title: β-Defensins in the Fight against Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a pivotal role in the innate immune responses to Helicobacter pylori (Hp) in humans. β-Defensins, a class of cationic arginine-rich AMPs, are small peptides secreted by immune cells and epithelial cells that exert antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. During Hp infections, AMP expression is able to eradicate the bacteria, thereby preventing Hp infections in gastrointestinal tract. It is likely that gastric β-defensins expression is increased during Hp infection. The aim of this review is to focus on increased knowledge of the role of β-defensins in response to Hp infection. We also briefly discuss the potential use of AMPs, either alone or in combination with conventional antibiotics, for the treatment of Hp infection.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II', 80131 Napoli, Italy. pero@unina.it.
authors.forename: Raffaela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pero
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II', 80131 Napoli, Italy. lorena.coretti@tiscali.it.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coretti
authors.affiliation: CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Scarl, Via G. Salvatore 486, 80145 Napoli, Italy. ersilia.nigro@unina.it.|Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Via G. Vivaldi 42, 81100 Caserta, Italy. ersilia.nigro@unina.it.
authors.forename: Ersilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nigro
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli 'Federico II', Via Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy. frlembo@unina.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lembo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli 'Federico II', Via Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy. sonia.laneri@unina.it.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laneri
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II', 80131 Napoli, Italy. barbara.lombardo@unina.it.|CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Scarl, Via G. Salvatore 486, 80145 Napoli, Italy. barbara.lombardo@unina.it.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Scarl, Via G. Salvatore 486, 80145 Napoli, Italy. aurora.daniele@unina2.it.|Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Via G. Vivaldi 42, 81100 Caserta, Italy. aurora.daniele@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daniele
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II', 80131 Napoli, Italy. olga.scudiero@unina.it.|CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Scarl, Via G. Salvatore 486, 80145 Napoli, Italy. olga.scudiero@unina.it.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Scudiero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005756:Gastritis / Q000209:etiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D037521:Virulence Factors; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D037521:Virulence Factors; D023083:beta-Defensins
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; antimicrobial therapy; defensins; gastric disease