A review article surveyed the various innate mechanisms the skin has to challenge a wide variety of pathogens. One of the primary factors are the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and of these, the cathelicidins were among the first to be discovered. They exert direct antimicrobial activity and can initiate a cellular host response, releasing cytokines and leading to inflammation and angiogenesis. Recently, vitamin D3 has been identified as a major factor involved in cathelicidin expression. Targeted therapies modulating the D3 pathway may thus be of interest in the management of infectious and inflammatory skin disorders (Schauber, J., Gallo, R.L. Exp Dermatol 2008, 17[8]: 633-639). --> -->