[A novel protein peptide associated with ischemic heart disease: dermcidin]

Dermcidin (DCD) was found in isolated human skin sweat glands with antimicrobial effect, and was defined as a kind of new small molecule antimicrobial peptide. It was a part of human sweat glands in the skin as the immune system's innate defense. With the studies of DCD, its extensive biological functions are gradually discovered. Since 2010, a number of studies have shown that DCD may be a new risk factor for atherosclerosis. And the role of DCD in ischemic heart disease has drawn increasing attention in particular its relationship with insulin secretion and glycemic control, nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and hypertension, platelet aggregation and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In those experiments, it was also confirmed that aspirin had antagonistic and reverse effects on various biological functions of DCD. Further research on the role of DCD in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases may lead to the prevention, early warning, prognosis evaluation and treatment breakthrough of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.