This is an endogenous antibiotic peptide and monocyte chemotactic peptide produced by human neutrophils. Defensins are a family of 3-4 kDa (29-34 amino acids) peptides found in the granules of mammalian phagocytes. The members of this family are variably arginine-rich and share six conserved cysteine residues that participate in intramolecular disulfide bonds.
Human neutrophil peptides (HNPs) is involved in endothelial cell dysfunction at the time of early atherosclerotic development.HNP 1?3 can regulate the growth of atherosclerosis. HNP 1?3 levels are usually high in inflammation, including sepsis and acute coronary vascular disorders.
General description
Chemical structure: peptide
The ?-defensin genes, such as DEFA1 (defensin alpha 1) and DEFA3 (defensin ? 3) codes for HNP-1, 2 and 3 (human neutrophil peptides). This gene is mapped to human chromosome 8p23.1.