The mouse genome encodes a single homolog of the antimicrobial peptide human beta-defensin 1.
The cysteine-rich beta-defensin peptides are broad-spectrum bactericidal agents expressed in epithelial and myeloid tissues. The human beta-defensin-1 (hBD-1) gene maps adjacent to the human alpha-defensin cluster and is expressed in the respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Here, we characterize a mouse beta-defensin gene (mBD-1) which is: (1) closely related to hBD-1 both in sequence and gene organization; (2) expressed at high levels in the mouse kidney and at lower levels in brain, heart, lung, uterus, spleen, skeletal muscle, stomach, and small intestine; and (3) maps to mouse chromosome 8 at or near the location of the mouse alpha-defensin genes. These data indicate that mBD-1 is a close homolog of hBD-1, and suggest that analysis of its role in mouse host defense may provide significant insights into human epithelial innate immunity.
Huttner
K M
KM
Joint Program in Neonatology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. huttner_k@a1.tch.harvard.edu
Kozak
C A
CA
Bevins
C L
CL
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D023082:Defensins; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000378:metabolism; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000378:metabolism; D023083:beta-Defensins
D001798:Blood Proteins; C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; D023082:Defensins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins