title: Potential applications of antimicrobial peptides and their mimics in combating caries and pulpal infections.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are short cationic host-defense molecules that provide the early stage of protection against invading microbes. They also have important modulatory roles and act as a bridge between innate and acquired immunity. The types and functions of oral AMPs were reviewed and experimental reports on the use of natural AMPs and their synthetic mimics in caries and pulpal infections were discussed. Natural AMPs in the oral cavity, predominantly defensins, cathelicidins and histatins, possess antimicrobial activities against oral pathogens and biofilms. Incomplete debridement of microorganisms in root canal space may precipitate an exacerbated immune response that results in periradicular bone resorption. Because of their immunomodulatory and wound healing potentials, AMPs stimulate pro-inflammatory cytokine production, recruit host defense cells and regulate immuno-inflammatory responses in the vicinity of the pulp and periapex. Recent rapid advances in the development of synthetic AMP mimics offer exciting opportunities for new therapeutic initiatives in root canal treatment and regenerative endodontics.
  
  
  
  Identification of new therapeutic strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens and biofilm-associated infections continues to be one of the major challenges in modern medicine. Despite the presence of commercialization hurdles and scientific challenges, interests in using antimicrobial peptides as therapeutic alternatives and adjuvants to combat pathogenic biofilms have never been foreshortened. Not only do these cationic peptides possess rapid killing ability, their multi-modal mechanisms of action render them advantageous in targeting different biofilm sub-populations. These factors, together with adjunctive bioactive functions such as immunomodulation and wound healing enhancement, render AMPs or their synthetic mimics exciting candidates to be considered as adjuncts in the treatment of caries, infected pulps and root canals.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Sui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, The Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mauger
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, PR China.
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, The Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Solon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, The Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China. Electronic address: lingjq@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jun-Qi
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, The Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, GA, USA. Electronic address: ftay@augusta.edu.
authors.forename: Franklin R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Tay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D004708:Endodontics; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
keywords: Antimicrobial peptides; Biofilms; Immunomodulation; Peptide mimics