Department of Periodontology, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland.
Oral and Dental Health Department, Altınbaş University, İstanbul 34147, Turkey.
Cells. 2023 Mar 7;12(6):830. doi: 10.3390/cells12060830.
Head and neck cancers are malignant growths with high death rates, which makes the early diagnosis of the affected patients of utmost importance. Over 90% of oral cavity cancers come from squamous cells, and the tongue, oral cavity, and salivary glands are the most common locations for oral squamous cell carcinoma lesions. Human β-defensins (hBDs), which are mainly produced by epithelial cells, are cationic peptides with a wide antimicrobial spectrum. In addition to their role in antimicrobial defense, these peptides also take part in the regulation of the immune response. Recent studies produced evidence that these small antimicrobial peptides are related to the gene and protein expression profiles of tumors. While the suppression of hBDs is a common finding in head and neck cancer studies, opposite findings were also presented. In the present narrative review, the aim will be to discuss the changes in the hBD expression profile during the onset and progression of head and neck cancers. The final aim will be to discuss the use of hBDs as diagnostic markers of head and neck cancers.
头颈部癌症是死亡率较高的恶性肿瘤，这使得对受影响患者的早期诊断变得至关重要。超过 90%的口腔癌来源于鳞状细胞，而舌头、口腔和唾液腺是口腔鳞状细胞癌病变的最常见部位。人β-防御素（hBDs）主要由上皮细胞产生，是一种具有广谱抗菌作用的阳离子肽。除了在抗菌防御中的作用外，这些肽还参与免疫反应的调节。最近的研究证据表明，这些小的抗菌肽与肿瘤的基因和蛋白质表达谱有关。虽然 hBDs 的抑制在头颈部癌症研究中是一个常见的发现，但也有相反的发现。在本叙述性综述中，我们将讨论 hBD 表达谱在头颈部癌症发生和发展过程中的变化。最终目的是讨论 hBD 作为头颈部癌症诊断标志物的应用。
