期刊名称：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN：0027-8424
电子版ISSN：1091-6490
出版年度：2000
卷号：97
期号：23
页码：12723-12728
DOI：10.1073/pnas.220424597
语种：English
出版社：The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要：Antimicrobial peptides constitute an important component of the mammalian innate immune response. Several types of antimicrobial peptides, including the {beta}-defensins, are produced at epithelial surfaces in response to infectious threats. Here we show that a class of small molecules, including L-isoleucine and several of its analogs, can specifically induce epithelial {beta}-defensin expression. This induction is transcriptional in nature and involves activation of the NF-{kappa}B/rel family of trans-activating factors. We hypothesize that these substances represent unique markers for the presence of pathogens and are recognized by innate immune pattern recognition receptors. Isoleucine or its analogs ultimately may have clinical utility as novel immunostimulants that could bolster the barrier defenses of mucosal surfaces.
