[Cathelicidins - endogenous antimicrobial peptides].
Within the last decade, several antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been discovered. Cathelicidins are one family of AMPs characterized by a conserved cathelin domain and a variable C-terminal cationic antimicrobial domain. These peptides are produced by different cells, including leukocytes, epithelial cells and keratinocytes. Besides their direct antimicrobial function, cathelicidins can also regulate the course of inflammation and influence the mechanisms of innate immunity. In this review we discuss the biology of animal cathelicidins, their structure, expression and function.
Karolina
K
Wódz
Ewa
E
Brzezińiska-Błaszczyk
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054804:Cathelicidins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054804:Cathelicidins