Biomol Ther.  2013 Jul;21(4):251-257.

Sphingolipids and Antimicrobial Peptides: Function and Roles in Atopic Dermatitis

• Park K
• Lee S
• Lee YM

Abstract

Inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD) and rosacea were complicated by barrier abrogation and deficiency in innate immunity. The first defender of epidermal innate immune response is the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that exhibit a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against multiple pathogens, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The deficiency of these AMPs in the skin of AD fails to protect our body against virulent pathogen infections. In contrast to AD where there is a suppression of AMPs, rosacea is characterized by overexpression of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP), the products of which result in chronic epidermal inflammation. In this regard, AMP generation that is controlled by a key ceramide metabolite S1P-dependent mechanism could be considered as alternate therapeutic approaches to treat these skin disorders, i.e., Increased S1P levels strongly stimulated the CAMP expression which elevated the antimicrobial activity against multiple pathogens resulting the improved AD patient skin.

Keyword

Cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide; Atopic dermatitis; Endoplasmic reticulum stress; Sphingosine 1-phosphate; Innate immunity

MeSH Terms

Dermatitis, Atopic*
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Fungi
Gram-Negative Bacteria
Humans
Immunity, Innate
Inflammation
Peptides*
Rosacea
Skin
Skin Diseases
Sphingolipids*
Peptides
Sphingolipids