Immune · Research Phase
Beta-Defensin 2
No lawful US pathway
01 · Overview
Human beta-defensin 2 (hBD-2) is a 41-amino-acid cationic antimicrobial peptide (PMID 20600430) first described in psoriatic skin and produced by epithelial cells in response to microbes or to inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta (PMID 10404637). Besides disrupting microbial membranes, beta-defensins act as chemoattractants for immature dendritic cells and memory T cells through the CCR6 receptor (PMID 10521347).
Therapeutic interest includes infection control and modulation of inflammation.
02 · Research summary & key findings
In laboratory studies, hBD-2 was active against Gram-negative bacteria and Candida but not Staphylococcus aureus (PMID 10404637), and synthetic hBD-2 killed several multidrug-resistant hospital bacterial strains (PMID 20600430). Recombinant hBD-2 inhibited HIV-1 replication in cell culture (PMID 14571200). In three mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease, systemically administered recombinant hBD-2 reduced inflammation and weight loss, reported as the first in vivo efficacy of a systemically given defensin (PMID 32076420). All therapeutic evidence remains cell-based or in animals, with no completed human treatment trials or approvals found.
03 · Regulatory status
Beta-Defensin 2 is in the research phase with limited clinical data in humans. Current evidence is primarily derived from preclinical (animal or in vitro) studies.
No lawful pathway today
Beta-Defensin 2 is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so we do not sell it and will not book a consultation for it. That can change: in 2026 FDA began reviewing several peptides for compounding.
See the 1 FDA-approved compound in Immune
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04 · Administration routes
- Topical
- Subcutaneous injection
References
- [1]Human beta-defensin-2 Int J Biochem Cell Biol, 1999. PMID 10404637
- [2]Beta-defensins: linking innate and adaptive immunity through dendritic and T cell CCR6 Science, 1999. PMID 10521347
- [3]Human epithelial beta-defensins 2 and 3 inhibit HIV-1 replication AIDS, 2003. PMID 14571200
- [4]In vitro bactericidal activity of human beta-defensin 2 against nosocomial strains Peptides, 2010. PMID 20600430
- [5]Human β-Defensin 2 Mediated Immune Modulation as Treatment for Experimental Colitis Front Immunol, 2020. PMID 32076420
Primary literature
- PubMed: "Beta-Defensin 2"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "Beta-Defensin 2"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "Beta-Defensin 2"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
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