Widespread expression of beta-defensin hBD-1 in human secretory glands and epithelial cells.
We compared the expression of human alpha- and beta-defensins by various human tissues. mRNA for alpha-defensins HNP1-3, abundant in bone marrow, was detected in peripheral blood leukocytes, spleen and thymus by RT-PCR, which revealed alpha-defensins HD5 and HD6 only in the small intestine. In contrast, the pancreas and kidney expressed high levels of hBD-1 and lower levels of this beta-defensin were found in many organs by RT-PCR (salivary gland > trachea > prostate and placenta > thymus, testis, small intestine). hBD-1 mRNA was produced constitutively by cultured normal human epithelial cells derived from the trachea, bronchi, small airways and the mammary gland. These largely non-overlapping tissue distributions of human alpha- and beta-defensins suggest that hBD-1 may be positioned to defend epithelial cells and mucosae from infection, whereas expression of HNP1-3 in neutrophils and HD5 and HD6 in Paneth cells allows these alpha-defensins to participate in systemic and small intestinal host defenses, respectively.
Zhao
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Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1690, USA.
Wang
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Lehrer
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RI
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D023082:Defensins; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D023084:alpha-Defensins; D023083:beta-Defensins
D001798:Blood Proteins; C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; D023082:Defensins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023084:alpha-Defensins; D023083:beta-Defensins; C406413:human neutrophil peptide 1; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate