Antimicrobial peptide secretion

Antimicrobial peptide (AMP) secretion is a critical biological process within the innate immune system, involving the production and release of small, cationic peptides such as cathelicidins (e.g., LL-37) and defensins from epithelial cells and leukocytes (NIH, 2021). These peptides serve as a primary defense mechanism by directly targeting and disrupting the membranes of a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses (MDPI, 2021). Beyond their direct microbicidal activity, secreted AMPs function as potent immunomodulators that recruit immune cells, promote wound healing, and regulate inflammatory responses (NIH, 2022). Dysregulation of this process is implicated in various diseases; for example, reduced AMP secretion is linked to increased infection susceptibility in cystic fibrosis and Crohn's disease, while excessive secretion is a hallmark of psoriasis (Frontiers, 2022). Therapeutic targeting of AMP secretion involves the use of "inducers" or "elicitors," such as Vitamin D, butyrate, and HDAC inhibitors, which stimulate the endogenous production of these peptides to enhance host defense without the high risk of resistance associated with traditional antibiotics (NIH, 2021). This host-directed therapy approach aims to bolster the body's natural defenses to combat multidrug-resistant infections and manage chronic inflammatory conditions (ACS, 2021).

Other names

Host defense peptide secretionAMP inductionEndogenous antimicrobial peptide productionAntimicrobial peptide expression

Induction of endogenous antimicrobial peptide (AMP) expression and secretion via activation of specific signaling pathways (e.g., Vitamin D Receptor, TLRs, NOD2) or epigenetic modulation through HDAC inhibition.