title: Nucleotide sequence and expression of rat beta-defensin-1: its significance in diabetic rodent models.
abstract: beta-Defensins are epithelium-derived antimicrobial peptides that function in the host's innate defense. We identified the first member of the rat beta-defensin family, beta-defensin-1 (BD-1), in the kidney and determined its nucleotide sequence. It was predicted to be a 37-amino-acid peptide. Rat BD-1 mRNA was expressed most abundantly in the kidney, next in skin, tongue, esophagus, and uterus, followed (at low levels) by brain, trachea, stomach, urinary bladder, and ovary. BD-1 gene expression in rat kidney was not increased by lipopolysaccharide administration. BD-1 gene expressions in the kidneys of diabetic rodent models, cholecystokinin-insensitive Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats, leptin-insensitive obese (fa/fa) Wistar rats, and db/db mice, were significantly lower than those of their lean littermates. BD-1 reduction may be in part responsible for the high incidence of urinary tract infections in diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Miyazaki Medical College, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hiratsuka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Date
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mukae
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsukura
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D020334:Rats, Inbred OLETF; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000235:genetics; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D023083:beta-Defensins