Effect of the rhesus theta defensin-1 (RTD-1) on gene expression in human monocytes. [II]

Rhesus theta defensin (RTD)-1, a cyclic antimicrobial peptide, regulates gene expression and immune signaling pathways in cell culture and animal models of immune mediated diseases. To gain insights into RTD-1 regulation of naïve cells, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to determine the effect of RTD-1 on global gene expression in human monocytes. Analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed RTD-1 mediated stimulation of interferon and antiviral gene expression pathways in human monocytes. Overall design: Human monocytes were treated with 10 µg/ml RTD-1 or with the vehicle (0.01 % acetic acid) for 4 h in RPMI medium containing 1% Heat Inactivated FBS, 1% penicillin/streptomyocin and 100 µg/ml normocin. The RNA isolated from these cells was used for gene expression profiling to identify differentially expressed genes between RTD-1 treated and untreated cells.