Effects of periodontal-pathogenic factors on oral neoplasia

• Applicant: Dr. Jochen Winter, since 10/2013
• Subject Area: Dentistry, Oral Surgery
• Term: from 2011 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 58918792

Intraoral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) represent the majority (90%) of all intraoral malignant tumours. Although their etiology is multifactorial, chronic inflammatory conditions due to poor oral hygiene, as found in most of the OSCC patients, have been discussed as carcinogenic cofactor. The most common chronic infection of the oral cavity is chronic periodontitis (CP), the chronic inflammation of the periodontium. Therefore, this study should elucidate the role of periodontitis-associated factors on oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Interactions of the innate and adaptive immune system seem to have a strong impact on the formation and progression of epithelial tumours. Human β-defensin (hBD)-1 might represent the molecular link between chronic inflammation and oral carcinogenesis. HBD-1 has been associated with chronic periodontitis and also identified as tumoursuppressor in a number of epithelial tumours, including OSCC. Additionally, in several tumours a cellular translocation of hBD-1 into the nucleus was observed which might be a crucial event in the transformation of mucosal cells into OSCC-cells. Therefore the aim of this project is to gain detailed insight into the complex interactions and crossregulations of hBD-1 by identifying intracellular protein interaction partners mediating the tumoursuppressor properties of hBD-1.

• DFG Programme: Clinical Research Units
• Subproject of: KFO 208: Aetiology and Sequelae of Periodontal Diseases - Genetic, Cell Biological and Biomechanical Aspects
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Privatdozent Dr. Matthias Heinrich Otto Wenghoefer, until 9/2013