Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (SLPI) in mucosal tissues: Protects against inflammation, but promotes cancer

• SLPI prevents tissue destruction and regulates inflammation at barrier tissues. production function is deregulated in several inflammatory diseases. Excessive expression of cancer cells may promote their metastatic potential. The immune system continuously challenged with large quantities exogenous antigens the barriers between external environment internal human Antimicrobial activity essential these sites, though responses must be tightly regulated to prevent by inflammation. Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (SLPI) an evolutionarily conserved, pleiotropic protein expressed mucosal surfaces, mainly epithelial cells. inhibits proteases, exerts antimicrobial nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-?B)-mediated gene transcription. maintains homeostasis tissues preventing regulating threshold responses, while protecting host from infection. However, excessive have detrimental consequences, as recent studies demonstrate that overexpression increases potential tumors. Here, we review varied functions respiratory tract, skin, gastrointestinal tract genitourinary then discuss mechanisms which contribute cancer.