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  • Review Article
  • Published:

Defensins in innate antiviral immunity

Nature Reviews Immunology volume 6, pages 447–456 (2006)Cite this article

Key Points

  • This Review is an overview of mammalian defensins: classification and structure, cell sources and tissue distribution.

  • Viral infection induces expression of defensins. Defensins control viral infection by acting as direct effectors and immune modulators.

  • The molecular mechanisms of antiviral effects of defensins include direct effects on the virion and indirect effects on the target cells. The effect of defensins against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses is also summarized.

  • Polymorphisms of human defensin genes have been associated with increased susceptibility to diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Clinical aspects of defensins in viral pathogenesis are also discussed.

Abstract

Defensins are small antimicrobial peptides that are produced by leukocytes and epithelial cells, and that have an important role in innate immunity. Recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of the antiviral action(s) of defensins indicate that they have a dual role in antiviral defence, acting directly on the virion and on the host cell. This Review focuses on the antiviral activities and mechanisms of action of mammalian defensins, and on the clinical relevance of these activities. Understanding the complex function of defensins in innate immunity against viral infection has implications for the prevention and treatment of viral disease.

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Figure 1: Induction of defensin expression in response to viral infection at the mucosal epithelium.
Figure 2: Roles of defensins in mucosal immunity against HIV infection.
Figure 3: Mechanisms of antiviral activity by defensins.

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  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, BOX 1090, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, 10029, USA

    Mary E. Klotman & Theresa L. Chang

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Klotman, M., Chang, T. Defensins in innate antiviral immunity. Nat Rev Immunol 6, 447–456 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nri1860

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