β-Defensins in the Fight against Helicobacter pylori.

Raffaela Pero, Lorena Coretti, Ersilia Nigro, Francesca Lembo, Sonia Laneri, Barbara Lombardo, Aurora Daniele, Olga Scudiero

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 2017 Mar 07

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Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a pivotal role in the innate immune responses to Helicobacter pylori (Hp) in humans. β-Defensins, a class of cationic arginine-rich AMPs, are small peptides secreted by immune cells and epithelial cells that exert antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. During Hp infections, AMP expression is able to eradicate the bacteria, thereby preventing Hp infections in gastrointestinal tract. It is likely that gastric β-defensins expression is increased during Hp infection. The aim of this review is to focus on increased knowledge of the role of β-defensins in response to Hp infection. We also briefly discuss the potential use of AMPs, either alone or in combination with conventional antibiotics, for the treatment of Hp infection.

Citation

Raffaela Pero, Lorena Coretti, Ersilia Nigro, Francesca Lembo, Sonia Laneri, Barbara Lombardo, Aurora Daniele, Olga Scudiero. β-Defensins in the Fight against Helicobacter pylori. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2017 Mar 07;22(3)