The role of human defensins in gastrointestinal diseases

Abstract

In clarifying the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases, a dysregulation of the adaptive immune function was the main focus of research in the last decade. With increasing knowledge of antimicrobial peptides, a primary disturbed barrier function and the system of innate immunity has recently received increasing attention. Contrary to the common understanding of irritable bowel syndrome as a functional disorder, there is first evidence for an involvement of innate immunity for this condition. Peptides with high relevance seem to be the class of human defensins. This article will thus discuss current advances in immunologic research of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, focusing on defensins and their possible role as biomarkers of these diseases.

Keywords::

• bacteria
• Crohn’s disease
• defensins
• gastrointestinal infections
• HBD
• HD
• innate immunity
• irritable bowel syndrome
• NOD2
• ulcerative colitis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Jost Langhorst is Professor for Integrative Gastroenterology at the Department of Integrative and Internal Medicine, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany, and Kyung-Eun Choi is employed by and affiliated to the Chair of Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Knappschafts Krankenhaus, Essen, Germany. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.