Antimicrobial peptides and skin barrier function

As a major component of skin, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Through multiple signaling pathways, they participate in immunoregulation, maintain normal micro-ecological environment in skin, enhance the function of keratinocytes, and play immunoregulatory roles in skin barrier. The expression level of AMPs is associated with the severity of some infectious and inflammatory skin diseases. AMPs also have broad prospects in the treatment of skin diseases. Key words: Skin; Immunomodulation; Antibiosis; Antimicrobial peptides; Defensins; Barrier