New insights into cathelicidin modulation of adaptive immunity

Eur J Immunol. 2011 Oct;41(10):2817-9. doi: 10.1002/eji.201142055.

Abstract

Cathelicidins are a family of host defence peptides that are known to selectively alter innate immunity in response to infection and other changes in immune status. A study in this issue of the European Journal of Immunology elucidates a new role for mouse cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide in the adaptive immune response by clearly demonstrating for the first time that a cathelicidin can alter T-cell-dependent activation of the humoral response in vivo and thus modulate the activities of both B and T lymphocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cathelicidins / metabolism*
  • Female

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Cathelicidins