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Review

Antimicrobial Human β-Defensins in the Colon and Their Role in Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases

Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Gastrointestinal Research Group, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
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Pathogens 2013, 2(1), 177-192; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens2010177
Received: 11 January 2013 / Revised: 1 March 2013 / Accepted: 10 March 2013 / Published: 19 March 2013
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host-Parasite Interactions)
β-defensins are small cationic antimicrobial peptides secreted by diverse cell types including colonic epithelial cells. Human β-defensins form an essential component of the intestinal lumen in innate immunity. The defensive mechanisms of β-defensins include binding to negatively charged microbial membranes that cause cell death and chemoattraction of immune cells. The antimicrobial activity of β-defensin is well reported in vitro against several enteric pathogens and in non-infectious processes such as inflammatory bowel diseases, which alters β-defensin production. However, the role of β-defensin in vivo in its interaction with other immune components in host defense against bacteria, viruses and parasites with more complex membranes is still not well known. This review focuses on the latest findings regarding the role of β-defensin in relevant human infectious and non-infectious diseases of the colonic mucosa. In addition, we summarize the most significant aspects of β-defensin and its antimicrobial role in a variety of disease processes. View Full-Text
Keywords: innate immunity; antimicrobial peptides; β-defensin; colon; intestinal mucosa; parasites; infection innate immunity; antimicrobial peptides; β-defensin; colon; intestinal mucosa; parasites; infection
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MDPI and ACS Style

Cobo, E.R.; Chadee, K. Antimicrobial Human β-Defensins in the Colon and Their Role in Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases. Pathogens 2013, 2, 177-192. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens2010177

AMA Style

Cobo ER, Chadee K. Antimicrobial Human β-Defensins in the Colon and Their Role in Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases. Pathogens. 2013; 2(1):177-192. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens2010177

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cobo, Eduardo R., and Kris Chadee. 2013. "Antimicrobial Human β-Defensins in the Colon and Their Role in Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases" Pathogens 2, no. 1: 177-192. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens2010177

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