K-Ras mutant pancreatic cancer cells display intensive macropinocytosis, indicating that this process may be exploited in the design of anticancer targeted therapies. In this study, we constructed a macropinocytosis-oriented recombinantly tailored defensin (DF-HSA) which consists of human β-defensin-2 (DF) and human serum albumin (HSA). The macropinocytosis intensity and cytotoxicity of DF-HSA ...

The production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is a major defense mechanism against pathogen infestation and of particular importance for insects relying exclusively on an innate immune system. Here, we report on the characterization of three AMPs from the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus. Due to sequence similarities and amino acid composition these peptides can be classified into the cyst...

Impaired expression of alpha-defensin antimicrobial peptides and overproduction of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1beta have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease. In this study, we examine the interactions between alpha-defensins and IL-1beta and the role of defensin deficiency in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. It was found that matrix metalloproteinase-7-deficient ...

Defensins play a key role in the innate immunity of various organisms. Detailed genomic studies of the defensin cluster have only been reported in a limited number of birds. Herein, we present the first characterization of defensins in a Pelecaniformes species, the crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), which is one of the most endangered birds in the world. We constructed bacterial artificial chromos...

BACKGROUND Synovial fluid biomarkers have demonstrated diagnostic accuracy surpassing the currently used diagnostic tests for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). QUESTIONS/PURPOSES The purpose of this study is to directly compare the sensitivity and specificity of the synovial fluid α-defensin immunoassay to the leukocyte esterase (LE) colorimetric test strip. METHODS Synovial fluid was c...

Middle ear infection, otitis media (OM), is clinically important due to the high incidence in children and its impact on the development of language and motor coordination. Previously, we have demonstrated that the human middle ear epithelial cells up-regulate β-defensin 2, a model innate immune molecule, in response to nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), the most common OM pathogen, via...

Aim—To determine if â defensins are expressed in the anterior segment of the eye and to determine the temporal pattern of expression using a real time semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Methods—Ocular tissue (corneal epithelium, conjunctiva, iris, and lens capsule) was collected from 23 patients undergoing surgery. Serial corneal or conjunctival impressio...

1 Kimbrell, D.A. and Beutler, B. (2001) The evolution and genetics of innate immunity. Nat. Rev. Genet. 2, 256–267 2 Otvos, L. Jr (2000) Antibacterial peptides isolated from insects. J. Pept. Sci. 6, 497–511 3 Cociancich, S. et al. (1993) Insect defensin, an inducible antibacterial peptide, forms voltage-dependent channels in Micrococcus luteus. J. Biol. Chem. 268, 19239–19245 4 Maget-Dana, R. ...

The HLA-DR-associated peptides from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 2 patients with plasmacytoma and 1 with chronic myeloid leukemia were isolated, identified, and compared. Several were identified as derivatives of the defensin family. Defensins (or human neutrophil peptides [HNP]) are antimicrobial, cationic peptides of 29 to 35 amino acids in length and are the major constituents of th...

We used an assay based on the uptake of SYTOX Green, an organic compound that fluoresces upon interaction with nucleic acids and penetrates cells with compromised plasma membranes, to investigate membrane permeabilization in fungi. Membrane permeabilization induced by plant defensins in Neurospora crassa was biphasic, depending on the plant defensin dose. At high defensin levels (10 to 40 micro...