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Published online before print October 2, 2003

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© by The Society for Leukocyte Biology
Journal of Leukocyte Biology, doi:10.1189/jlb.0503249

Received for publication May 29, 2003.
Revised September 3, 2003.
Accepted for publication September 5, 2003.

Article

Expression and regulation of antimicrobial peptides in the gastrointestinal tract

Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation and Division of Gastroenterology, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

^@ To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: Yash.Mahida{at} Nottingham.ac.uk.

	Abstract

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is exposed to a wide range of microorganisms. The expression of antimicrobial peptides has been demonstrated in different regions of the GI tract, predominantly in epithelial cells, which represent the first host cells with which the microorganisms have to interact for invasion. The intestinal epithelial monolayer is complex, consisting of different cell types, and most have a limited lifespan. Of the GI antimicrobial peptides, - and -defensins have been studied the most and are expressed by distinct types of epithelial cells. Enteric -defensin expression is normally restricted to Paneth and intermediate cells in the small intestine. However, there are important differences between mice and humans in the processing of the precursor forms of enteric -defensins. Parasite infection induces an increase in the number of enteric -defensin-expressing Paneth and intermediate cells in the murine small intestine. In the chronically inflamed colonic mucosa, metaplastic Paneth cells (which are absent in the normal colon) also express enteric -defensins. Epithelial expression of -defensins may be constitutive or inducible by infectious and inflammatory stimuli. The production of some members of the -defensin family appears to be restricted to distinct parts of the GI tract. Recent studies using genetically manipulated rodents have demonstrated the likely in vivo importance of enteric antimicrobial peptides in innate host defense against microorganisms. The ability of these peptides to act as chemoattractants for cells of the innate- and adaptive-immune system may also play an important role in perpetuating chronic inflammation in the GI tract.

Key Words: epithelial cells • defensins • Paneth cells • cryptdin

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