A Novel Antimicrobial Peptide on the Ocular Surface Shows Decreased Expression in Inflammation and Infection

Abstract

The discovery of DEFB-109 on the ocular surface enhances our knowledge of the profile of AMPs at this important mucosal surface. The fact that its expression is significantly reduced in both inflammatory and infective ocular surface disease reflects not only an intimate balance between this host defense gene and microbes but indicates a role other than purely microbicidal. This discovery will enable the mechanisms behind the intriguing phenomenon of reduced gene expression of an AMP in disease states to be uncovered.