database / immune
Human β-defensin 2
also known as hBD-2, DEFB4A
Research reference only. The observations below are recorded in the cited literature. Nothing here is advice or a recommendation, and no dosing information is published on this site.
Sequence
GIGDPVTCLKSGAICHPVFCPRRYKQIGTCGLPGTKCCKKP
Gly-Ile-Gly-Asp-Pro-Val-Thr-Cys-Leu-Lys-Ser-Gly-Ala-Ile-Cys-His-Pro-Val-Phe-Cys-Pro-Arg-Arg-Tyr-Lys-Gln-Ile-Gly-Thr-Cys-Gly-Leu-Pro-Gly-Thr-Lys-Cys-Cys-Lys-Lys-Pro
- hydrophobic
- positive
- negative
- polar
- aromatic
- glycine
- proline
- cysteine
Modified molecule. Contains three intramolecular disulfide bonds that define the defensin fold.
Backbone carries modifications, so computed backbone mass is not comparable to the reported mass of the complete molecule.
Molecular data
| molecular formula | not characterised |
|---|---|
| molecular weight | 4334.24 Da (computed from sequence) |
| computed backbone mass | 4334.24 Da |
| length | 41 residues |
| net charge (pH 7.4) | +6 |
| mean hydropathy | -0.1 |
| half-life | not characterised |
| delivery route | not characterised |
| PubChem CID | not characterised |
| PDB | 1FD3 |
| UniProt parent | O15263 |
Mechanism
Inducible epithelial antimicrobial peptide; also a CCR6 chemoattractant.
Reported targets: microbial membranes CCR6
Experimental structure
α-carbon backbone trace rendered from the deposited coordinates of PDB 1FD3. This is measured structure, not a prediction.
Position in the parent protein
MRVLYLLFSFLFIFLMPLPGVFGGIGDPVTCLKSGAICHPVFCPRRYKQIGTCGLPGTKCCKKPParent sequence from UniProt O15263. Mature peptide of the hBD-2 precursor.
Reported effects
Each row is an outcome described in the literature indexed for this peptide. Reported in the cited work — not a claim, not a recommendation.
| reported outcome | where it appears |
|---|---|
| antimicrobial activity | Human Beta-Defensin 2 in Children with IgA Vasculitis: A Potential Link Betw… Research Square 2026 |
| chemotaxis | Investigating the role of serum human beta defensin-2 in psoriasis and psori… Cutaneous and ocular toxicology 2026 |
Literature (8)
Human Beta-Defensin 2 in Children with IgA Vasculitis: A Potential Link Between Innate Immunity and Vascular Inflammation — Research Square 2026
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · DOI 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8883108/v1
Investigating the role of serum human beta defensin-2 in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: a case-control study on hBD-2 and CRP, ESR — Cutaneous and ocular toxicology 2026
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · PMID 41689371 · DOI 10.1080/15569527.2026.2630770
Sodium hyaluronate fragments promote the expression of human beta-defensin 2 in the skin to alleviate Staphylococcus aureus infection — Research Square 2026
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · DOI 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8437901/v1
Human beta defensin-2 protects the epithelial barrier during methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> infection in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps — Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology 2025
ObjectiveWe investigated the effect of human beta defensin-2 (hBD-2) on nasal epithelial barrier function with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).MethodsThe expression of hBD-2 was measured in nasal polyps (NPs) from CRSwNP. MRSA was treated with different concentrations of hBD-2 to assess the invasive ability. Primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) cultured at the air-liquid interface (ALI) were pre-incubated with or without hBD-2 prior to MRSA infection. The cell viability, the epithelial cell integrity, and the tight junction (TJ) expression were evaluated.ResultsThe expression of hBD-2 in the CRSwNP group was higher than that in the control group. In addition, the hBD-2 protein was negatively correlated with the Lund-Mackay CT score and was positively correlated with the neutrophil levels in CRSwNP. …
open access ↗ · PMID 40415954 · DOI 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1551080
Circulating Antimicrobial Peptides as Biomarkers of Inflammation and Airway Dysfunction After Marathon Running — Biology 2025
Marathon running exerts physical stress and may lead to transient immune dysregulation, increasing susceptibility to airway inflammation and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). This study investigated systemic levels of antimicrobial peptides in athletes and their association with EIB. Serum concentrations of angiogenin, human beta-defensin 2 (hBD-2), major basic protein (MBP), S100A8, and S100A8/A9 were measured in 34 marathoners and 36 half-marathoners at baseline, immediately after a race, and seven days postrace using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and compared with 30 sedentary controls. Lung function was assessed by spirometry to identify bronchoconstriction. Levels of hBD-2 and S100A8/A9 were significantly elevated postrace in runners compared to baseline and controls, returning to baseline during recovery. During recovery, S100A8 levels remained slightly elevated in m…
open access ↗ · PMID 40723384 · DOI 10.3390/biology14070825
Circulating Antimicrobial Peptides as Biomarkers of Inflammation and Airway Dysfunction After Marathon Running — Preprints.org 2025
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · DOI 10.20944/preprints202505.1726.v1
Assessment of IL-6, IL-33, and hBD2 and their correlations with cardiovascular risk in Systemic Lupus Erythematous patients — Research Square 2026
abstract not reproduced — this record is not open-access, so it is linked rather than copied.
publisher record ↗ · DOI 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8766282/v1
New Postbiotic Derived from Sequential Fermentation of Two <i>Lacticaseibacillus</i> Strains Exerts Beneficial Effects on Epithelial Gut Barrier and Innate Immunity in Human Enterocytes — Microorganisms 2026
The efficacy of postbiotics varies significantly between different strains and preparation processes. We aimed at evaluating the effect of an innovative postbiotic product (iPB) generated through the sequential fermentation of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NPB-01, compared to single-strain postbiotics, on epithelial barrier integrity and innate immunity in human enterocytes using a Caco-2-cell-based experimental model by measuring human enterocyte proliferation and differentiation (lactase expression), tight junction proteins (occludin and zonula occludens 1, ZO-1), and mucus protein Mucin-2 (Muc-2) expression. The modulatory action on the major innate immunity peptide, Human Beta-Defensin 2 (HBD-2), production was also assessed. The iPB exposure resulted in a higher up-regulation of human enterocyte proliferation and differentiation, as suggested by hi…
open access ↗ · PMID 42075327 · DOI 10.3390/microorganisms14040931