Surrounding cells affect the gene expression pattern of human beta-defensins in squamous cell carcinoma in vitro.

Background/aim: Defensins are basic peptides involved in non-immune bio-defense mechanisms in a normal epithelium. Human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (OSCC) also produce human beta-defensins (HBDs), although their exact function is not clear. This study aimed to analyze the variation in gene expression levels of hBDs in co-cultures of OSCC with murine cells.