Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small, cationic, amphiphilic peptides with
broad-spectrum microbicidal activity against both bacteria and fungi. In
mammals, AMPs form the first line of host defense against infections and
generally play an important role as effector agents of the innate immune
system. The AMP era was born more than 6 decades ago when the first cationic
cyclic peptide antibiotics, namely polymyxins and tyrothricin, found their way
into clinical use. Due to the good clinical experience in the treatment of,
for example, infections of mucus membranes as well as the subsequent
understanding of mode of action, AMPs are now considered for treatment of
inflammatory skin diseases and for improving healing of infected wounds. Based
on the preclinical findings, including pathobiochemistry and molecular
medicine, targeted therapy strategies are developed and first results indicate
that AMPs influence processes of diseased skin. Importantly, in contrast to
other antibiotics, AMPs do not seem to propagate the development of
antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms. Therefore, AMPs should be tested in
clinical trials for their efficacy and tolerability in inflammatory skin
diseases and chronic wounds. Apart from possible fields of application, these
peptides appear suited as an example of the paradigm of translational medicine
for skin diseases which is today seen as a ‘two-way road’ – from bench to
bedside and backwards from bedside to bench
