Bactericidal activity of renal tubular cells: the putative role of human beta-defensins.

Renal tubular epithelial cells (RTC) form a barrier between the host and ascending microbes in upper urinary tract infection. Previous studies have shown the ability of the kidney to produce defensins--antimicrobial peptides that play a pivotal role in unspecific host defense. To further clarify the role of renal epithelium for direct antibacterial activity we investigated the expression, regulation and production of antimicrobial peptides by cultured human RTC.