Fathoming the Role of Host Defence Peptides in Periodontal Health and Disease

Abstract

The warm and moist environment of the oral cavity acts as a shielding interface between the external and internal environment and is the only area of the body in which hard tissues rupture through the epithelial surface .The tooth structure provides a unique niche suitable for number microorganisms to colonize, proliferate and live in harmony as a community ,so called Biofilm [1].The oral epithelium adjacent the tooth is precise to form a seal and attachment around the tooth and acts as physical barricade between the microbial biofilm in the external environment and underlying connective tissue. This exclusive function leads to certain vulnerabilities allied with periodontal disease and imparts unique challenges to the tissue, particularly in view of incessant exposure to the bacterial biofilm. The epithelium combats to microbial oppositions from dental plaque by production of chemokines, cytokines and host defence peptides (HDPs). These HDPs are considered to be paramount for the innate immunity of the host [2].