Expression and functional analyses of liver expressed antimicrobial peptide-2 (LEAP-2) variant forms in human tissues

The antimicrobial peptide Liver Expressed Antimicrobial Peptide-2 (LEAP-2) is proposed to function as part of the vertebrate innate immune system. However, the highly conserved nature of the LEAP-2 peptide primary structure among vertebrates suggests more fundamental physiological roles. RT-PCR analyses confirmed expression of LEAP-2 mRNA variants in human gastro-intestinal (GI) epithelial tissues and THP-1 monocytes. Three cDNA products indicative of at least three different spliced transcripts were observed. Translation of the cDNA sequences supported synthesis of transcripts encoding the secreted LEAP-2 peptide and two variants lacking signal sequences suggesting intracellular localisation. The synthesis and cytoplasmic localisation of LEAP-2 peptides in epithelia was supported by immunohistochemical analyses. Functional data suggested that LEAP-2 is not involved in the physiological response of GI epithelia to iron, nor is it mitogenic for epithelial cells or chemotactic for THP-1 monocytes. However, changes in the LEAP-2 transcript patterns associated with the challenge of THP-1 monocytes with lipopolysaccharide (100 ng/ml) were supportive of the peptides having multiple roles in the innate immune response.