Human Beta-Defensin 1 Forms Nets That Trap Bacteria

Tissues have innate immune antimicrobial defense mechanisms, the most prominent of which are the defensins. These small cationic peptides are highly conserved evolutionarily. The relevance of an intact defensin barrier is apparent in diseases characterized by impaired bacterial defense in skin or mucous membranes, such as inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, or periodontitis, caused by deficiencies in these structures.

Human beta-defensin 1 (hBD1) is constitutively expressed on all epithelial cells. Its mode of action has only recently been discovered by German and Swedish researchers. It occurs in two redox forms. The oxidized form (hBD1ox) was shown to have bacteriostatic action only against Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis. T…