Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Robert J. Shulman, Sridevi Devaraj, Margaret Heitkemper
Summary: Increased fecal beta-defensin-2 concentration in children with IBS suggests activation of the innate immune system, which, along with increased gut permeability, appears to be related to abdominal pain symptoms. Sex differences play a role in interpreting beta-defensin-2 concentration in children with IBS.
CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jennifer P. Bharucha, Lingling Sun, Wuyuan Lu, Suzanne Gartner, Alfredo Garzino-Demo
Summary: Human beta-defensins (hBDs) can inhibit HIV replication in macrophages in a dose-dependent manner, with hBD2 suppressing HIV at an early post-entry stage via G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR)-mediated signaling. It was also found that hBD2 treatment was associated with increased expression of APOBEC3A and 3G antiretroviral restriction factors in macrophages, suggesting its potential in preventive and therapeutic approaches against HIV.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Liqun Zhang
Summary: hBD-3, a small antibacterial peptide, interacts with bacterial and eukaryotic cell membranes, particularly those with low concentrations of PIP2 lipids. The binding structures of hBD-3 on membranes mixed with PIP2 were predicted through simulations, revealing stable binding in the loop regions. Additionally, hBD-3 can form hydrogen bonds with PIP2 and POPS lipids, impacting membrane thickness and flexibility.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL INFORMATION AND MODELING
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yoshie Umehara, Miho Takahashi, Hainan Yue, Juan Valentin Trujillo-Paez, Ge Peng, Hai Le Thanh Nguyen, Ko Okumura, Hideoki Ogawa, Francois Niyonsaba
Summary: The skin produces antimicrobial peptides that not only fight against pathogens but also have immunomodulatory functions. This study found that human beta-defensins promote the secretion of angiogenin, a potent angiogenic factor, by fibroblasts, suggesting a novel role of these peptides in angiogenesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Miho Takahashi, Yoshie Umehara, Hainan Yue, Juan Valentin Trujillo-Paez, Ge Peng, Hai Le Thanh Nguyen, Risa Ikutama, Ko Okumura, Hideoki Ogawa, Shigaku Ikeda, Francois Niyonsaba
Summary: hBD-3 promotes wound healing by enhancing fibroblast proliferation and migration, as well as increasing angiogenesis. It also stimulates the secretion of angiogenic growth factors in fibroblasts through the FGFR1/JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Xinliang Zhao, Mengnan Lu, Zhigang Liu, Mingming Zhang, Hongmei Yuan, Zhaoqiang Dan, Daihua Wang, Bingbing Ma, Yanqi Yang, Funing Yang, Ruifang Sun, Lin Li, Chengxue Dang
Summary: This study analyzed the expression, correlation, mutation, and functional enrichment of several defensin family members in pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer (CRC). DEFA5 and DEFA6 showed significantly increased expression in CRC tissues, with DEFA5 potentially associated with better prognosis and DEFA6 potentially associated with poor prognosis. Immunohistochemistry experiments confirmed higher expression of DEFA6 in adenoma and slightly higher expression in carcinoma compared to normal mucosa. DEFA5 and DEFA6 demonstrate a certain degree of sensitivity and specificity in predicting CRC.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aleksandra Walewska, Paulina Kosikowska-Adamus, Marta Tomczykowska, Bartosz Jaroszewski, Adam Prahl, Grzegorz Bulaj
Summary: Human beta-defensin 3 (HBD-3) is an antimicrobial and immunomodulatory peptide with multiple biological functions. This study optimized the synthetic method of HBD-3, improving the synthesis efficiency and enabling structural and functional studies. Additionally, an alternative synthesis method with improved oxidative folding was proposed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
E. Deniz Tekin, Metin Calisir
Summary: This study used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate and compare the structural properties of human beta-defensin-1, -2, and -3. The results showed that human beta-defensin-3 has a more flexible structure in water and the location of salt bridges is important for protein stability.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL E
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Wenjing Yu, Nianzhi Ning, Ying Xue, Yanyu Huang, Feng Guo, Tao Li, Boning Yang, Deyan Luo, Yakun Sun, Zhan Li, Jianxin Wang, Zhili He, Shiwei Cheng, Xingxiao Zhang, Hui Wang
Summary: The chimeric human defensin H4 showed significantly improved antibacterial activity, especially against multidrug resistant strains, and maintained over 80% antibacterial activity at high salt concentration. Moreover, cytotoxicity tests indicated that H4 had similar toxicity to cells at low doses compared to other defensins.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Hanjun Zhao, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Hoiyan Lam, Chuyuan Zhang, Zheng Peng, Xinjie Meng, Xiankun Wang, Anna Jinxia Zhang, Bingpeng Yan, Jianpiao Cai, Man Lung Yeung, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Kwok-Yung Yuen
Summary: The human-derived peptide 4H30 demonstrates broad antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, inhibiting viral entry, fusion, and release.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kyoung-Ran Kim, Junghyun Kim, Seunghye Cho, Dae-Ro Ahn
Summary: In this study, a novel mRNA delivery platform utilizing the hBD23 peptide is introduced, which forms nanocomplexes with mRNA, allowing efficient cellular delivery and protein expression in vitro and in vivo. These complexes show minimal cytotoxicity and immunogenicity, making hBD23 a promising platform for mRNA delivery.
Article
Microbiology
Swechha M. M. Pokharel, Indira Mohanty, Charles Mariasoosai, Tanya A. A. Miura, Lisette A. A. Maddison, Senthil Natesan, Santanu Bose
Summary: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection causes pneumonia and bronchiolitis in vulnerable populations, and there is currently a lack of effective treatment options and vaccines. This study demonstrates that RSV infection triggers the activation of the beta-catenin pathway, leading to a pro-inflammatory response in lung epithelial cells. This pathway is activated by interaction between extracellular HBD3 and cell surface LRP5 receptors via a non-canonical Wnt-independent mechanism.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nathalia Mayumi Noda-Nicolau, Mariana de Castro Silva, Giovana Fernanda Cosi Bento, Jeniffer Sena Baptista Ferreira, Juliano Novak, Julia Andrade Pessoa Morales, Julia Abbade Tronco, Aline Nascimento Bolpetti, Gabriel Vitor Silva Pinto, Jossimara Polettini, Camila Marconi, Marcia Guimaraes da Silva
Summary: This study found lower levels of hBDs1-3 in cervicovaginal fluids of women with bacterial vaginosis compared to those with normal microbiota. Lower levels of hBDs1-3 were independently associated with bacterial vaginosis.
Article
Allergy
Thi Bich Tra Cao, Hyun-Young Cha, Eun-Mi Yang, Bo-Youn Choi, Hae-Sim Park, Young-Min Ye
Summary: The study found that serum HBD2 levels were higher in CSU patients compared to healthy controls, and were negatively correlated with peripheral basophil and vitamin D levels, but positively correlated with TCTP levels. Additionally, patients with accompanying angioedema had higher HBD2 levels.
INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES OF ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Weimin Zheng, Yang Zhang, Chuanyu Sun, Shengyang Ge, Yifan Tan, Huali Shen, Pengyuan Yang
Summary: The study systematically and comprehensively investigated the gene and protein expression between the testis and epididymis, revealing their crucial roles in male fertility. The results help scientists have a deeper understanding of the physiological functions of the testis and epididymis, especially with important discoveries on the expression patterns of missing proteins.
Letter
Allergy
Heidi Schaarschmidt, David Ellinghaus, Elke Rodriguez, Anja Kretschmer, Hansjoerg Baurecht, Simone Lipinski, Ulf Meyer-Hoffert, Juergen Harder, Wolfgang Lieb, Natalija Novak, Regina Foelster-Holst, Jorge Esparza-Gordillo, Ingo Marenholz, Franz Ruschendorf, Norbert Hubner, Eva Reischl, Melanie Waldenberger, Christian Gieger, Thomas Illig, Michael Kabesch, Xue-Jun Zhang, Feng-Li Xiao, Young-Ae Lee, Andre Franke, Stephan Weidinger
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2015)
Article
Dermatology
Lisa Redelfs, Jan Fischer, Clemens Weber, Zhihong Wu, Ulf Meyer-Hoffert
ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2016)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sascha Jung, Jan Fischer, Bjoern Spudy, Tim Kerkow, Frank D. Soennichsen, Li Xue, Alexandre M. J. J. Bonvin, Peter Goettig, Viktor Magdolen, Ulf Meyer-Hoffert, Joachim Groetzinger
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2016)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Magdalena Kalinska, Ulf Meyer-Hoffert, Tomasz Kantyka, Jan Potempa
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karolina Plaza, Magdalena Kalinska, Oliwia Bochenska, Ulf Meyer-Hoffert, Zhihong Wu, Jan Fischer, Katherine Falkowski, Laura Sasiadek, Ewa Bielecka, Barbara Potempa, Andrzej Kozik, Jan Potempa, Tomasz Kantyka
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2016)
Article
Dermatology
Jan Fischer, Zhihong Wu, Tomasz Kantyka, Maria Sperrhacke, Olga Dimitrieva, Yulia Koblyakova, Kerstin Ahrens, Nina Graumann, Hansjoerg Baurecht, Karina Reiss, Jens-Michael Schroder, Ehrhardt Proksch, Ulf Meyer-Hoffert
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2014)
Article
Dermatology
Maria Sperrhacke, Jan Fischer, Zhihong Wu, Sarah Kluender, Radislav Sedlacek, Jens-Michael Schroeder, Ulf Meyer-Hoffert, Karina Reiss
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2014)
Article
Dermatology
Regine Glaeser, Karsten Becker, Christof von Eiff, Ulf Meyer-Hoffert, Juergen Harder
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2014)
Article
Dermatology
Zhihong Wu, Yuanyuan Wu, Jan Fischer, Joachim Bartels, Jens-Michael Schroeder, Ulf Meyer-Hoffert
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2019)
Meeting Abstract
Dermatology
Z. Wu, J. Fischer, J. Yan, J. Schroeder, U. Meyer-Hoffert
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Dermatology
Clemens Weber, Jan Fischer, Lisa Redelfs, Franziska Rademacher, Juergen Harder, Stephan Weidinger, Zhihong Wu, Ulf Meyer-Hoffert
ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2017)
Meeting Abstract
Dermatology
Z. Wu, R. Siebert, J. Schroeder, U. Meyer-Hoffert
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2017)
Meeting Abstract
Dermatology
E. Rodriguez, J. Manz, B. S. Petersen, H. Baurecht, G. Mayr, J. Harder, U. Meyer-Hoffert, A. Franke, A. ElSharawy, S. Weidinger
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2015)
Meeting Abstract
Dermatology
L. Redelfs, J. Fischer, C. Weber, U. Meyer-Hoffert
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2014)
Meeting Abstract
Dermatology
C. Weber, J. Fischer, L. Redelfs, U. Meyer-Hoffert
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2014)
