An evaluation of the tissue expression of a bovine dodecapeptide bactenecin in the adult and fetal animal

Abstract

Various antimicrobial cationic peptides have been isolated from the granules of bovine neutrophils. One of these peptides is only 12 amino acids in length and is called a dodecapeptide bactenecin. A monoclonal antibody to the synthetic bovine dodecapeptide bactenecin was produced, characterised and used in an immunofluorescent assay to assess the peptide's expression. When adult bovine peripheral blood and both adult and fetal bone marrow, tracheal lining, liver, spleen and intestinal tissues were examined, the peptide was found only within neutrophils and cells within the bone marrow. These findings both confirm and supplement another report in the literature (Storici et al. 1992), however this is the first report of a bovine antimicrobial peptide detected within the bone marrow of fetal mammals. Our results also suggest the use of immunofluorescence assays to be especially well suited for the quick screening of antimicrobial peptide tissue expression.