Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptides are a family of
polypeptides found in
lysosomes of
macrophages and
polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), and keratinocytes. Cathelicidins serve a critical role in mammalian innate immune defense against invasive bacterial infection. The cathelicidin family of peptides are classified as
antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The AMP family also includes the
defensins. Whilst the defensins share common structural features, cathelicidin-related peptides are highly heterogeneous.
