β-Defensin-4 (human) (trifluoroacetate salt) (Synonyms: hBD-4 (human))

β-Defensin-4 is a peptide with antimicrobial properties that protects the skin and mucosal membranes of the respiratory, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal tracts. It induces migration of monocytes in vitro when used at a concentration of 10 nM but does not affect migration of neutrophils and eosinophils. β-Defensin-4 (30 μg/ml) stimulates gene expression and production of IL-6, IL-10, CXCL10, CCL2, MIP-3α, and RANTES by keratinocytes. It also stimulates calcium mobilization, migration, and proliferation of keratinocytes when used at concentrations of 30, 10, and 40 μg/ml, respectively. β-Defensin-4 induces IL-31 production by human peripheral blood-derived mast cells in vitro when used at a concentration of 10 μg/ml and by rat mast cells in vivo following a 500 ng intradermal dose. It also inhibits growth of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus with lethal concentration (LC) values of 5, 12, and 15 μM, respectively, of S. carnosus (MIC = 4.5 μg/ml), and of C. albicans with a minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) value of 7.5 μM.