The novel human beta-defensin-3 is widely expressed in oral tissues.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of human beta-defensins (hBD), especially of the recently discovered hBD-3, in oral tissues by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Primary oral keratinocytes (n = 3) and fibroblasts (n = 3), 64 non-inflamed and 40 inflamed oral tissue samples, and 10 samples of salivary glands, were examined. The transcripts for hBD-3 (61/64), as well as for hBD-1 (64/64) and hBD-2 (54/64), were found to be widely expressed in non-inflamed oral tissues. In contrast, only 23, 22 and 24 of the 40 inflamed tissues showed detectable hBD-1, -2 and -3 transcripts, respectively. In salivary glands, mRNA expression was constitutive for hBD-1, frequent for hBD-2 (9/10), and infrequent for hBD-3 (4/10). Oral keratinocytes, but not fibroblasts, contained transcripts for all beta-defensins, suggesting that the novel hBD-3 is also produced in the epithelial compartment of oral tissues. The results indicate an important role for the novel hBD-3, as well as for hBD-1 and hBD-2, in the innate oral epithelial host defense.
Dunsche
Anton
A
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Kiel, Germany. dunsche@mkg.uni-kiel.de
Açil
Yahya
Y
Dommisch
Henrik
H
Siebert
Reiner
R
Schröder
Jens M
JM
Jepsen
Søren
S
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005881:Gingiva / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000502:physiology*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; C422950:DEFB103A protein, human; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins