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Research Only Immune & Anti-Inflammatory

Dermcidin

also known as: DCD, DCD-1L, Sweat antimicrobial peptide

The antibiotic in your sweat — a constitutively secreted skin defense peptide that kills bacteria on contact.

A 47-amino-acid anionic antimicrobial peptide constitutively secreted by eccrine sweat glands onto the skin surface, providing broad-spectrum defense independent of the inflammatory immune response.

Mechanism of action

Unlike most cationic AMPs, dermcidin is anionic. Forms zinc-dependent oligomeric ion channels in bacterial membranes. Constitutive (not infection-induced), salt-stable, and pH-tolerant — distinguishing it from LL-37 and defensins.

Primary uses

  • Endogenous constitutive skin antimicrobial defense
  • Research: individual susceptibility to skin infections
  • Template for salt-tolerant AMP design

Typical dosing

N/A N/A N/A (endogenous)

Constitutively secreted at ~1-10 mcg/mL in sweat.

Regulatory status

Not approved. Research interest in dermcidin-based topical antimicrobials and individual susceptibility to skin infections.

References

  1. [pubmed] Schittek B, et al. "Dermcidin: a novel human antibiotic peptide secreted by sweat glands." Nat Immunol. 2001;2(12):1133-1137.
  2. [pubmed] Song C, et al. "Crystal structure and functional mechanism of a human antimicrobial membrane channel." Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2013;110(12):4586-4591.

Related peptides

LL-37

The only human cathelicidin — an antimicrobial peptide with direct activity against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and biofilms, with additional roles in wound healing and immune signaling.

Cathelicidin

The parent of LL-37 — the sole human cathelicidin, whose expression is directly regulated by vitamin D and whose cleavage product LL-37 is a key effector of innate antimicrobial defense.

HNP-1

The prototype human α-defensin — isolated from neutrophil granules by Ganz, Selsted and Lehrer in 1985; the dominant antimicrobial peptide in human neutrophils and a workhorse molecule of innate immunity. Research peptide only: no defensin has ever been developed as an approved drug.

hBD-1

The constitutive epithelial β-defensin — first isolated from haemodialysate urine by Bensch, Schröder and colleagues (FEBS Letters 1995). Constitutively expressed (unlike hBD-2 and hBD-3, which are inducible), salt-sensitive in standard assays, and a major component of urogenital and airway surface antimicrobial defense.
Disclaimer

This entry is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Dosing information reflects published regulatory or research data and is not a recommendation. Many compounds described here are not approved for human use in the United States. Consult a licensed medical professional before considering any peptide therapy.