Innate immune response and its effector molecules have received growing attention in research.
Host defense peptides are known to be antimicrobially active. Recently, the
peptides have been recognized as potent signaling molecules for cellular effectors of both innate and adaptive immunity. Mammalian
peptides in particular revealed immunomodulatory functions, including
endotoxin-binding and -neutralizing capacity, chemotactic activities, induction of
cytokines and
chemokines, promotion of wound healing, and angiogenesis. In
sepsis, they present a family of natural substances that can be used in combination with
antibiotics to complete a broad-spectrum antimicrobial regimen with
endotoxin-neutralizing properties. Although there are side effects,
host defense peptides have the potential to be significant reinforcements to the currently available therapeutic options in the future. In this review, we analyze the role of
host defense peptides in
infection and immune response, and discuss recent efforts to establish
host defense peptides as potent novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of
sepsis.