Expression of natural peptide antibiotics in human articular cartilage andsynovial membrane

In view of frequent present use of invasive procedures on limb joints, it i s astonishing that articular joint inflammation is a rare event. We questio ned whether antimicrobial peptides play a role in protecting human articula r cartilage and synovial membrane against inflammatory agents. Our results implicate defensins in the protection of human articular joints against pat hogens.