Human β-Defensin 2 in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

摘要

Objectives:Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the bile ducts frequently associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), suggesting an important role for the gut–liver axis. Defensins are small (3.5–4.5 kDa) anti-microbial peptides that contribute to innate immunity at mucosal surfaces and have been implicated in IBD. The aim of this study was to investigate copy number variation of the gene (DEFB4) encoding human β-defensin 2 (HBD2) and protein expression of HBD2 in PSC.