title: [Human beta-defensin 1: from defence to offence].
abstract: The human gut is colonised by about one kilogram of commensal bacteria. These microorganisms are a potential threat, thus an efficient defence system is crucial in preventing bacterial translocation and infection. Besides other mechanisms of protection humans produce antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are able to kill a broad range of microorganisms. The human beta-defensin 1 (hBD-1) plays a major role because it is produced constitutively by all human epithelia and some immune cells. In contrast to other AMPs, however, the biological function of hBD-1 has remained unclear since the antibiotic activity of hBD-1 in vitro was only marginal. But still, several diseases have been associated with genetic polymorphisms in the hBD-1 encoding gene. Herein we discuss why the biological role of hBD-1 has been overlooked and how hBD-1 can be activated by chemical reduction. We elaborate on the biological significance of this activation and its importance for inflammatory bowel disease.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch-Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Auerbachstrabe 112, 70376 Stuttgart, Germany. bjoem.schroeder@ikp-stuttgart.de
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Stange
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wehkamp
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000276:immunology; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014774:Virulence / Q000276:immunology; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; D023083:beta-Defensins