Effect of Proinflammatory Cytokines on the Expression and Regulation of Human Beta-Defensin 2 in Human Dental Pulp Cells

These results suggest that TNF-α and IL-1α up-regulate HBD-2 expression in HDP cells through the PKC, JNK MAPK, p38, ERK, NF-κB, and AMPK pathways. Thus, the induction of hBD-2 by proinflammatory cytokines might up-regulate the pulpal host immune defense system.