Defensin pattern in chronic gastritis: HBD-2 is differentially expressed with respect to Helicobacter pylori status.
OBJECTIVE
Recent reports have suggested that Helicobacter pylori infection induces the mucosal antibiotic peptide human beta defensin 2 (HBD-2). Therefore, the present study investigated mRNA and peptide expression of four different defensins in the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients with H pylori positive and negative chronic gastritis.


METHODS
Biopsies from the oesophagus to the duodenum were taken during routine gastroscopy in 71 individuals. Total RNA was extracted and the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed with primers for human defensins 5 and 6 (HD-5/6) or HBD-1 and HBD-2. Paraffin wax embedded tissue from gastric resections was tested for HD-5, HBD-1, and HBD-2 by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Helicobacter pylori colonisation was associated with an increased percentage of positive biopsies with respect to HBD-2 in the corpus (p < 0.05). Helicobacter pylori had no impact on the gastric expression of HD-5 and HBD-1, whereas HD-6 was increased in the fundus. The abundant expression of alpha defensins in the duodenum and beta defensins in the oesophagus served as a positive control in each individual. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the presence of the HD-5, HBD-1, and HBD-2 peptides in gastric resection specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
The recently described induction of HBD-2 upon H pylori infection was confirmed in a clinical setting of chronic gastritis. This phenomenon may be mediated by components of the pathogen itself or may occur secondary to immune events in chronic inflammation.
Wehkamp
J
J
Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany.
Schmidt
K
K
Herrlinger
K R
KR
Baxmann
S
S
Behling
S
S
Wohlschläger
C
C
Feller
A C
AC
Stange
E F
EF
Fellermann
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D023082:Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D005756:Gastritis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014510:Urease / Q000378:metabolism; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D023082:Defensins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins; D014510:Urease