Host antimicrobial proteins as endogenous immunomodulators.
Host defense mechanisms are multilayered and involve physical as well as chemical barriers, antimicrobial factors as well as a broad set of immunocompetent cells. The mode of action of antimicrobial factors is variable, ranging from opsonisation and agglutination to direct killing of pathogens. In the last years it has become increasingly clear that some of these factors act as endogenous ligands that bind to distinct host receptors, as for example pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs), thereby influencing distinct immunological processes like chemotaxis, modulation of phagocytosis, dendritic cell maturation or the production of cytokines. By that way, these factors are implicated to protect the host by preventing and clearing of microbial infections.
Institute of Immunology, Center of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Markus A
MA
Hölzl
Johannes
J
Hofer
Peter
P
Steinberger
Katharina
K
Pfistershammer
Gerhard J
GJ
Zlabinger
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D023082:Defensins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D047208:Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009088:Mucoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology*; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D058949:Uromodulin
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023082:Defensins; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D009088:Mucoproteins; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; C548612:UMOD protein, human; D058949:Uromodulin; D047208:Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin