The only human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, playing key roles in innate immune defense, wound healing, and modulation of inflammatory responses.
Recent papers highlight the role of dysregulated expression of antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs) in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Etanercept, a blocker of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), is effective in the t…
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are part of the innate immune system and are generally defined as cationic, amphipathic peptides, with less than 50 amino acids, including multiple arginine and lysine residues. The human cathelicidin antimicrobial pepti…
OBJECTIVE: The intact nasal barrier is a prerequisite for a functioning defense of the upper airway system, in particular the permanent threat by inhaled potentially harmful microorganisms. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) play an important role in maint…
The ability of the ocular surface to respond to pathogens is in part attributed to toll-like receptors (TLRs) that recognize conserved motifs on various microbes. This study examines TLR expression on various ocular surface cells, if TLR agonists can…
Tick saliva has potent immunomodulatory properties. In arthropod-borne diseases, this effect is largely used by microorganisms to increase their pathogenicity and to evade host immune responses. We show that in Lyme borreliosis, tick salivary gland e…
LL-37 is a human cationic host defense peptide (antimicrobial peptide) belonging to the cathelicidin family of peptides. In this study, LL-37 was shown to kill stimulated CD8(+) T cells (Cytotoxic T lymphocytes; CTLs) via apoptosis, while having no c…
BACKGROUND: 1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) has been shown to mitigate epithelial inflammatory responses after antigen exposure. Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at particular risk for vitamin D deficiency. This may contribute t…
BACKGROUND: The absence of specific histological or serological markers, the gaps in understanding the aetiology and pathophysiology of rosacea, and the broad diversity in its clinical manifestations has made it difficult to reach international conse…
PURPOSE: Studies show that LL-37 is a naturally occurring urinary defensin peptide that is up-regulated during urinary tract infections. Although normal urinary LL-37 levels are antimicrobial, we propose that increased LL-37 may trigger bladder infla…
The extensive world-wide morbidity and mortality caused by influenza A viruses highlights the need for new insights into the host immune response and novel treatment approaches. Cationic Host Defense Peptides (CHDP, also known as antimicrobial peptid…
LL-37 is a human cationic host defense peptide (antimicrobial peptide) belonging to the cathelicidin family of peptides. In this study, LL-37 was shown to kill stimulated and nonstimulated CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T cells (regulatory T cells; Tregs) thr…
Type I interferons have been typically studied for their effects in the context of bacterial or viral infections. However in this report, we provide evidence that Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) expressing cells are present in the thymus in the absence of i…
Antimicrobial peptides/proteins are ancient and naturallyoccurring antibiotics in innate immune responses in a variety of organisms. Additionally, these peptides have been recognized as important signaling molecules in regulation of both innate and a…
Candida albicans is the major fungal pathogen of humans. Its adhesion to host-cell surfaces is the first critical step during mucosal infection. Antimicrobial peptides play important roles in the first line of mucosal immunity against C. albicans inf…
Lyme borreliosis is an arthropod-borne disease transmitted by the Ixodes tick. This spirochetal infection is first characterized by a local cutaneous inflammation, the erythema migrans. The skin constitutes a key interface in the development of the d…
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can be purified from peripheral blood, bone marrow or cord blood and are typically defined by a limited number of cell surface markers and a few functional tests. A detailed in vitro characterization is often restr…
Proteomics analysis of bovine bronchoalveolar fluid (BAF) following induction of pneumonia with Mannheimia haemolytica using nanoflow liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) resulted in the identification of 88 uniq…
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D increases cathelicidin production, and might alter mortality due to tuberculosis (TB) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection. However, due to abundant sun exposure, vita min D levels might be excellent among Ugandans…
PMAP-23 is a member of the cathelicidin family derived from pig myeloid cells and has potent antimicrobial activity. Amidation of the carboxyl terminus (C-terminus) of an antimicrobial peptide generally enhances its structural stability and antimicro…
Cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides are multifunctional peptides that are important in the innate immune system of mammals. Cathelicidins have been identified in several fish species. In this study we have isolated cathelicidin from Atlantic cod (Gad…