Membranes (Basel), 2022, 12(9)

Antifungal Activity, Structural Stability, and Immunomodulatory Effects on Human Immune Cells of Defensin from the Lentil Lens culinaris

An increase in the frequency of mycoses and spreading of multidrug-resistant fungal pathogens necessitates the search for new antifungal agents. Earlier, we isolated the novel defensin from lentil seeds, designated as Lc-def, which inhibited the growth of phytopathogenic fungi. Here, we studied an antifungal activity of Lc-def against human pathogenic species, structural stability of the defensin, and its immunomodulatory effects that may help to prevent fungal infection. We showed that Lc-def caused 50% growth inhibition of clinical isolates of , , and at concentrations of 25-50 μM, but was not toxic to different human cells. The lentil defensin was resistant to proteolysis by and was not cleaved during simulated gastroduodenal digestion. By using the multiplex xMAP assay, we showed for the first time for plant defensins that Lc-def increased the production of such essential for immunity to candidiasis pro-inflammatory cytokines as IL-12 and IL-17 at the concentration of 2 μM. Thus, we hypothesized that the lentil Lc-def and plant defensins in general may be effective in suppressing of mucocutaneous candidiasis due to their antifungal activity, high structural stability, and ability to activate a protective immune response.

Finkina EI, Bogdanov IV, Ignatova AA, Kanushkina MD, Egorova EA, Voropaev AD, Stukacheva EA, Ovchinnikova TV

IBCH: 10209
Ссылка на статью в журнале: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/12/9/855
Кол-во цитирований на 07.2026: 13
Данные статьи проверены модераторами 2022-09-25

Список научных проектов, где отмечена публикация

  1. Study of plant defensins as possible antifungal agents with immunomodulatory properties (January 6, 2022 — December 31, 2023). Finkina E.I.. Grant, RSF.