Niyonsaba François, Nagaoka Isao, Ogawa Hideoki, Okumura Ko
Atopy (Allergy) Research Center, Juntendo University School of Medicine,2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
Curr Pharm Des. 2009;15(21):2393-413. doi: 10.2174/138161209788682271.
In addition to the physical barrier of the stratum corneum, cutaneous innate immunity also includes the release of various humoral mediators, such as cytokines and chemokines, recruitment and activation of phagocytes, and the production of antimicrobial proteins/peptides (AMPs). AMPs form an innate epithelial chemical shield, which provides a front-line component in innate immunity to inhibit microbial invasion; however, this might be an oversimplification of the diverse functions of these molecules. In fact, apart from exhibiting a broad spectrum of microbicidal properties, it is increasingly evident that AMPs display additional activities that are related to the stimulation and modulation of the cutaneous immune system. These diverse functions include chemoattraction and activation of immune and/or inflammatory cells, the production and release of cytokines and chemokines, acceleration of angiogenesis, promotion of wound healing, neutralization of harmful microbial products, and bridging of both innate and adaptive immunity. Thus, better understanding of the functions of AMPs in skin and identification of their signaling mechanisms may offer new strategies for the development of potential therapeutics for the treatment of infection- and/or inflammation-related skin diseases. Here, we briefly outline the structure, regulation of expression, and multifunctional roles of principal skin-derived AMPs.
除了角质层的物理屏障外，皮肤固有免疫还包括释放各种体液介质，如细胞因子和趋化因子，募集和激活吞噬细胞，以及产生抗菌蛋白/肽（AMPs）。AMPs形成一种固有上皮化学屏障，它是固有免疫中抑制微生物入侵的一线成分；然而，这可能是对这些分子多样功能的过度简化。事实上，除了具有广谱的杀菌特性外，越来越明显的是，AMPs还表现出与刺激和调节皮肤免疫系统相关的其他活性。这些多样的功能包括免疫和/或炎症细胞的趋化和激活、细胞因子和趋化因子的产生和释放、血管生成的加速、伤口愈合的促进、有害微生物产物的中和以及固有免疫和适应性免疫的衔接。因此，更好地了解AMPs在皮肤中的功能并确定其信号传导机制，可能为开发治疗感染和/或炎症相关皮肤病的潜在疗法提供新策略。在此，我们简要概述主要皮肤来源的AMPs的结构、表达调控和多功能作用。
