An evolutionary history of defensins: a role for copy number variation in maximizing host innate and adaptive immune responses.

ABSTRACT: Defensins represent an evolutionary ancient family of antimicrobial peptides that play diverse roles in human health and disease. Defensins are cationic cysteine-containing multifunctional peptides predominantly expressed by epithelial cells or neutrophils. Defensins play a key role in host innate immune responses to infection and, in addition to their classically described role as antimicrobial peptides, have also been implicated in immune modulation, fertility, development, and wound healing. Aberrant expression of defensins is important in a number of inflammatory diseases as well as modulating host immune responses to bacteria, unicellular pathogens, and viruses. In parallel with their role in immunity, in other species, defensins have evolved alternative functions, including the contr

SUBMITTER: Machado LR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4364288 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature