title: Friend or foe:  A novel role of β-defensins in tumor development.
abstract: For many years, β-defensins were best known for their antimicrobial activity. However, β-defensins also exert immunomodulatory functions, such as the chemotactic recruitment of immune cells via chemokine receptors. We demonstrated that mouse β-defensin 14 recruits CCR6(+) B cells into fibrosarcomas, resulting in enhanced angiogenesis and tumor development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology; University of Regensburg; Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Röhrl
authors.forename: Edward K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Geissler
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hehlgans