Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small molecules produced by a myriad of
cells and
play important
roles not only in protecting against
infections and sustaining
skin barrier homeostasis but also in contributing to immune dysregulation under pathological conditions. Recently, increasing evidence has indicated that AMPs, including
cathelicidin (LL-37),
human β-
defensins,
S100 proteins,
lipocalin 2, and
RNase 7, are highly expressed in psoriatic
skin lesions. These
peptides broadly regulate
immunity by interacting with various immune
cells and linking innate and adaptive
immune responses during the progression of
psoriasis. In this
review, we summarize the recent findings regarding AMPs in the pathogenesis of
psoriasis with a main focus on their immunomodulatory
abilities.