect mechanisms behind the detrimental effects of glucose, we focused on measuring changes in expression patterns of mitochondrial proteins. Impaired GSIS was observed from INS-1E cells cultured for 5 days at 20 or 27 mM glucose compared to cells cultured at 5.5 or 11 mM glucose. After culture, mitochondria were isolated from the INS-1E cells by differential centrifugation. Proteins of the mitochondrial fraction were bound to a strong anionic surface (SAX2) protein array and mass spectra generated by SELDI-TOF-MS. Analysis of the spectra revealed proteins with expression levels that correlated with the glucose concentration of the culture medium. Indeed, such differentially expressed proteins created patterns of protein changes, which correlated with impairment of GSIS. In conclusion, the study reveals the first glucose-induced differentially expressed patterns of beta-cell mitochondrial proteins obtained by SELDI-TOF-MS.     

Hydrogen sulfide delays nicotinamide-induced premature senescence via upregulation of SIRT1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide on cellular senescence of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs CC-2517) and its underlying mechanism. The premature senescence-like phenotype HUVECs (the fourth passage) was induced by treatment with nicotinamide (NAM, an inhibitor of SIRT1, 5 mmol/L, 12 h). Cells were cultured with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 μmol/L) for 48 h in premature senescence-like phenotype HUVECs. The fourth passage of HUVECs was considered as young group. Senescence-associated (SA)-β-galactosidase activities were detected to evaluate cell senescence, and the expression of SA heterochromatin foci (SAHF) was visualized by DAPI DNA staining. The mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1 were detected using RT-PCR and western blotting analysis, respectively. The results showed that β-galactosidase positive cells and the formation of SAHF were markedly increased after treatment with NAM (5 mmol/L) for 12 h. We also found that NaHS (12.5 μmol/L) had no effect on the percentage of SA β-gal positive cells and the expression of SAHF, and the hallmarks decreased at the concentration of 25 and 50 μmol/L, reaching the minimum at 50 μmol/L, while the percentage of SA β-gal positive cells and the expression of SAHF increased at the concentration of 100 μmol/L. Furthermore, we found that both on protein and mRNA levels of SIRT1 in the Y+N+S50 group was significantly increased compared with that in Y+N group. In conclusion, NaHS delays senescence of HUVECs induced by NAM via upregulation of SIRT1 expression.     

Blockade of antimicrobial proteins S100A8 and S100A9 inhibits phagocyte migration to the alveoli in streptococcal pneumonia

We investigated the roles of the potent, chemotactic antimicrobial proteins S100A8, S100A9, and S100A8/A9 in leukocyte migration in a model of streptococcal pneumonia. We first observed differential secretion of S100A8, S100A9, and S100A8/A9 that preceded neutrophil recruitment. This is partially explained by the expression of S100A8 and S100A9 proteins by pneumocytes in the early phase of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Pretreatment of mice with anti-S100A8 and anti-S100A9 Abs, alone or in combination had no effect on bacterial load or mice survival, but caused neutrophil and macrophage recruitment to the alveoli to diminish by 70 and 80%, respectively, without modifying leukocyte blood count, transendothelial migration or neutrophil sequestration in the lung vasculature. These decreases were also associated with a 68% increase of phagocyte accumulation in lung tissue and increased expression of the chemokines CXCL1, CXCL2, and CCL2 in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavages. These results show that S100A8 and S100A9 play an important role in leukocyte migration and strongly suggest their involvement in the transepithelial migration of macrophages and neutrophils. They also indicate the importance of antimicrobial proteins, as opposed to classical chemotactic factors such as chemokines, in regulating innate immune responses in the lung.