The Role of Endogenous Antimicrobial Peptides in Modulating Innate Immunity of the Ocular Surface in Dry Eye Diseases

The ocular surface has the challenging responsibility of maintaining a clear moist refractive surface while protecting the eye from exogenous pathogens and the environment. Homeostasis of the ocular surface, including its innate immune components, is altered in ocular surface disease states. In this review, we focus on antimicrobial peptides and the role they play in the immune response of the ocular surface during healthy states and dry eye diseases. Antimicrobial peptides are of special interest to the study of the ocular surface because of their various roles that include microbial threat neutralization, wound healing, and immune modulation. This review explores current literature on antimicrobial peptides in ocular surface diseases and discusses their therapeutic potential in ocular surface diseases and dry eye.

Automated summary

The ocular surface is responsible for maintaining a clear moist refractive surface and protecting the eye from exogenous pathogens, with antimicrobial peptides playing a crucial role in the immune response during both healthy states and dry eye diseases. These peptides have various functions such as neutralizing microbial threats, promoting wound healing, and modulating immunity, making them potential therapeutic targets for ocular surface diseases and dry eye.