| | Defensins | Source | Importance against mycobacteria | Reference |
| | Human neutrophil α-defensin 1 (HNP-1) | Polymorphonuclear neutrophils, macrophages, Paneth cells | Induced by mycobacterial infection and reduces the bacteria load. The application with antituberculosis drugs | [8, 10–12, 60, 67–70, 74, 86, 87] |
| | Human neutrophil α-defensin 2 (HNP-2) | Polymorphonuclear neutrophils, macrophages, Paneth cells | Kills both tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria effectively by increasing cell wall and membrane permeability. Reduces the therapeutic dosage of drugs | [8, 10–13, 69, 74, 86, 87] |
| | Human neutrophil α-defensin 3 (HNP-3) | Polymorphonuclear neutrophils, macrophages, Paneth cells | Reduces the tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial load in vitro and in vivo | [8, 10–12, 69, 74, 87] |
| | Human neutrophil α-defensin 4 (HNP-4) | Polymorphonuclear neutrophils, macrophages, Paneth cells | Shows antimicrobial activity against M. tuberculosis in vitro by increasing the permeability of the mycobacterial cell envelope and the immune enhancing effects. Shows synergy with antituberculosis drugs | [8, 10–13] |
| | α-defensin 5 | Paneth cells, alveolar macrophages | Shows antimicrobial activity; the linear peptide from it can enhance activity against M. tuberculosis | [15–17, 71] |
| | α-defensin 6 | Paneth cells, alveolar macrophages | Shows antimicrobial activity | [14] |
| | Human β-defensin 1 (HBD-1) | Epithelial cells | Induced by mycobacteria infection and shows antimicrobial activity on stimulation with mycobacteria. Combination with isoniazid significantly reduced M. tuberculosis | [24, 25, 31, 48, 79, 80] |
| | Human β-defensin 2 (HBD-2) | Epithelial cells | Improves the capacity of macrophages to control M. tuberculosis. Greatest antimicrobial activity. Combination with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) can enhance its activity | [18, 19, 26–28, 31, 41, 42, 45, 48, 76–78, 85] |
| | Human β-defensin 3 (HBD-3) | Epithelial cells | Induced by mycobacteria infection and shows antimicrobial activity and can be stimulated by L-isoleucine when infected with tuberculosis. Related to long-term control of mycobacterial infection | [29, 31, 32, 41, 48] |
| | Human β-defensin 4 (HBD-4) | Epithelial cells | Stable production during latent infection and correlated with long-term control of mycobacterial infection | [30–32, 81] |
| | θ-Defensins 1–3 | Monocytes, neutrophils | N/A | [33–37, 93, 94] |
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