Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 Sep;24(5):515-524.
doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2015.02.015. Epub 2015 Mar 6.

Oral antimicrobial peptides: Types and role in the oral cavity

Zohaib Khurshid  1 , Mustafa Naseem  2 , Zeeshan Sheikh  3 , Shariq Najeeb  4 , Sana Shahab  5 , Muhammad Sohail Zafar  6
Affiliations
Review

Oral antimicrobial peptides: Types and role in the oral cavity

Zohaib Khurshid et al. Saudi Pharm J. 2016 Sep.

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a wide-ranging class of host-defense molecules that act early to contest against microbial invasion and challenge. These are small cationic peptides that play an important in the development of innate immunity. In the oral cavity, the AMPs are produced by the salivary glands and the oral epithelium and serve defensive purposes. The aim of this review was to discuss the types and functions of oral AMPs and their role in combating microorganisms and infections in the oral cavity.

Keywords: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs); Cathelicidins; Defensins; Dental applications; Histatins; Oral cavity.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Illustration representing model of antimicrobial peptides for killing microorganisms. (a) Barrel-stave model, (b) carpet model and (c) toroidal model.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Molecular structure of human α-defensins with their cysteine consensus.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Molecular structures of β-defensins.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Abiko Y., Jinbu Y., Noguchi T., Nishimura M., Kusano K., Amaratunga P., Shibata T., Kaku T. Upregulation of human beta-defensin 2 peptide expression in oral lichen planus, leukoplakia and candidiasis. An immunohistochemical study. Pathol.-Res. Practice. 2002;198(8):537–542. - PubMed
    1. Abiko Y., Saitoh M., Nishimura M., Yamazaki M., Sawamura D., Kaku T. Role of beta-defensins in oral epithelial health and disease. Med. Mol. Morphol. 2007;40(4):179–184. - PubMed
    1. Adonogianaki E., Moughal N.A., Kinane D.F. Lactoferrin in the gingival crevice as a marker of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in periodontal diseases. J. Clin. Periodontol. 1993;20(1):26–31. - PubMed
    1. Adonogianaki E., Mooney J., Kinane D.F. Detection of stable and active periodontitis sites by clinical assessment and gingival crevicular acute-phase protein levels. J. Periodontal Res. 1996;31(2):135–143. - PubMed
    1. Aguilera O., Andres M.T., Heath J., Fierro J.F., Douglas C.W. Evaluation of the antimicrobial effect of lactoferrin on Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens. FEMS Immunol. Med. Microbiol. 1998;21(1):29–36. - PubMed