Antimicrobial peptides — the first line of immune defense of the oral mucous membranes

Inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity are a serious medical and social problem, which is caused by a large variety of opportunistic bacteria and an increase in the resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics in the treatment of various nosological forms. One of these common diseases of the oral mucosa is periodontitis. Among bacteria, Actinobacillus actinomycetem comitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Eubacterium nodatum, Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens have a leading influence on the development of periodontitis. Timely detection and treatment of periodontitis prevents the development of more serious periodontal diseases. A large number of microbes, penetrating into the oral cavity, are neutralized on the mucous membrane. Antimicrobial peptides play an important role in protecting against opportunistic pathogens on the oral mucosa. The review considers in detail three main classes of antimicrobial peptides: cathelicidins, defensins, and histatins. A detailed analysis of the production of the main antimicrobial peptides of the oral cavity in periodontitis was carried out. It has been shown that in the acute and chronic course of diseases of the oral cavity, the synthesis of some antimicrobial peptides decreases, while others increase. The knowledge gained can be used to develop therapeutic drugs based on antimicrobial peptides. Changes in the secretion of antimicrobial peptides, as well as tissue destruction products resulting from inflammation in the oral cavity, are potential targets for diagnosing diseases of the oral cavity. Therefore, the production of antimicrobial peptides in periodontitis indicates that this class of proteins can be used not only for treatment, but also for the diagnosis of periodontal diseases.