Paneth cell trypsin is the processing enzyme for human defensin-5.
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Ghosh D, Porter E, Shen B, Lee SK, Wilk D, Drazba J, Yadav SP, Crabb JW, Ganz T, Bevins CL
Paneth cell trypsin is the processing enzyme for human defensin-5.
Nat Immunol. 2002 Jun;3(6):583-90. Epub 2002 May 20.
- PubMed ID
- 12021776 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
The antimicrobial peptide human alpha-defensin 5 (HD5) is expressed in Paneth cells, secretory epithelial cells in the small intestine. Unlike other characterized defensins, HD5 is stored in secretory vesicles as a propeptide. The storage quantities of HD5 are approximately 90 450 microg per cm2 of mucosal surface area, which is sufficient to generate microbicidal concentrations in the intestinal lumen. HD5 peptides isolated from the intestinal lumen are proteolytically processed forms--HD5(56-94) and HD5(63-94)--that are cleaved at the Arg55-Ala56 and Arg62-Thr63 sites, respectively. We show here that a specific pattern of trypsin isozymes is expressed in Paneth cells, that trypsin colocalizes with HD5 and that this protease can efficiently cleave HD5 propeptide to forms identical to those isolated in vivo. By acting as a prodefensin convertase in human Paneth cells, trypsin is involved in the regulation of innate immunity in the small intestine.