Enteric alpha defensins in norm and pathology

• Published in: Annals of clinical microbiology and antimicrobials Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Authors: Lisitsyn, Nikolai A, Bukurova, Yulia A, Nikitina, Inna G, Krasnov, George S, Sykulev, Yuri, Beresten, Sergey F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 11.01.2012; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: alpha-Defensins - immunology; alpha-Defensins - secretion; Animals; Bacteria; Bacterial infections; Binding sites; Cancer; colon cancer; Colonization; Colorectal cancer; Cysteine; Data processing; Defensins; Digestive tract; Enteric alpha defensins; Enteritis - immunology; Enteritis - physiopathology; Gastrointestinal Tract - immunology; Gastrointestinal Tract - physiology; Genomes; Health aspects; Homeostasis; Humans; IBD; Immune system; Immunity; Infection; Inflammatory bowel disease; Inflammatory diseases; innate immunity; Intestine; lamina propria; Mammals; Paneth cells; Peptides; Physiological aspects; Proteins; Review; Rodents; Small intestine; Target recognition; Vertebrates; United States; Russia
• ISSN: 1476-0711; 1476-0711
• DOI: 10.1186/1476-0711-11-1

Microbes living in the mammalian gut exist in constant contact with immunity system that prevents infection and maintains homeostasis. Enteric alpha defensins play an important role in regulation of bacterial colonization of the gut, as well as in activation of pro- and anti-inflammatory responses of the adaptive immune system cells in lamina propria. This review summarizes currently available data on functions of mammalian enteric alpha defensins in the immune defense and changes in their secretion in intestinal inflammatory diseases and cancer.