Primate defensins.
Defensins are endogenous, cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides that contribute to host defence against bacterial, fungal and viral infections. There are three subfamilies of defensins in primates: alpha-defensins are most common in neutrophils and Paneth cells of the small intestine; beta-defensins protect the skin and the mucous membranes of the respiratory, genitourinary and gastrointestinal tracts; and theta-defensins, which are expressed only in Old World monkeys, lesser apes and orangutans, are lectins with broad-spectrum antiviral efficacy. Here, their discovery and recent advances in understanding their properties and functions are described.
Lehrer
Robert I
RI
Department of Medicine and Molecular Biology Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. rlehrer@mednet.ucla.edu
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D023082:Defensins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019879:Paneth Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011323:Primates / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023082:Defensins