The protein dermcidin expressed in the sweat glands is secreted into the sweat and transported to the epidermal surface. The concomitant processing of the protein yields a broad-spectrum antimicrobial 47 amino acid peptide, dermcidin-1 (DCD-1).

Dermcidin and naturally occurring fragments as DCD-1L do not perturb membrane permeability and bind to distinct surface molecules. It stimulates keratinocytes to generate cytokines and chemokines such as TNF-α, IL-8, CXCL10, and CCL20.

Sequence: H-Ser-Ser-Leu-Leu-Glu-Lys-Gly-Leu-Asp-Gly-Ala-Lys-Lys-Ala-Val-Gly-Gly-Leu-Gly-Lys-Leu-Gly-Lys-Asp-Ala-Val-Glu-Asp-Leu-Glu-Ser-Val-Gly-Lys-Gly-Ala-Val-His-Asp-Val-Lys-Asp-Val-Leu-Asp-Ser-Val-Leu-OH trifluoroacetate salt