| First Author | Yamaguchi Y | Year | 2001 |
| Journal | J Biol Chem | Volume | 276 |
| Issue | 34 | Pages | 31510-4 |
| PubMed ID | 11408484 | Mgi Jnum | J:71039 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2149118 | Doi | 10.1074/jbc.M104149200 |
| Citation | Yamaguchi Y, et al. (2001) A novel mouse beta-defensin, mBD-6, predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle. J Biol Chem 276(34):31510-4 |
| abstractText | Defensins comprise a family of cationic antimicrobial peptides that is characterized by the conserved 6 cysteine residues. They are expressed in the epithelial cells of various organs and are identified as key elements in the host defense system at the mucosal surface. We isolated a novel mouse beta-defensin gene from the bacterial artificial chromosome DNA containing the mouse beta-defensin-3 gene. The full-length cDNA was cloned from skeletal muscle cDNA and called mouse beta-defensin-6 (mBD-6). The predicted peptide conserved the 6-cysteine motif and had 59% amino acid sequence identity with mouse beta-defensin-3 and 59% identity with mouse beta-defensin-4. We demonstrated the expression of mBD-6 in skeletal muscle in addition to the esophagus, tongue, and trachea. In animal models of endotoxemia, mBD-6 expression was also induced in the lung. mBD-6 showed potent antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and would play an important role in host defense in the esophagus, airways, and skeletal muscle. mBD-6 is the first reported beta-defensin predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle. This unique tissue specificity suggests some novel physiological roles of this peptide family. |
