Human beta-defensin-2

✍ Scribed by Jens-M Schröder; Jürgen Harder

• Book ID: 117756598
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 273 KB
• Volume: 31
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1357-2725
• DOI: 10.1016/s1357-2725(99)00013-8

✦ Synopsis

Human beta-defensin-2 (HBD-2) is a cysteine-rich cationic low molecular weight antimicrobial peptide recently discovered in psoriatic lesional skin. It is produced by a number of epithelial cells and exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria and Candida, but not Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. HBD-2 represents the ®rst human defensin that is produced following stimulation of epithelial cells by contact with microorganisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa or cytokines such as TNF-a and IL-1b. The HBD-2 gene and protein are locally expressed in keratinocytes associated with in¯ammatory skin lesions such as psoriasis as well as in the infected lung epithelia of patients with cystic ®brosis. It is intriguing to speculate that HBD-2 is a dynamic component of the local epithelial defense system of the skin and respiratory tract having a role to protect surfaces from infection, and providing a possible reason why skin and lung infections with Gram-negative bacteria are rather rare.