Human β-defensin-2 and skin diseases

Human β-defensin-2 (hBD-2) is an endogenous antimicrobial peptide recently found in the skin with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and unique mechanism of function. Recent studies have confirmed that the expression of hBD-2 is upregulated in the lesions of some dermatoses, such as psoriasis,acne vulgaris, verruca, dermatophytosis and basal cell carcinoma, etc. The susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections may be associated with the decreased or absent expression of hBD-2. Further researches into HBD-2will provide a new direction for the prevention and treatment of skin diseases.