Cathelin-related antimicrobial peptid

Cathelicidins and defensins induce histamine release from mast cells [182-184]. Human BD-2, -3 and -4 and a-defensins recruit monocytes, T cells (memory and naive) and immature dendritic cells [185-188] Cathelicidins (bovine, human, mouse and pig) are chemotactic for several subsets of peripheral blood cells in vitro [178,189] and in vivo [190]. For example, CRAMP (Cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide, the murine orthologue of human cathelicidin/LL-37), like LL-37, was chemotactic for human monocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, and for mouse peripheral blood leukocytes in vitro and in vivo [189]. These results suggest that host defense peptides recruit innate and adaptive immune cells for protective cellular and humoral responses to pathogens. 

AMPs can act as adjuvants for adaptive immune responses, enhancing specific and protective responses. LL-37 [200], cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) [189] and mouse BD-2 [201] enhanced antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, and induced protective anti-tumor immunity in some conditions [200]. It has been suggested that even low doses of AMPs can influence immune responses, since LL-37 has a synergistic activity with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-ip [155,196]. 

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