Characteristic and Function of the Human-derived Peptide Dermcidin

Abstract: The human-derived peptide dermcidin (DCD)， a natural active peptide isolated from human sweat recently， plays a role in the regulation of human skin flora as an antimicrobial peptide. DCD was specifically and constitutively expressed in the sweat glands， and then was secreted into the sweat and transported to the epidermal surface. It has been confirmed that a survival-promoting peptide and a human homologous of a mouse cachexia factor reported previously are both DCD-derivative peptides. Besides， dermcidin expression has been identified in multiple human tumor types and in gestational tissue， indicating that DCD may acts as a multifunctional active peptide which might be involved in tumorigenesis and the pathophysiology of pregnancy-related disorders， as well as human innate immune system disorders and neuronal diseases.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2008.02.0009