Reg4 defenses the intestine against Salmonella infection via binding the flagellin

Abstract

Salmonella Typhimurium is gram-negative flagellated bacteria that can cause food-borne gastroenteritis and diarrhea in humans and animals. The regenerating islet-derived family member 4 (Reg4) is overexpressed in the gastrointestinal tract during intestinal inflammation. However, the role of Reg4 in the intestinal inflammation induced by Salmonella Typhimurium is largely unknown. In this study, we reported for the first time that Reg4 has bactericidal activity against intestinal infection caused by Salmonella Typhimurium. In vivo, Reg4 could reduce the colonization of Salmonella Typhimurium and attenuate intestinal inflammation in the Salmonella Typhimurium-infected model. Additionally, the mice with the epithelial cell specific deletion of Reg4 (Reg4^ΔIEC) exhibited more severe intestinal inflammation and more colonization of Salmonella Typhimurium. However, the administration of Reg4 could reverse these negative impacts. In vitro, Reg4 protein was showed to inhibit the growth of Salmonella Typhimurium. We further investigate the function motif of Reg4 and find that the “HDPQK” motif in Reg4 is essential to its bactericidal activity. Reg4 exerted the bactericidal effect by binding to the flagellin of Salmonella Typhimurium and suppressing its motility, adhesion, and invasion to the intestinal epithelia. In conclusion, our findings identify Reg4 as a novel antimicrobial peptide against infection by Salmonella Typhimurium and explore its possible mechanism, which may be of great significance for developing novel agents against flagellated micro pathogens.