It is nowadays well accepted that chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role in tumor initiation and progression. Under this aspect, the oral cavity is predestined to examine this connection because periodontitis is a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease and oral squamous cell carcinomas are the most common oral malignant lesions. In this review, we describe how particular molecules of the human innate host defense system may participate as molecular links between these two important chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Specific focus is directed toward antimicrobial polypeptides, such as the cathelicidin LL-37 and human defensins, as well as S100 proteins and alarmins. We report in which way these peptides and proteins are able to initiate and support oral tumorigenesis, showing direct mechanisms by binding to growth-stimulating cell surface receptors and/or indirect effects, for example, inducing tumor-promoting genes. Finally, bacterial challenges with impact on oral cancerogenesis are briefly addressed.

中文翻译：

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先天宿主防御蛋白在口腔癌发生中的作用


如今，人们普遍认为慢性炎症在肿瘤的发生和发展中起着关键作用。在这方面，口腔注定要检查这种联系，因为牙周炎是一种非常普遍的慢性炎症性疾病，而口腔鳞状细胞癌是最常见的口腔恶性病变。在这篇综述中，我们描述了人类先天宿主防御系统的特定分子如何作为这两种重要的慢性非传染性疾病 （NCD） 之间的分子联系参与其中。特别关注抗菌多肽，例如 cathelicidin LL-37 和人类防御素，以及 S100 蛋白和警报蛋白。我们报道了这些肽和蛋白质能够以何种方式启动和支持口腔肿瘤发生，通过与刺激生长的细胞表面受体结合和/或间接作用（例如，诱导肿瘤促进基因）来显示直接机制。最后，简要讨论了影响口腔癌发生的细菌挑战。