Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are effector molecules of the innate immune system. AMPs have a broad antimicrobial spectrum and lyse microbial cells by interaction with biomembranes. Besides their direct antimicrobial function, they have multiple roles as mediators of inflammation with impact on epithelial and inflammatory cells influencing diverse processes such as cytokine release, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, wound healing, chemotaxis, immune induction, and protease-antiprotease balance. Furthermore, AMPs qualify as prototypes of innovative drugs that may be used as antibiotics, anti-lipopolysaccharide drugs, or modifiers of inflammation. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the basic and applied biology of antimicrobial peptides and discusses features of AMPs in host defense and inflammation.
Keywords: antimicrobial peptide, defensin, cathelicidin, host defense, innate immunity
Current Protein & Peptide Science
Title: Functions of Antimicrobial Peptides in Host Defense and Immunity
Volume: 6 Issue: 3
Author(s): Christoph Beisswenger and Robert Bals
Affiliation:
Keywords: antimicrobial peptide, defensin, cathelicidin, host defense, innate immunity
Abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are effector molecules of the innate immune system. AMPs have a broad antimicrobial spectrum and lyse microbial cells by interaction with biomembranes. Besides their direct antimicrobial function, they have multiple roles as mediators of inflammation with impact on epithelial and inflammatory cells influencing diverse processes such as cytokine release, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, wound healing, chemotaxis, immune induction, and protease-antiprotease balance. Furthermore, AMPs qualify as prototypes of innovative drugs that may be used as antibiotics, anti-lipopolysaccharide drugs, or modifiers of inflammation. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the basic and applied biology of antimicrobial peptides and discusses features of AMPs in host defense and inflammation.
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Cite this article as:
Beisswenger Christoph and Bals Robert, Functions of Antimicrobial Peptides in Host Defense and Immunity, Current Protein & Peptide Science 2005; 6 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389203054065428
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389203054065428 |
Print ISSN 1389-2037 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5550 |
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