Biochemical Society transactions
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Biochem. Soc. Trans. · Apr 2006
ReviewDefensins and cathelicidins in inflammatory lung disease: beyond antimicrobial activity.
Innate immunity provides an effective first line of defence against infections. This is of particular importance in the lung, an organ that is exposed to a large number of pathogens that are inhaled. ⋯ However, it is increasingly evident that these peptides not only act as endogenous antibiotics, but also display a range of other functions, including activities that are involved in regulating immune responses and inflammation, and wound repair. In this review, these activities are highlighted and their role in inflammatory lung disorders is discussed.