Antimicrobial Peptides in the Skin

Abstract
Ong et al. (Oct. 10 issue)1 described a lack of induction of human β-defensin 2 (HBD-2) and the cathelicidin LL-37 in atopic skin disease as compared with psoriasis, yielding a plausible explanation for the superinfection by gram-positive strains seen in neurodermatitis. In the accompanying editorial,2 Zasloff asks whether other disorders may also be related to a defensin deficiency; Crohn's disease, in contrast to ulcerative colitis, may be due to deficient induction of HBD-2.3,4