Defensins: antimicrobial peptides of innate immunity
T Ganz - Nature reviews immunology, 2003 - nature.com
Nature reviews immunology, 2003•nature.com
The production of natural antibiotic peptides has emerged as an important mechanism of
innate immunity in plants and animals. Defensins are diverse members of a large family of
antimicrobial peptides, contributing to the antimicrobial action of granulocytes, mucosal host
defence in the small intestine and epithelial host defence in the skin and elsewhere. This
review, inspired by a spate of recent studies of defensins in human diseases and animal
models, focuses on the biological function of defensins.
innate immunity in plants and animals. Defensins are diverse members of a large family of
antimicrobial peptides, contributing to the antimicrobial action of granulocytes, mucosal host
defence in the small intestine and epithelial host defence in the skin and elsewhere. This
review, inspired by a spate of recent studies of defensins in human diseases and animal
models, focuses on the biological function of defensins.
Abstract
The production of natural antibiotic peptides has emerged as an important mechanism of innate immunity in plants and animals. Defensins are diverse members of a large family of antimicrobial peptides, contributing to the antimicrobial action of granulocytes, mucosal host defence in the small intestine and epithelial host defence in the skin and elsewhere. This review, inspired by a spate of recent studies of defensins in human diseases and animal models, focuses on the biological function of defensins.
nature.com