Title |
Defensins in saliva and the salivary glands
|
---|---|
Published in |
Medical Molecular Morphology, December 2003
|
DOI | 10.1007/s00795-003-0225-0 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Yoshihiro Abiko, Michiko Nishimura, Tohru Kaku |
Abstract |
Saliva contains several types of antimicrobial peptides that play a role in innate immunity. Peptides that were recently added to this list are the defensins. The purpose of this review is to summarize what is known about the production and role of defensins in the salivary glands and to discuss their therapeutic potential. The Alpha-defensins, human neutrophil defensins (HNP)-1, -2, and -3, have been detected in saliva and may be derived from neutrophils. The Beta-defensins, human Beta-defensins (HBD)-1 and -2, have also been detected in saliva. Although it has been speculated that salivary HBDs are derived from keratinocytes that line the oral mucosa rather than from the salivary glands, the HBD-1 peptide was recently found to be specifically expressed in salivary ductal cells, although not in acini. Defensins may be useful for the treatment of periodontal disease and for the prevention of caries and periodontitis. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 1 | 2% |
United States | 1 | 2% |
Italy | 1 | 2% |
Unknown | 59 | 95% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 16 | 26% |
Researcher | 10 | 16% |
Student > Bachelor | 6 | 10% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 4 | 6% |
Other | 3 | 5% |
Other | 7 | 11% |
Unknown | 16 | 26% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 22 | 35% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 8 | 13% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 7 | 11% |
Chemistry | 3 | 5% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 1 | 2% |
Other | 4 | 6% |
Unknown | 17 | 27% |