Abstract

The present study reviews salivary antimicrobial peptides and their single nucleotide polymorphisms in periodontitis. Periodontitis is an important inflammatory condition of the oral cavity where there is destruction of periodontal ligament and adjacent supporting alveolar bone resulting in tooth loss. MEDLINE, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for relevant literature using the combination of following search terms: “Periodontitis”, “Single Nucleotide Polymorphism”, “Salivary Antimicrobial Peptides”, “Defensin”, “Lactoferrin”, “Cathelicidin”. Periodontal disease is initiated by bacterial invasion and colonization and this is not sufficient for the predisposition and progression of the disease. Besides this, several genetic factors influence disease susceptibility and severity. Many studies have reported the role of genetic polymorphisms for the difference in the host inflammatory responses against periodontal pathogens. Our review focuses on the salivary antimicrobial peptides which are important constituents of the innate immune system secreted mainly by epithelial cells and neutrophils and form the first line of defense against the pathogenic microorganisms in the oral cavity. Investigation of genetic polymorphisms in salivary antimicrobial peptides will aid in identifying an individual's genetic susceptibility and might be valuable for developing prognostic markers in periodontitis