Defensins: Transcriptional regulation and function beyond antimicrobial activity

Contreras, Gabriela; Shirdel, Iman; Braun, Markus Santhosh

doi:10.1016/j.dci.2019.103556

Cited by 47 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 216 publications

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“…They are divided into three subtypes based on the arrangement of disulfide bonds including α-, β- and θ-defensins [ 67 , 68 ]. α-defensins and θ-defensins evolved from an ancient β-defensins [ 69 ]. In humans, there are only α-defensins and β-defensins but no θ-defensins due to an early termination codon in the mRNA.…”

Section: Natural Distribution Of Ampsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In humans, there are only α-defensins and β-defensins but no θ-defensins due to an early termination codon in the mRNA. Reptiles and birds only produce β-defensins while θ-defensins are found in the leukocytes and bone marrow of some non-human primates [ 46 , 47 , 69 ]. Similar to cathelicidins, α-defensins are cleaved by elastase, metalloproteinase or other proteolytic enzymes and ultimately formed a C-terminal peptide with potential antimicrobial activity [ 70 ].…”

Section: Natural Distribution Of Ampsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Antimicrobial peptides: mechanism of action, activity and clinical potential

et al. 2021

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The management of bacterial infections is becoming a major clinical challenge due to the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria. As an excellent candidate to overcome antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are produced from the synthetic and natural sources demonstrate a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with the high specificity and low toxicity. These peptides possess distinctive structures and functions by employing sophisticated mechanisms of action. This comprehensive review provides a broad overview of AMPs from the origin, structural characteristics, mechanisms of action, biological activities to clinical applications. We finally discuss the strategies to optimize and develop AMP-based treatment as the potential antimicrobial and anticancer therapeutics.

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Section: Natural Distribution Of Ampsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Natural Distribution Of Ampsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial peptides: mechanism of action, activity and clinical potential

et al. 2021

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“…Moreover, β-defensins abundance is tightly governed by transcriptional controls assigned to epithelial and epidermal cells [46]. One representative of the β-defensin family such as human β-defensin 1 (HBD1) is continuously transcribed in skin cells, while the transcription of human β-defensin 2 (HBD2) and human β-defensin 3 (HBD3) as the others is triggered in response to a microbial or pro-inflammatory cytokines presence [47].…”

Section: Defensinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunomodulatory Properties of Host Defence Peptides in Skin Wound Healing

et al. 2021

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Cutaneous wound healing is a vital biological process that aids skin regeneration upon injury. Wound healing failure results from persistent inflammatory conditions observed in diabetes, or autoimmune diseases like psoriasis. Chronic wounds are incurable due to factors like poor oxygenation, aberrant function of peripheral sensory nervature, inadequate nutrients and blood tissue supply. The most significant hallmark of chronic wounds is heavily aberrant immune skin function. The immune response in humans relies on a large network of signalling molecules and their interactions. Research studies have reported on the dual role of host defence peptides (HDPs), which are also often called antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Their duality reflects their potential for acting as antibacterial peptides, and as immunodulators that assist in modulating several biological signalling pathways related to processes such as wound healing, autoimmune disease, and others. HDPs may differentially control gene regulation and alter the behaviour of epithelial and immune cells, resulting in modulation of immune responses. In this review, we shed light on the understanding and most recent advances related to molecular mechanisms and immune modulatory features of host defence peptides in human skin wound healing. Understanding their functional role in skin immunity may further inspire topical treatments for chronic wounds.

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“…19 Interestingly, C. albicans hyphae of the mycelium evoke PRR activation by their DAMPs and stimulate production of antimicrobial peptides 19 by epithelial and innate immune cells, 71,72 whereof defensins are the largest group. 73 Other properties than just their β-glucans probably are important triggers of defensins and other antimicrobial peptides. In fact, it was a surprise when it recently was revealed that the β-glucan content of Andosan™ was very low, probably due to its source being mycelia and not fruiting body.…”

Section: Immunomodulation and Defence At The Mucosamentioning

confidence: 99%

Can medicinal mushrooms have prophylactic or therapeutic effect against COVID‐19 and its pneumonic superinfection and complicating inflammation?

et al. 2020

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Medicinal mushrooms have documented effects against different diseases, including infections and inflammatory disorders. The related Basidiomycota Agaricus blaz ei Murill (AbM), Hericium erinaceus (HE), and Grifola frondosa (GF) have been shown to exert antimicrobial activity against viral agents, Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, and parasites in vitro and in vivo. Since the mechanism is immunomodulatory and not antibiotical, the mushrooms should be active against multi‐drug resistant microbes as well. Moreover, since these Basidiomycota also have anti‐inflammatory properties, they may be suited for treatment of the severe lung inflammation that often follows COVID‐19 infection. An AbM‐based mushroom extract (Andosan™), also containing HE and GF, has been shown to significantly reduce bacteraemia and increase survival in mice with pneumococcal sepsis, and to improve symptoms and quality of life in IBD patients via an anti‐inflammatory effect. Hence, such mushroom extracts could have prophylactic or therapeutic effect against the pneumonic superinfection and severe lung inflammation that often complicates COVID‐19 infection. Here, we review antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory properties of AbM, HE and GF mushrooms, which could be used for the battle against COVID‐19.

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Defensins: Transcriptional regulation and function beyond antimicrobial activity

Cited by 47 publications

References 216 publications

Antimicrobial peptides: mechanism of action, activity and clinical potential

Antimicrobial peptides: mechanism of action, activity and clinical potential

Immunomodulatory Properties of Host Defence Peptides in Skin Wound Healing

Can medicinal mushrooms have prophylactic or therapeutic effect against COVID‐19 and its pneumonic superinfection and complicating inflammation?

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