Antimicrobial peptides in skin disease

Aside from the physical barrier, the skin contains a chemical barrier consisting of constitutively and inducibly produced antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which control microbial growth on the skin surface. Skin infections might be caused by defects in this barrier suggesting that the use or the induction of AMPs could be a future strategy for preventing skin infections. Here we review therapeutic approaches using AMPs to prevent and treat infectious diseases.

Section editor:Mike P. Philpott – Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, UK