EPITHELIAL ANTIBIOTICS INDUCED AT SITES OF INFLAMMATION

The role of antimicrobial peptides in epithelial defense is not fully understood. An epithelial beta-defensin, lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), was isolated from bovine tongue and the corresponding compleme ntary DNA cloned. LAP showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial and ant ifungal activities. LAP messenger RNA abundance was markedly increased in the epithelium surrounding naturally occurring tongue lesions. Thi s increase coincided with the cellular hallmarks of acute and chronic inflammation in the underlying lamina propria, supporting a role for e pithelial antimicrobial peptides as integral components of the inflamm atory response.