title: The coordinated response of the physical and antimicrobial peptide barriers of the skin.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an essential and multifunctional element for immune defense of the skin during infection and injury. In this issue, Ahrens et al. characterize the response of β-defensins, a class of AMPs, following acute and chronic challenges to the permeability barrier of the skin. Their findings suggest that the antimicrobial and permeability barriers of the skin are closely linked.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego and VA San Diego Health Care System, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Borkowski
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012393:Rosacea / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000276:immunology*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D023083:beta-Defensins