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Current Pharmaceutical Design

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1381-6128
ISSN (Online): 1873-4286

Salivary Defensins and Their Importance in Oral Health and Disease

Author(s): Yoshihiro Abiko and Masato Saitoh

Volume 13, Issue 30, 2007

Page: [3065 - 3072] Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/138161207782110417

Price: $65

Abstract

Saliva contributes significantly to the protective barrier of oral epithelium through its mechanical rinsing action and the unique peptides it contains. Saliva contains several types of antimicrobial peptides, including defensins, which may have an important role in innate host defense. Many types of human defensins have been discovered and characterized in the last decade. This review summarizes the recent literature on salivary defensins and discusses their importance in oral health and disease. Salivary defensins are possibly derived from salivary ductal cells, oral epithelial cells and some blood cells. The antimicrobial activity of defensins may be affected by the components of saliva. Salivary defensin levels can be altered in oral diseases, and therefore may be a useful marker for risk assessment, salivary diagnosis and therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Saliva, salivary gland, defensin, antimicrobial peptide, oral, gingival fluid, disease, clinical application


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