Department of Biochemical Sciences, La Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy,
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2011 Jul;68(13):2157-9. doi: 10.1007/s00018-011-0709-3. Epub 2011 May 17.
Primitive innate defense mechanisms in the form of gene-encoded antimicrobial peptides are now considered as potential candidates for the development of new therapeutics. They are well known for their function as the first protective barrier of all organisms against microbial infections. In addition, emerging studies reveal that they assist in modulating the host immune system. The biological properties of these host-defense peptides, their role in human health, their cell selectivity and related molecular mechanisms are discussed in this multi-author review along with the strategies to transform them or their peptidomimetics into clinically usable drugs.
原始的先天防御机制以基因编码的抗菌肽的形式存在，现在被认为是开发新疗法的潜在候选者。它们作为所有生物体抵抗微生物感染的第一道保护屏障而闻名。此外，新的研究表明，它们有助于调节宿主免疫系统。本文多作者综述讨论了这些宿主防御肽的生物学特性、它们在人类健康中的作用、它们的细胞选择性和相关的分子机制，以及将它们或它们的肽模拟物转化为临床可用药物的策略。
