Endogenous Antimicrobial Peptides and Skin Infections in Atopic Dermatitis

The innate immune system of human skin contains antimicrobial peptides known as cathelicidins (LL-37) and β-defensins. In normal skin these peptides are negligible, but they accumulate in skin affected by inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis. We compared the levels of expression of LL-37 and human β-defensin 2 (HBD-2) in inflamed skin from patients with atopic dermatitis and from those with psoriasis.