DEFA5

Defensin, alpha 5 (DEFA5) also known as human alpha defensin 5 (HD5) is a human protein that is encoded by the DEFA5 gene. DEFA5 is expressed in the Paneth cells of the ileum.

Defensins are a family of microbicidal and cytotoxic peptides thought to be involved in host defense. They are abundant in the granules of neutrophils and also found in the epithelia of mucosal surfaces such as those of the intestine, respiratory tract, urinary tract, and vagina. Members of the defensin family are highly similar in protein sequence and distinguished by a conserved cysteine motif. Several of the human alpha defensin genes appear to be clustered on chromosome 8. The protein encoded by this gene, defensin, alpha 5, is highly expressed in the secretory granules of Paneth cells of the ileum.