Antimicrobial proteins regulating neuroinflammation

TL;DR

This paper reviews how antimicrobial proteins may influence neuroinflammation and neurological disorders.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent findings on the role of antimicrobial proteins in the central nervous system.

Findings

Antimicrobial proteins are expressed in the central nervous system and are upregulated in neurological disorders.

The proteins have roles beyond antimicrobial activity, including in neuroinflammation.

Further research is needed to understand their potential therapeutic use in neuroinflammatory disorders.

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides/proteins (AMPs), also termed host defense peptides, are well-known effector molecules in innate immunity across all organisms. Recent research has revealed that AMPs possess multifunctional properties beyond their antimicrobial activity, including roles in neuroinflammation. The expression of AMPs has been detected within the central nervous system (CNS) at a basal level and is generally upregulated in various neurological disorders. Owing to its expression and induction in the CNS, there has been growing interest in investigating the relationships among AMPs, neuroinflammation, and various neurological disorders.

To ensure a comprehensive overview, relevant articles were identified through an extensive PubMed search for this review. Here, we discuss recent literature and advances in understanding AMPs in the CNS at both molecular and functional levels. Additionally, the potential use of these proteins in targeting neuroinflammatory disorders is examined.

Overall, this review provides insight into the complex interplay between AMPs and neuroinflammation and highlights the need for further research in this field.

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