Expression of beta-defensins in human middle ear cholesteatoma.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the eventual presence of human beta-defensins (hBD) in middle ea r cholesteatoma and paired retroauricular skin samples obtained during surgical treatment.


METHODS
hBD were detected using immunohistochemical techniques and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
It is hypothesized that hBD-1 and -2 are upregulated in cholesteatoma in comparison with retroauricular skin. The immunohistochemical study demonstrated stronger hBD-2-positive staining in middle ear cholesteatoma in comparison with retroauricular skin. No significant differences in hBD-1 expression were detected between cholesteatoma and skin samples. RT-PCR established elevated expression of hBD-2 mRNA in middle ear cholesteatomas. HBD-1 mRNA was constitutively expressed in cholesteatoma and retroauricular skin specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary experimental results lead us to believe that hBD may play an important role in the chronic inflammatory state of middle ear cholesteatoma.
Park
Keehyun
K
Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. parkkh@madang.ajou.ac.kr
Moon
Sung-Kyun
SK
Choung
Yun-Hoon
YH
Choi
Ho Seok
HS
D001483:Base Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D046508:Culture Techniques; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins