β-defensins: linking innate and adaptive immunity through dendritic and T cell CCR6

D Yang, O Chertov, SN Bykovskaia, Q Chen, MJ Buffo… - Science, 1999 - science.org
D Yang, O Chertov, SN Bykovskaia, Q Chen, MJ Buffo, J Shogan, M Anderson, JM Schroder…
Science, 1999science.org
Defensins contribute to host defense by disrupting the cytoplasmic membrane of
microorganisms. This report shows that human β-defensins are also chemotactic for
immature dendritic cells and memory T cells. Human β-defensin was selectively chemotactic
for cells stably transfected to express human CCR6, a chemokine receptor preferentially
expressed by immature dendritic cells and memory T cells. The β-defensin–induced
chemotaxis was sensitive to pertussis toxin and inhibited by antibodies to CCR6. The …
Defensins contribute to host defense by disrupting the cytoplasmic membrane of microorganisms. This report shows that human β-defensins are also chemotactic for immature dendritic cells and memory T cells. Human β-defensin was selectively chemotactic for cells stably transfected to express human CCR6, a chemokine receptor preferentially expressed by immature dendritic cells and memory T cells. The β-defensin–induced chemotaxis was sensitive to pertussis toxin and inhibited by antibodies to CCR6. The binding of iodinated LARC, the chemokine ligand for CCR6, to CCR6-transfected cells was competitively displaced by β-defensin. Thus, β-defensins may promote adaptive immune responses by recruiting dendritic and T cells to the site of microbial invasion through interaction with CCR6.
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