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Originally published online as doi:10.1189/jlb.0609382 on October 6, 2009

Published online before print October 6, 2009
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(Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 2010;87:79-92.)
© 2010 Society for Leukocyte Biology

Human defensins and LL-37 in mucosal immunity

Mona Doss, Mitchell R. White, Tesfaldet Tecle and Kevan L. Hartshorn1

Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

1. Correspondence: Boston University School of Medicine, EBRC 414, 650 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118, USA. E-mail: khartsho{at}bu.edu

Defensins are widespread in nature and have activity against a broad range of pathogens. Defensins have direct antimicrobial effects and also modulate innate and adaptive immune responses. We consider the role of human defensins and the cathelicidin LL-37 in defense of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts and the oral cavity, skin, and eye. Human β-defensins (hBDs) and human defensins 5 and 6 (HD5 and -6) are involved most obviously in mucosal responses, as they are produced principally by epithelial cells. Human {alpha}-defensins 1–4 (or HNPs 1–4) are produced principally by neutrophils recruited to the mucosa. Understanding the biology of defensins and LL-37 is the beginning to clarify the pathophysiology of mucosal inflammatory and infectious diseases (e.g., Crohn’s disease, atopic dermatitis, lung or urinary infections). Challenges for these studies are the redundancy of innate defense mechanisms and the presence and interactions of many innate defense proteins in mucosal secretions.

Key Words: retrocyclin • innate immunity