Figure 1

Multifunctional roles of pBD. Porcine β-defensins (pBDs) are secreted by a variety of specialized cells (“A”), including B and T lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and epithelial cells. The roles of pBDs extend beyond direct antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, and fungi (“B”); pBDs also possess the ability to neutralize lipopolysaccharides (LPS) (“C”). These findings suggest that pBDs play a pivotal role in immunomodulating host cells, triggering immune activation and boosting cellular immune responses, thereby enhancing the ability of the host to combat target pathogens. Some of these mechanisms include enhanced phagocytosis (“D”), chemotaxis of specialized cells to sites of infection (“E”), fine-tuned secretion of inflammatory cytokines (“F”), and the strengthening and maintenance of epithelial barrier integrity through the induction of tight junctions (“G”).