抗菌肽在宿主防御系统中起着重要作用。一方面它作为内源性抗菌物可直接抗菌,部分抗菌肽还可中和内毒素,减轻由内毒素、磷壁酸等引起的炎症反应;另一方面抗菌肽还可通过趋化白细胞、促进免疫细胞增殖、上皮形成、血管发生和伤口愈合来影响获得性免疫的形成等方面调节宿主免疫系统,从而发挥保护作用。脓毒症是一种高死亡率的疾病,其发生发展过程中出现的免疫紊乱是脓毒症治疗的难点,已有研究揭示抗菌肽可调节脓毒症的免疫紊乱状态,降低动物的死亡率。本文将分别从抗菌肽中和脓毒症中重要的启动因子LPS及对宿主的免疫调节两方面进行综述,以期对抗菌肽治疗脓毒症提供新的认识。
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), with a broad antimicrobial spectrum, play an important role in host defense system. AMPs have multiple roles as mediators of inflammation with impact on epithelial and inflammatory cells influencing diverse processes such as eytokine release, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, wound healing, chemotaxis, immune induction. Furthermore, AMPs qualify as prototypes of innovative drugs that may be used as antibiotics, anti-lipopolysaccharide drugs, or modifiers of inflammation. Sepsis is a leading cause of death in the intensive care units, and it is hard to correct immune dysfunction during sepsis. Some researches showed that AMPs can correct immunologic derangement and reduce the mortality of sepsis. This review focuses on the current knowledge about AMPs neutralizing LPS and regulating host immune, and discusses features of AMPs in sepsis.