Nizet Victor, Gallo Richard L
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093, USA.
Scand J Infect Dis. 2003;35(9):670-6. doi: 10.1080/00365540310015629.
Cathelicidins are small cationic peptides that possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. These gene-encoded 'natural antibiotics' are produced by several mammalian species on epithelial surfaces and within the granules of phagocytic cells. Since their discovery over a decade ago, cathelicidins have been speculated to function within the innate immune system, contributing to a first line of host defense against an array of microorganisms. Consequently, cathelicidins have captured the interest of basic investigators in the diverse fields of cell biology, immunology, protein chemistry and microbiology. A burgeoning body of experimental research now appears to confirm and extend the biological significance of these fascinating molecules. This article reviews the latest advances in the knowledge of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides, with particular emphasis on their role in defense against invasive bacterial infection and associations with human disease conditions.
猫抗菌肽是一类具有广谱抗菌活性的小分子阳离子肽。这些由基因编码的“天然抗生素”由几种哺乳动物在上皮表面和吞噬细胞颗粒内产生。自十多年前被发现以来，人们推测猫抗菌肽在先天免疫系统中发挥作用，构成宿主抵御一系列微生物的第一道防线。因此，猫抗菌肽引起了细胞生物学、免疫学、蛋白质化学和微生物学等不同领域基础研究人员的兴趣。现在，大量迅速发展的实验研究似乎证实并扩展了这些迷人分子的生物学意义。本文综述了猫抗菌肽知识的最新进展，特别强调了它们在抵御侵袭性细菌感染中的作用以及与人类疾病状况的关联。
