title: Antimicrobial peptides in the brain.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an evolutionarily conserved component of the innate immune system of many species. The brain is an immunologically privileged organ but can produce a robust immune response against pathogens and cell debris, promoting rapid and efficient clearance. AMPs may be critically involved in the innate immune system of the brain. Though the mechanisms of AMPs' action in the brain still need further elucidation, many studies have shown that AMPs are multifunctional molecules in the brain. In addition to antimicrobial action, they take part in congenital and adaptive immune reactions (immunoregulation), function as signaling molecules in tissue repair, inflammation and other important processes through different mechanisms, and they might, in addition, become diagnostic markers of brain disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical School of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hermann J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schluesener
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers