title: Events at the host-microbial interface of the gastrointestinal tract. V. Paneth cell alpha-defensins in intestinal host defense.
abstract: Host defense of the small intestine is mediated, in part, by antimicrobial peptides, including alpha-defensins. In the small intestine, Paneth cells, specialized secretory epithelial cells located at the base of the crypt invaginations lining the intestinal wall, produce alpha-defensins. The alpha-defensins are cysteine-rich cationic peptides with antibiotic activity against a wide range of bacteria and other microbes. Studies of transgenic and knockout mice have supported a pivotal role of Paneth cell alpha-defensins in protection from bacterial pathogens. New data suggest that deficient expression of Paneth cell alpha-defensins may contribute to the pathophysiology of Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
authors: Dept. of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California School of Medicine, One Shields Ave., Tupper Hall Rm. 3146, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors: Charles L
authors: CL
authors: Bevins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D019879:Paneth Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D023084:alpha-Defensins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D023084:alpha-Defensins