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Review
. 2019 Apr:88:163-172.
doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2018.02.023. Epub 2018 Mar 13.

Multifaceted immune functions of human defensins and underlying mechanisms

Saahil Fruitwala  1 , Darine W El-Naccache  2 , Theresa L Chang  3
Affiliations
Review

Multifaceted immune functions of human defensins and underlying mechanisms

Saahil Fruitwala et al. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2019 Apr.

Abstract

Defensins have been long recognized as natural antimicrobial peptides, but they also possess diverse and versatile immune functions. Defensins can both induce inflammation and suppress inflammatory responses by acting on specific cells through distinct mechanisms. Defensins can also modulate the immune response by forming a complex with cellular molecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. The mechanisms of defensin-mediated immune modulation appear to be cell-type and context specific. Because the levels of human defensins are often altered in response to infection or disease states, suggesting their clinical relevance, this review summarizes the complex immune functions of human defensins and their underlying mechanisms of action, which have implications for the development of new therapeutics.

Keywords: Defensins; Immune functions; Pathways.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interests

The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
A. Human α-defensins, B. Human β-defensins.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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