Friend or foe: A novel role of β-defensins in tumor development

Oncoimmunology. 2012 Oct 1;1(7):1159-1160. doi: 10.4161/onci.20825.

Abstract

For many years, β-defensins were best known for their antimicrobial activity. However, β-defensins also exert immunomodulatory functions, such as the chemotactic recruitment of immune cells via chemokine receptors. We demonstrated that mouse β-defensin 14 recruits CCR6(+) B cells into fibrosarcomas, resulting in enhanced angiogenesis and tumor development.