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Secretory Phospholipase A2 in Dromedary Tears: a Host Defense Against Staphylococci and Other Gram-Positive Bacteria

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Abstract

The best known physiologic function of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) group IIA (sPLA2-IIA) is defense against bacterial infection through hydrolytic degradation of bacterial membrane phospholipids. In fact, sPLA2-IIA effectively kills Gram-positive bacteria and to a lesser extent Gram-negative bacteria and is considered a major component of the eye’s innate immune defense system. The antibacterial properties of sPLA2 have been demonstrated in rabbit and human tears. In this report, we have analyzed the bactericidal activity of dromedary tears and the subsequently purified sPLA2 on several Gram-positive bacteria. Our results showed that the sPLA2 displays a potent bactericidal activity against all the tested bacteria particularly against the Staphylococcus strains when tested in the ionic environment of tears. There is a synergic action of the sPLA2 with lysozyme when added to the bacteria culture prior to sPLA2. Interestingly, lysozyme purified from dromedary tears showed a significant bactericidal activity against Listeria monocytogene and Staphylococcus epidermidis, whereas the one purified from human tears displayed no activity against these two strains. We have also demonstrated that Ca2+ is crucial for the activity of dromedary tear sPLA2 and to a less extent Mg2+ ions. Given the presence of sPLA2 in tears and intestinal secretions, this enzyme may play a substantial role in innate mucosal and systemic bactericidal defenses against Gram-positive bacteria.

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Acknowledgments

This research project was supported by a grant from the research center of the Center for Female Scientific and Medical Colleges in King Saud University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemistry Department, Science College, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh, 11495, Saudi Arabia

    Abir Ben Bacha

  2. Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology Applied to Crop Improvement, Faculty of Science of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, 3038, Tunisia

    Abir Ben Bacha

  3. Botany and Microbiology Department, Science College, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh, 11495, Saudi Arabia

    Islem Abid

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  1. Abir Ben Bacha
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Correspondence to Abir Ben Bacha.

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Ben Bacha, A., Abid, I. Secretory Phospholipase A2 in Dromedary Tears: a Host Defense Against Staphylococci and Other Gram-Positive Bacteria. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 169, 1858–1869 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-013-0113-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-013-0113-6

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