NPFPC Key Laboratory of Contraceptives and Devices, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Shanghai 200032, China.
Asian J Androl. 2011 Mar;13(2):305-11. doi: 10.1038/aja.2010.93. Epub 2010 Dec 13.
Approximately 40-50 β-defensins are predominantly expressed in the male reproductive system of mammals. This selective expression raises the question as to the roles of these molecules in innate immunity and fertility in the male reproductive tract. Rat β-defensin 22 is an epididymis-specific β-defensin expressed in segments 12-14 of the epididymis. This protein contains both β-defensin and lectin signature sequences, yet its antimicrobial activity and carbohydrate-binding ability have not been shown. We herein demonstrated the antimicrobial activity of recombinant rat β-defensin 22 against Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Its lectin-like activity was also investigated by demonstrating its binding ability with heparin beads. This heparin-binding activity implies some potential roles for this defensin in determining the fertilisation capabilities of sperm.
哺乳动物的雄性生殖系统中主要表达约 40-50 种β-防御素。这种选择性表达提出了一个问题，即这些分子在男性生殖道的固有免疫和生育能力中扮演什么角色。大鼠β-防御素 22 是一种在附睾中特异性表达的β-防御素，在附睾的 12-14 段中表达。这种蛋白质既含有β-防御素又含有凝集素特征序列，但它的抗菌活性和碳水化合物结合能力尚未得到证实。我们在此证明了重组大鼠β-防御素 22 对大肠杆菌和白色念珠菌的抗菌活性。还通过证明其与肝素珠的结合能力来研究其凝集素样活性。这种肝素结合活性暗示这种防御素在决定精子的受精能力方面可能具有一些潜在作用。
