Tian, Xuechen and Chen, Li and Zhou, Jinfeng and Wang, Enbo and Wang, Mu and Jakubovics, Nicholas and Li, Jing and Song, Kunping and Lau, King Tong and Koepfli, Klaus-Peter and Zhang, Siyuan and Tan, Geok Yuan Annie and Yang, Yixin and Choo, Siew Woh (2024) Pangolin scales as adaptations for innate immunity against pathogens. BMC Biology, 22 (1). ISSN 1741-7007, DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-024-02034-5.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
BackgroundPangolins are the only mammals that have overlapping scales covering most of their bodies, and they play a crucial role in the ecosystem, biological research, and human health and disease. Previous studies indicated pangolin scale might provide an important mechanical defense to themselves. The origin and exact functions of this unique trait remain a mystery. Using a multi-omics analysis approach, we report a novel functional explanation for how mammalian scales can provide host-pathogen defense.ResultsOur data suggest that pangolin scales have a sophisticated structure that could potentially trap pathogens. We identified numerous proteins and metabolites exhibiting antimicrobial activity, which could suggest a role for scales in pathogen defense. Notably, we found evidence suggesting the presence of exosomes derived from diverse cellular origins, including mesenchymal stem cells, immune cells, and keratinocytes. This observation suggests a complex interplay where various cell types may contribute to the release of exosomes and antimicrobial compounds at the interface between scales and viable tissue. These findings indicate that pangolin scales may serve as a multifaceted defense system, potentially contributing to innate immunity. Comparisons with human nail and hair revealed pangolin-specific proteins that were enriched in functions relating to sensing, immune responses, neutrophil degranulation, and stress responses. We demonstrated the antimicrobial activity of key pangolin scale components on pathogenic bacteria by antimicrobial assays.ConclusionsThis study identifies a potential role of pangolin scales and implicates scales, as possible determinants of pathogen defense due to their structure and contents. We indicate for the first time the presence of exosomes in pangolin scales and propose the new functions of scales and their mechanisms. This new mechanism could have implications for multiple fields, including providing interesting new research directions and important insights that can be useful for synthesizing and implementing new biomimetic antimicrobial approaches.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Funders: | Wenzhou-Kean University, International Pangolin Research Consortium, Wenzhou Municipal Key Laboratory for Applied Biomedical, University of Cambridge, Biopharmaceutical Informatics [Grant no. WB20211227000125], Zhejiang Bioinformatics International Science and Technology Cooperation Center at Wenzhou-Kean University [Grant no. WB20210429000008] |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Pangolin; Mammalian scale; Antibacterial; Exosome; Host-pathogen defense; Innate immunity |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science > Institute of Biological Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Oct 2025 01:08 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Oct 2025 01:08 |
| URI: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/46366 |
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