title: Primate beta-defensins--structure, function and evolution.
abstract: Host defense peptides (HDPs) are endogenous antibiotics that play a multifunctional role in the innate immunity of mammals. Among these, beta-defensins contribute to mucosal and epithelial defense, also acting as signal molecules for cellular components of innate and adaptive immunity. Numerous members of this family have been identified in mammalian and avian species, and genomic studies in human and mouse indicate a considerable complexity in their gene organization. Recent reports on the evolution of primate and rodent members of this family indicate quite a complex pattern of variation. In this review we briefly discuss the evolution of mammalian beta-defensins in relation to other types of defensins, and then concentrate on the evolution of beta-defensins 1 to 4 in primates. In particular, the surprisingly varied patterns of evolution, which range from neutral or weakly purifying, to positive selection to a high level of conservation are analyzed in terms of possible genetics, structural or functional implications, as well as to observed variations on the antimicrobial activity in vitro. The role of polymorphisms in the genes encoding for these host defense peptides in determining susceptibility to human diseases are also briefly considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction and Development Science, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crovella
authors.forename: Nikolinka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Antcheva
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zelezetsky
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boniotto
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pacor
authors.forename: Maria Vittoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Verga Falzacappa
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tossi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D023082:Defensins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011323:Primates / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D023082:Defensins