Natural antimicrobial peptide in immune responses: a new class of therapeutic drugs?

CHULUYAN, H. E; SANCHEZ, M. L.; MAFFIA, P.; GARCIA, V. E.; TATEOSIAN, N.; GUERRIERI, D.; AMIANO, N.; COSTA, M. J.; REITERI, M. R.; GOMEZ, S.; VILLALONGA, X

Current Drug Safety

Año: 2009

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> A widespread resistance of bacterial pathogens to conventional antibiotics has renewed interest in the use of alternative microbial inhibitors such as antimicrobial peptides. Natural antimicrobial peptides are small cationic molecules that display antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria, fungi and viruses. However, less is known about their impact on the immune response of the host. In this article, we will discuss the antimicrobial activity, together with the novel properties of these molecules as pattern recognition receptors and their impact on the innate and adaptive immune response. Finally, we will focus on the potential uses of these newly discovered properties for therapeutic purposes.