title: Cathelicidins link the endocrine and immune systems.
abstract: Cathelicidin peptides play key roles in host responses to infection. Radek and colleagues (2010) demonstrate that the nicotinic acetylcholine system, activated during stress, suppresses production of mouse cathelicidin, increasing host susceptibility to the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. This suggests a distinct way by which the endocrine system regulates innate immunity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.affiliation: Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: bob@cmdr.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Robert E W
authors.initials: REW
authors.lastname: Hancock