[hBD-2 gene expression in nasal mucosa].
BACKGROUND
Chronic sinusitis is one of the frequent inflammatory diseases and has a complex pathogenesis. A substantial factor seems to be recurrent bacterial infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) frequently can be found in nasal smears of patients with persistent sinus symptoms after sinus surgery. Lately a new antimicrobial peptide of epithelial origin, human Beta-Defensin-2 (hBD-2), with a strong antibacterial effect against PA could be identified within lesional skin scales of patients suffering psoriasis. Aim of this study was to investigate hBD-2-mRNA expression in nasal cells and tissue.


METHODS
Total RNA was extracted from nasal polyps and turbinates following TRIzol protocol. Epithelial cells and fibroblasts of nasal human tissue were isolated and cultivated. The cells were stimulated with PA using different time points and different concentrations. Total RNA was isolated as mentioned above, reverse transcribed and amplified in a Semi-quantitative Reverse Transcriptase PCR (SQRT-PCR) with genespecific hBD-2 primers.


RESULTS
PA induces time- and dose-dependently hBD-2 gene expression in nasal epithelial cells. Unstimulated epithelial nasal cells were able to express hBD-2 mRNA constitutively, whereas nasal fibroblasts showed no hBD-2 mRNA expression. Nasal polyps showed a comparable less hBD-2 gene expression then nasal turbinates.


CONCLUSIONS
hBD-2 possibly mediates a specific, early starting antimicrobial defense strategy of the nasal mucosa. This hypothesis would explain persistent infections with PA through diminished hBD-2 gene expression.
Meyer
J E
JE
Klinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
Harder
J
J
Görögh
T
T
Schröder
J M
JM
Maune
S
S
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D014420:Turbinates / Q000378:metabolism; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins