Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2009, 10(9), 3951-3970; doi:10.3390/ijms10093951
Review

Host Defense Peptides as Effector Molecules of the Innate Immune Response: A Sledgehammer for Drug Resistance?

Lars Steinstraesser 1,* email, Ursula M. Kraneburg 1 email, Tobias Hirsch 1 email, Marco Kesting 2 email, Hans-Ulrich Steinau 1 email, Frank Jacobsen 1 email and Sammy Al-Benna 1 email
1 Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany 2 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, München, Germany
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 3 July 2009; in revised form: 17 August 2009 / Accepted: 9 September 2009 / Published: 9 September 2009
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Agents)
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Abstract: Host defense peptides can modulate the innate immune response and boost infection-resolving immunity, while dampening potentially harmful pro-inflammatory (septic) responses. Both antimicrobial and/or immunomodulatory activities are an integral part of the process of innate immunity, which itself has many of the hallmarks of successful anti-infective therapies, namely rapid action and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. This gives these peptides the potential to become an entirely new therapeutic approach against bacterial infections. This review details the role and activities of these peptides, and examines their applicability as development candidates for use against bacterial infections.
Keywords: host defense peptides; sepsis; innate immunity; antimicrobial peptides; bacterial infection; inflammation

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MDPI and ACS Style

Steinstraesser, L.; Kraneburg, U.M.; Hirsch, T.; Kesting, M.; Steinau, H.-U.; Jacobsen, F.; Al-Benna, S. Host Defense Peptides as Effector Molecules of the Innate Immune Response: A Sledgehammer for Drug Resistance? Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2009, 10, 3951-3970.

AMA Style

Steinstraesser L, Kraneburg UM, Hirsch T, Kesting M, Steinau H-U, Jacobsen F, Al-Benna S. Host Defense Peptides as Effector Molecules of the Innate Immune Response: A Sledgehammer for Drug Resistance? International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2009; 10(9):3951-3970.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Steinstraesser, Lars; Kraneburg, Ursula M.; Hirsch, Tobias; Kesting, Marco; Steinau, Hans-Ulrich; Jacobsen, Frank; Al-Benna, Sammy. 2009. "Host Defense Peptides as Effector Molecules of the Innate Immune Response: A Sledgehammer for Drug Resistance?" Int. J. Mol. Sci. 10, no. 9: 3951-3970.

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