Role of defensins in diabetic wound healing

Table 1 Defensins play multiple roles in different diseases

Defensin		Main cellular source	Action
α-defensin	HNP1	Neutrophils; monocytes; macrophages; natural killer cells	Increase the healing rate of MRSA-infected wounds[6]; promote hemostasis[7]; r/affect the cardiovascular system[8]; inhibit thrombus formation[9]	Anti-infection and immunoregulation[23]
	HNP2-3		Anti-tumor activity[10]
	HNP4	Neutrophils	Characterize benign and malignant salivary gland tumors[11]
	HD5-6	Intestinal Paneth cells	Reverse dyslipidemia and improve glucoregulatory capacity[12]; anti-tumor ability[13]; amyloid inhibitor[14]
β-defensin	HBD1	Epithelial cells; monocytes; macrophages	Anti-tumor activity[15]; potentiate osteoclastogenesis[16]	Induce the secretion of angiogenin[54]; anti-infection and immunoregulation[23]
	HBD2		Accelerate wound healing[17]; Oncolytic activity[18]; reduce alcoholic liver injury[19]
	HBD3		Accelerate wound healing[20]; induce IL-8 release and apoptosis in airway smooth muscle cells[21]
	HBD4	Epithelial cells	Stimulate/suppress cancer cell proliferation and viability[22]

HNP: Human neutrophil peptide; HBD: Human β-defensins.