The only human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, playing key roles in innate immune defense, wound healing, and modulation of inflammatory responses.
Aroylated phenylenediamines (APDs) are novel inducers of innate immunity enhancing cathelicidin gene expression in human bronchial epithelial cell lines. Here we present two newly developed APDs and aimed at defining the response and signaling pathwa…
Canadian Indigenous peoples (First Nations and Inuit) exhibit a high burden of infectious diseases including tuberculosis influenced by societal factors, and biological determinants. Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated innate immune responses are the f…
The emergence of carbapenem-resistantandraises fears of untreatable infections and poses the greatest health threats. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are regarded as the most ideal solution to this menace. In this study, a set of peptides was designed…
The porcine myeloid antimicrobial peptide (PMAP), one of the cathelicidin family members, contains small cationic peptides with amphipathic properties. We used a putative lysozyme originated from the bacteriophage P22 (P22 lysozyme) as a fusion partn…
Host defense peptides (HDPs) show both antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties making them important mediators of the host immune system. In humans but also in pigs many HDPs have been identified and important families such as cathelicidins and…
BACKGROUND: Neutrophil accumulation has been observed in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, the functions of neutrophils are poorly understood. Neutrophils produce neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are involved in…
The relentless growth of multidrug resistance and generation of recalcitrant biofilm are major obstacles in treating wounds, particularly in austere military environments where broad-spectrum pathogen coverage is needed. Designed antimicrobial peptid…
The innate immune element, cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP), is vital in the formation of the antimicrobial barrier in skin. CAMP production is increased during epidermal differentiation and enriched in the stratum corneum. We recently ident…
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The impact of host genetic variation in susceptibility of tuberculosis is well documented. The vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) is a transacting transcription factor which mediates innate immune response by enhancing the expression…
Mouse cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) and its homologue human cathelicidin (LL-37) play active roles in innate immune responses, angiogenesis, and wound healing. In addition, LL-37/CRAMP fends off microbes and protects against infectio…
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of vitamin D, vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) and vitamin D-related peptides in septic shock patients in relation to hospital mortality. METHODS: This is a single-center, prospecti…
Human rhinoviruses commonly cause upper respiratory infections, which may be complicated by secondary bacterial infection. Vitamin D replacement reduces risk of acute respiratory infections in vitamin D-deficient individuals, but the mechanisms by wh…
is the leading cause of bacterial keratitis in the developing world with a growing trend of acquiring resistance against various antibiotics. In the current study, we determined the expression of different antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in response to…
PURPOSE: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a major cause of illness worldwide and the most common cause of hospitalization for pneumonia and bronchiolitis. These two diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children unde…
OBJECTIVE: To study the significance of plasma neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) and its markers in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. METHODS: A total of 160 children with CAP were enrolled as the CAP group, and 50 he…
Early-life exposure to arsenic (As) increases risks of respiratory diseases/infections in children. However, data on the ability of the innate immune system to combat bacterial infections in the respiratory tracts of As-exposed children are scarce. T…
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is characterized by an excessive inflammatory response of the airways, is often complicated by exacerbations. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk for COPD and may predisp…
Immunization of patients with autologous,matured dendritic cell (DC) preparations, in order to prime antitumor T-cell responses, is the focus of intense research. Despite progress and approval of clinical approaches, significant enhancement of these…
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Both chronic and aggressive periodontal disease are associated with vitamin D deficiency. The active form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)D, induces the expression of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and innate immune mediators in cult…
BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoids have been widely used to treat patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nevertheless, corticosteroid insensitivity is a major barrier to the effective treatment of COPD and its mechanism remains unclear.…