RNASE7 gene

The RNASE7 gene ((RNASE7 stands for: Ribonuclease A Family Member 7) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 14q11.2.

The protein encoded by the RNASE7 gene, RNase 7 also called "Skin-Derived Antimicrobial Protein 2", belongs to the pancreatic ribonuclease family, a subgroup of the ribonuclease A superfamily. RNase 7, ribonuclease 7, has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. It is the dominant RNase of the skin and one of the AMPs with the broadest spectrum of activity. The enzyme is constitutively expressed and is self-inducible. These diverse properties make RNase 7 a very interesting AMP for research and possibly for the future development of new therapeutic strategies. Several papers suggest that RNase 7 probably plays an important role in the defense against germs during infection or inflammation in the skin.

RNase 7 is also expressed in other tissues, with mRNA expression being most pronounced in the respiratory and urinary tracts (Harder J et al 2002). Recent evidence suggests that RNase 7 is also one of the major AMPs expressed in joints, oral cavity, cornea, and basal airway epithelial cells (Mun J et al 2013). Northern analysis did not detect RNASE7 mRNA in blood leukocytes (Zhang J et al 2003). Furthermore, no RNASE7 transcripts were detected in human monocytes, neutrophils, or NK cells.

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