title: What is the role of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) in acne vulgaris?
abstract: Acne vulgaris is the most common disorder of the pilosebaceous unit leading to inflamed skin characterized by the formation of comedones, papules, pustules and scarring. There is increasing evidence that the abundance of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) in the inflamed acne lesions triggers inflammation. Therefore, in addition to treatment with retinoids, the use of antimicrobial agents has been established as a treatment option for acne. This indicates that antimicrobial mechanisms to control the growth of P. acnes may have an important influence on the severity of inflammatory acne. One import antimicrobial innate defense system comprises the production of antimicrobial peptides (AMP), small molecules with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity as well as immunomodulatory properties. Although the role of AMP in acne is still emerging, there is increasing evidence that AMP may be of importance in acne. The aim of this viewpoint is to provide some hypotheses about the potential function of AMP in the pathogenesis of acne and to discuss potential AMP-based therapies for the treatment of acne.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harder
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsuruta
authors.forename: Masamoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D054804:Cathelicidins / Q000378:metabolism; D023082:Defensins / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054804:Cathelicidins; D023082:Defensins; C075005:GNLY protein, human