Review: Defensins and cathelicidins in lung immunity:

Innate Immunity

TesfaldetTecle¹ 

关键词: defensins;    cathelicidins;    LL-37;    lung immunity;   

DOI  :  10.1177/1753425910365734

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

Defensins were first identified in 1985 and are now recognized as part of a large family of antimicrobial peptides, divided into three categories: α-, β-, and θ-defensins. These defensin classes differ in structure, sites of expression and biological activities. Human α-defensins include peptides that are expressed primarily in neutrophils, whereas human β-defensins are widely expressed in epithelial cells, including those lining the respiratory tract. Defensins were first studied for their broad spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi and viruses; however, it is now clear that they also recruit inflammatory cells and promote innate and adaptive immune responses. Recent evidence shows that defensins have anti-inflammatory effects as well. Hence, defensins can participate in all phases of an immune response in the lung, including initial killing of pathogens and mounting — and resolution —- of an immune or inflammatory response. The cathelicidin, LL-37, is an antimicrobial peptide produced by neutrophils...

【 授权许可】

CC BY