title: Peptides in oral diseases.
abstract: The oral cavity is home to numerous viruses and micro-organisms recognized as having a role in various oral diseases as well as in infections in other parts of the body. Indeed, in general a microbial infection underlies or is believed to underlie the ample spectrum of oral diseases, from tooth enamel decay to periodontal lesions, from candidiasis to virus-induced oral squamous cell carcinomas, and bullous autoimmune oral disorders. This clinico-pathological context stresses the need of targeted therapies to specifically kill infectious agents in a complex environment such as the oral cavity, and explains the current interest in exploring peptide-based therapeutic approaches in oral and dental research. Here, we review the therapeutic potential of antimicrobial peptides such as LL-37, beta defensins, adrenomedullin, histatins, and of various peptides modulating gene expression and immuno-biological interaction(s) in oral diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatological, Orthodontics and Surgical Disciplines, Second University of Naples SUN, Via De Crecchio 6, Naples, Italy. alberta.lucchese@unina2.it
authors.forename: Alberta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucchese
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petruzzi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capone
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laino
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serpico
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides