Description
beta -Defensin 4A is a membrane-active cationic peptide that functions in inflammation and innate immune responses. There are at least 30 beta -Defensins, which are distinguished from alpha-Defensins by the connectivity pattern of their three intermolecular disulfide bonds. Members of the Defensin family are highly similar in protein sequence. This gene encodes Defensin, DEFB4;, which has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and may play an important role in innate epithelial defense. They are highly expressed in skin and tonsils, and to a lesser extent in trachea, uterus, kidney, thymus, adenoid, pharynx and tongue. beta -Defensin 4A has low expression in salivary gland, bone marrow, colon, stomach, polyp and larynx. No expression in small intestine. The 45 amino acid mature human BD3 shares 38% and 33% amino acid sequence identity with mouse and rat BD3, respectively