Host defense peptides as effector molecules of the innate immune response: a sledgehammer for drug resistance?
Host defense peptides can modulate the innate immune response and boost infection-resolving immunity, while dampening potentially harmful pro-inflammatory (septic) responses. Both antimicrobial and/or immunomodulatory activities are an integral part of the process of innate immunity, which itself has many of the hallmarks of successful anti-infective therapies, namely rapid action and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. This gives these peptides the potential to become an entirely new therapeutic approach against bacterial infections. This review details the role and activities of these peptides, and examines their applicability as development candidates for use against bacterial infections.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
Lars
L
Steinstraesser
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
Ursula M
UM
Kraneburg
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
Tobias
T
Hirsch
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, München, Germany.
Marco
M
Kesting
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
Hans-Ulrich
HU
Steinau
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
Frank
F
Jacobsen
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
Sammy
S
Al-Benna
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000502:physiology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides