Antimicrobial peptides and wound healing: biological and therapeutic considerations

Exp Dermatol. 2016 Mar;25(3):167-73. doi: 10.1111/exd.12929. Epub 2016 Feb 10.

Abstract

Repair of tissue wounds is a fundamental process to re-establish tissue integrity and regular function. Importantly, infection is a major factor that hinders wound healing. Multicellular organisms have evolved an arsenal of host-defense molecules, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), aimed at controlling microbial proliferation and at modulating the host's immune response to a variety of biological or physical insults. In this brief review, we provide the evidence for a role of AMPs as endogenous mediators of wound healing and their promising therapeutic potential for the treatment of non-life-threatening skin and other epithelial injuries.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance; antimicrobial peptide; frog skin; innate immunity; skin infections; wound healing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / immunology*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / immunology*
  • Bacterial Infections / immunology
  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Cathelicidins / immunology
  • Drosophila melanogaster
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Humans
  • Immune System
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Mice
  • Microbiota
  • Skin / immunology
  • Wound Healing / immunology*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Cathelicidins