title: Defensin-barbed innate immunity: clinical associations in the pediatric population.
abstract: Defensins and related antimicrobial peptides serve a central role in innate immunity in all species of plants and animals. In humans, defensins are widely expressed, including in neutrophils, skin, and mucosal epithelia. Most defensins are potent antibiotics, and some have chemotactic and toxin-neutralizing activities. Results of recent studies on the homeostatic and disease-fighting activities of human defensins point to a key relevance in several pediatric disorders. Inherited variation in defensin gene expression may contribute to susceptibility to several diseases, including psoriasis and Crohn disease. We review here the recent discoveries in innate immunity that shed light on the potential roles of defensins, and other antimicrobial molecules, in the pathophysiology of common pediatric diseases such as atopic dermatitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, cystic fibrosis, and otitis media.
authors.affiliation: UC Davis School of Medicine, 2516 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. mark.underwood@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bevins
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology; D023082:Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000276:immunology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000276:immunology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000276:immunology; D019879:Paneth Cells / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D023082:Defensins; D023083:beta-Defensins