Antimicrobial Lipids: Novel Innate Defense Molecules are Elevated in Sinus Secretions of Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Abstract

Sinus secretions of patients with CRS appear to show elevated levels of antimicrobial lipids compared with controls independent from neutrophil influx. This up-regulation suggests that host-derived lipids act as mediators of mucosal immunity in CRS. Further study is necessary to determine if such antimicrobial lipids function alone or synergistically with antibacterial peptides in conferring such inherent microbicidal properties.