The only human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, playing key roles in innate immune defense, wound healing, and modulation of inflammatory responses.
PURPOSE: The goals of this study were to examine the expression of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 in the corneal epithelium during wound healing and to investigate whether LL-37 stimulates human corneal epithelial cell (HCEC) migration, proliferatio…
The cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial tritrpticin could be classified as either Trp-rich or Pro/Arg-rich peptide. We recently found that the sequence modification of tritrpticin focused on Trp and Pro residues led to considerable change in structure…
The airway provides numerous defense mechanisms to prevent microbial colonization by the large numbers of bacteria and viruses present in ambient air. An important component of this defense is the antimicrobial peptides and proteins present in the ai…
The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25[OH](2)D(3)) is a potent immunomodulatory seco-steroid. We have demonstrated that several components of vitamin D metabolism and signaling are strongly expressed in human uterine decidua f…
A cutaneous barrier defends the body against invading pathogenic microorganisms due to both innate and adaptive immunity. The innate immune system comprises hundreds of peptides/proteins, which have potent microbicidal activities at low concentration…
BACKGROUND: Death of smooth muscle cells in the atherosclerotic plaques makes the plaques more prone to rupture, which can initiate an acute ischemic event. The development of atherosclerosis includes the migration of immune cells e.g. monocytes/macr…
The presence of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides provides an important mechanism for prevention of infection against a wide variety of microbial pathogens. The activity of cathelicidin is controlled by enzymatic processing of the proform (hCAP18 i…
An in vitro antibiotic susceptibility assay for Staphylococcus aureus biofilms developed on 96-well polystyrene tissue culture plates was performed to elucidate the activity of the 27 residues cathelicidin peptide BMAP-28, quinupristin/dalfopristin (…
Lipid A structure at the air-aqueous interface has been studied using pressure-area isotherm methods coupled with the surface X-ray scattering techniques of X-ray reflectivity (XR) and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD). Lipid A monolayers we…
The sole human cathelicidin peptide, LL-37, has been demonstrated to protect animals against endotoxemia/sepsis. Low, physiological concentrations of LL-37 (< or =1 microg/ml) were able to modulate inflammatory responses by inhibiting the release of…
Cathelicidin synthesized by bone marrow cells plays an important role in neutralizing invading pathogens. In the present study, the myeloid cathelicidin cDNA from Bubalus bubalis has been cloned and characterized. RNA from bone marrow of buffalo ribs…
The presence of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in saliva may be a biological factor that contributes to susceptibility or resistance to caries. This manuscript will review AMPs in saliva, consider their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions, an…
Interaction of the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 with lipid monolayers has been investigated by a range of complementary techniques including pressure-area isotherms, insertion assay, epifluorescence microscopy, and synchrotron x-ray scattering,…
Human cathelicidin-derived LL-37 is a 37-residue cationic, amphipathic alpha-helical peptide. It is an active component of mammalian innate immunity. LL-37 has several biological functions including a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities and LP…
Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are important triggers of the widespread inflammatory response, which contributes to the development of multiple organ failure during sepsis. The helical 37-amino-acid-long human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 not onl…
Activation of the contact system has two classical consequences: initiation of the intrinsic pathway of coagulation, and cleavage of high molecular weight kininogen (HK) leading to the release of bradykinin, a potent proinflammatory peptide. In human…
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of cell death mediated by the antimicrobial peptides neutrophil defensins (human neutrophil peptides 1-3 [HNP1-3]) and LL-37. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HNP1-3- and LL-37-mediated cell de…
Modification of material surfaces aimed at bestowing them with antimicrobial properties is a promising approach in the development of new biomaterials. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an attractive alternative to conventional antibiotics because of…
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with eczema vaccinatum (EV), a disseminated viral skin infection that follows inoculation with vaccinia virus (VV). This study examined whether AD skin can control VV replication, and the role of IL-4 and IL-13 in…
Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) have an increased risk of infection with several viruses compared to patients with other inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis. In this issue of Immunity, it is found that the cytokine milieu in the skin o…