Immune Netw.  2011 Oct;11(5):245-252. 10.4110/in.2011.11.5.245.

Antimicrobial Peptides in Innate Immunity against Mycobacteria

• Shin DM
• Jo EK

• KMID: 2167996
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2011.11.5.245

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides/proteins are ancient and naturallyoccurring antibiotics in innate immune responses in a variety of organisms. Additionally, these peptides have been recognized as important signaling molecules in regulation of both innate and adaptive immunity. During mycobacterial infection, antimicrobial peptides including cathelicidin, defensin, and hepcidin have antimicrobial activities against mycobacteria, making them promising candidates for future drug development. Additionally, antimicrobial peptides act as immunomodulators in infectious and inflammatory conditions. Multiple crucial functions of cathelicidins in antimycobacterial immune defense have been characterized not only in terms of direct killing of mycobacteria but also as innate immune regulators, i.e., in secretion of cytokines and chemokines, and mediating autophagy activation. Defensin families are also important during mycobacterial infection and contribute to antimycobacterial defense and inhibition of mycobacterial growth both in vitro and in vivo. Hepcidin, although its role in mycobacterial infection has not yet been characterized, exerts antimycobacterial effects in activated macrophages. The present review focuses on recent efforts to elucidate the roles of host defense peptides in innate immunity to mycobacteria.

Keyword

Antimicrobial peptides; Innate Immunity; Mycobacteria

MeSH Terms

Adaptive Immunity
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
Autophagy
Cathelicidins
Chemokines
Cytokines
Homicide
Humans
Immunity, Innate
Immunologic Factors
Macrophages
Negotiating
Peptides
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
Cathelicidins
Chemokines
Cytokines
Immunologic Factors
Peptides

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 A schematic diagram for the role of antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidins and defensins in host immune system. Left diagram shows biological effects of cathelicidin (hCAP-18/LL-37) in immunity. hCAP-18/LL-37 is synthesized and released from epithelial cells in response to microbial infection or physical injury. hCAP-18/LL-37 participates in the recruitment of neutrophils and other circulating cells including monocytes/macrophages at sites of infection by chemotaxis through secretion of several cytokines/chemokines. Release of hCAP-18/LL-37 from keratinocytes results in induced wound healing. Also, they contribute to direct killing activity against invading pathogens and to indirect antimicrobial activity by promoting autophagy activation/maturation in monocytes/macrophages. Right diagram shows immunological functions of defensins in various immune cells. Defensins induced by various physiological sitimuli including TLRs or infection. α-defensins are synthesized and released from monocytes/macrophages or neutrophils/eosinophils, whereas β-defensins are synthesized and released from not only their cells but also DCs, airway epitheliums or skin. Released peptides have direct antimicrobial killing effects and they also have indirect killing effects by interacting with various target cells and tissues to promote secondary responses that may be crucial for modulating inflammation, the recruitment of immune cells, and activation/maturation of several type of immune cell.

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