Abstract

CATHELICIDIN: A VERSATILE POLYPEPTIDE

Saurabh Kumar Deo*, Rajesh Pandey and Sameer Singhal

ABSTRACT

The human cathelicidin is an antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and tissue repair peptide found in mammalian species. Humans, mice, and rats have only one known cathelicidin gene, which has been shown to be multifunctional. The active form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D3 has been shown to directly induce cathelicidin production in keratinocytes and myeloid cells via a vitamin D response element in the promoter of the CAMP (Cathelicidin Antimicrobial Peptide) gene. Pulmonary tuberculosis patients with vitamin D deficiency have significantly reduced local levels of the vitamin D-inducible antimicrobial peptide LL-37 in granulomatous lesions compared to distal parenchyma from the infected lung. This paper presents a concise overview of the role of cathelicidin in antimicrobial activity, immunity, wound healing, cancer etc. This understanding would help to direct future research efforts to identify therapeutic approaches that use cathelicidin as a novel drug itself, or aim to modify its expression and regulation.

Keywords: Cathelicidin, Immunity, Cancer, Wound healing, Vitamin D.