Antimicrobial peptides of mammals: biological functions different from antibiotic (review)

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides of animals are a key molecular factor of innate immunity responsible for elimination of potentially dangerous microorganisms. At present, several hundred polypeptides and proteins with antimicrobial properties have been isolated from tissues of various vertebrate and invertebrate species and characterized. Some of these peptides are localized in granules of phagocytic cells while others are humoral factors detected in various biological fluids. Their main function is considered to be the antibiotic activity as indicated by their localization in the granules of phagocytes and in epithelial cells. Often, they are considered as potential matrices for new generation antibiotic drugs for medicine and veterinary. At the same time, multiple facts have suggested that their functions are not limited to the antimicrobial activity. This review presents data on additional properties of representatives of the most common families of mammalian antimicrobial peptides, defensins and cathelicidins. It has been shown that they can act as chemoattractants and degranulators of mast cells, influence the production of chemokines and cytokines, and exert a corticostatic effect.