Abstract
Purpose :
Lacritin is a pluripotent basal tear promoting cytokine in tears with latent C-terminal bactericidal activity representable by the synthetic peptide N-104, although larger C-terminal fragments are also bactericidal (McKown et al, J Biol Chem '14). Recently Azkargorta et al (J Prot Res '15) validated this observation, and interestingly detected 51 different lacritin fragments in normal tears - all but 5 C-terminal. Thus, a natural lacritin processing mechanism is continuously in play as a substantial contributor to the sterility of tears. Processing of recombinant lacritin in vitro can be blocked by chymostatin or leupeptin, suggesting a serine protease.
Methods :
Recombinant lacritin (5 µM) was incubated at different times (1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 40 or 90 min) with increasing concentrations of serine proteases ESP (0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000, or 2000 nM) or cathepsin G (0.1, 0.5, 1, 2 or 5 mU). Cleavage analysis of fragments >4 kDa was monitored by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and Western blotting.
Results :
MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry revealed cleavage sites on the carboxy side of amino acids 14, 24, 70, 76 and 77 for ESP, and 15, 24, 59, 65, 71, 72 and 75 for cathepsin G. Fragments released at amino acids >59 could potentially be bactericidal. In agreement, some Azkargorta et al '15 fragments begin at amino acids 71, 72, 76 and 78, although over >17 other cleavage sites are apparent suggesting that other tear proteases may thus contribute - much like the processing of skin antibiotic dermcidin. Some bactericidal fragments appear to be resistant to further digestion, as per MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of lacritin N-94 and N-94/C-6 synthetic peptides.
Conclusions :
Both ESP and cathepsin G may contribute to lacritin C-terminal processing, for which it is likely that multiple proteases may be involved.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.