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Enteric defensins are essential regulators of intestinal microbial ecology
- Salzman, Nita H;
- Hung, Kuiechun;
- Haribhai, Dipica;
- Chu, Hiutung;
- Karlsson-Sjöberg, Jenny;
- Amir, Elad;
- Teggatz, Paul;
- Barman, Melissa;
- Hayward, Michael;
- Eastwood, Daniel;
- Stoel, Maaike;
- Zhou, Yanjiao;
- Sodergren, Erica;
- Weinstock, George M;
- Bevins, Charles L;
- Williams, Calvin B;
- Bos, Nicolaas A
- et al.
Published Web Location
https://doi.org/10.1038/ni.1825Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are important effectors of innate immunity throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. In the mammalian small intestine, Paneth cell alpha-defensins are antimicrobial peptides that contribute to host defense against enteric pathogens. To determine if alpha-defensins also govern intestinal microbial ecology, we analyzed the intestinal microbiota of mice expressing a human alpha-defensin gene (DEFA5) and in mice lacking an enzyme required for the processing of mouse alpha-defensins. In these complementary models, we detected significant alpha-defensin-dependent changes in microbiota composition, but not in total bacterial numbers. Furthermore, DEFA5-expressing mice had striking losses of segmented filamentous bacteria and fewer interleukin 17 (IL-17)-producing lamina propria T cells. Our data ascribe a new homeostatic role to alpha-defensins in regulating the makeup of the commensal microbiota.
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