中文摘要：

防御素是近年来发现的广泛存在于动植物体内的一类富含精氨酸和半胱氨酸残基的阳离子抗菌肽.脊椎动物的防御素分为α-防御素、β-防御素和θ-防御素3种,其中β-防御素分布区域最为广泛,在脊椎动物的呼吸道、消化道及泌尿生殖道粘膜层有大量表达.其在机体受到感染的早期抑制、抵御和杀灭多种外来病原微生物等方面发挥着不可取代的作用.综述了国内外β-防御素的研究现状,从其蛋白质分子结构、基因的结构及表达调控、抗微生物活性及作用机制、与炎症反应的关系以及作为效应分子和调节分子等角度人手,探讨了脊椎动物β-防御素在免疫应答中的重要作用,并提出了它的应用前景和存在的问题.

英文摘要：

Defensins were cationic antimicrobial peptide found in recent years,and they were rich with arginine and cysteine residues widely produced in plants and animals.In vertebrates,there were three kinds of defensins,i.e.α-defensins,β-defensins and θ-defensins.Beta-defensin expressed widely in the mucosa of respiratory,gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract.It played an irreplaceable role in the early suppression that resisted a variety of pathogenic microorganisms.In this study,we summarized research status at home and abroad of β-defensin,include the molecular structure of protein,the gene structure and expression regulation,the antimicrobial activity and mechanism,the relationship of inflammatory and the vital functions in immune response when Beta-defensin as the effector molecules or the regulatory molecules.This author also discussed the application prospect and some existing problems of Beta—defensin.