Intranasal Immunization with the 54 kDa Hemagglutinin Pili Protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae that Increase the Expression of β‑defensin‑2

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the ability of intranasal immunization with 54 kDa pili proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae to improve the expression of β‑defensin‑2 through the upregulation of interleukin (IL)‑17A and IL‑22 expression. Materials and Methods: Purified 54 kDa pili proteins were used as an antigen in immunized Wistar rats intranasally. Wistar strain (female) mice, aged 12–16 weeks, were divided into two groups. Control, Group 1 treatment with 40 mL of phosphate‑buffered saline (PBS) containing adjuvants alone, namely, 2 μg cholera toxin B, and Group 2 with 40 μL of PBS containing the combined antigen‑adjuvant mucosal immune responses identified from nasal washing inspection of Wistar rats concentrated on IL‑17A, IL‑22, and β‑defensin‑2 indicators. Results: The results presented here indicate that mice immunized with combined antigen‑adjuvant therapy had higher levels of IL‑17A, IL‑22, and β‑defensin‑2 than the other groups. Analysis of variance testing demonstrated that there were significant differences between mice immunized with a combined antigen‑adjuvant regime compared to the other groups. Pearson correlation testing indicated there is a strong positive relationship between concentrations of IL‑17A and β‑defensin 2, and a weakly positive correlation between IL‑22 levels and β‑defensin 2. As well, between IL‑17A and IL‑22 versus β‑defensin 2, there was a moderately positive relationship. Conclusion: The intranasal immunization with 54 kDa hemagglutinin pili proteins of S. pneumoniae enhanced the expression of β‑defensin‑2.