The only human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, playing key roles in innate immune defense, wound healing, and modulation of inflammatory responses.
Cathelicidin LL-37‒mediated activation of mast cells (MCs) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of rosacea, but the receptor involved and the mechanism of its activation and regulation remain unknown. We found that skin biopsies from patients with…
Since ceramide is a key epidermal barrier constituent and its deficiency causes barrier-compromised skin, several molecular types of ceramides are formulated in commercial topical agents to improve barrier function. Topical ceramide localizes on the…
The impact of COVID-19 on systemic immunity in the general population has been well characterized, however the short-term effects of COVID-19 infection on innate salivary immunity in elite-level athletes are unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to de…
We explore the association of Malassezia and IL-23/IL-17 axis in the skin lesions of patients with Psoriasis. From October 2018 to October 2020, 202 psoriasis patients were hospitalized in the dermatology department of Yantaishan hospital. The patien…
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are being developed as potent alternative treatments to conventional antibiotics which are unlikely to induce bacterial resistance. They can be designed and modified to possess several druggable properties. We report her…
Innovative solutions are needed for the treatment of bacterial infections, and a range of antibacterial molecules have been explored as alternatives to antibiotics. A different approach is to investigate the immune system of the host for new ways of…
The rapid mutations of viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 require vaccine updates and the development of novel antiviral drugs. This article presents an improved database filtering technology for a more effective design of novel antiviral agents. Different f…
Over recent years, a growing number of bacterial species have become resistant to clinically relevant antibiotics. Proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PrAMPs) having a potent antimicrobial activity and a negligible toxicity toward mammalian cells at…
The roles of bactericidal cathelicidins against bacterial infection have been extensively studied. However, the antibacterial property and mechanism of action of non-bactericidal cathelicidins are rarely known. Herein, a novel naturally occurring cat…
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D[VitD, 1,25 (OH)D] is known to have immunomodulatory and anti-microbial properties; however, its activity againstis unclear. In this study, we establishedinfection models in wild-type and VitDreceptor (VDR) knockdown mice and ana…
Surgical site infections represent a significant clinical problem. Herein, we report a nanofiber dressing for topical codelivery of immunomodulating compounds including 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(1,25(OH)D) and VID400, ainhibitor in a sustained manner,…
COVID-19 is characterized by hyperactivation by inflammatory cytokines and recruitment of macrophages, neutrophils, and other immune cells, all hallmarks of a strong inflammatory response that can lead to severe complications and multi-organ damage.…
Mast cells (MCs) distribute to interface tissues with environment, such as skin, airway, and gut mucosa, thereby functioning as the sentinel against invading allergens and pathogens. To respond to and exclude these external substances promptly, MCs p…
The mechanisms for maintaining oral cavity homeostasis are subject to the constant influence of many environmental factors, including various chemicals and microorganisms. Most of them act directly on the oral mucosa, which is the mechanical and immu…
The intracellular Caconcentration is mainly controlled by Cachannels. These channels form complexes with Kchannels, which function to amplify Caflux. In cancer cells, voltage-gated/voltage-dependent Cachannels and non-voltage-gated/voltage-independen…
Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) is an effector molecule of the innate immune system with direct antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities; however, its role in neuroinflammatory responses and related diseases is not clearly und…
Adaptation to various stresses during infection is important forTyphimurium virulence, while the fitness determinants under infection-relevant stress conditions remain unknown. Here, we simulated conditionsencountered within the host or in the enviro…
Blood clot formation induced by dysfunctional coagulation is a frequent complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and a high-risk factor for severe illness and death. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are implicated in COVID-19-induced…
Tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represent a significant burden of disease on a global scale. Despite improvements in the global epidemic status, largely facilitated by increased access to pharmacotherapeutic interventions, sl…
Host defense peptides (HDPs) or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are short cationic amphipathic peptides of divergent sequences, which are part of the innate immune system and produced by various types of cells and tissues. The predominant role of HDPs…