Upregulated expression of human beta defensin-1 and -3 mRNA during differentiation of keratinocyte immortalized cell lines, HaCaT and PHK16-0b.
BACKGROUND
Human beta-defensins (hBDs) belong to a group of antimicrobial peptide that are expressed in the epithelial cells.


OBJECTIVE
The present study investigated mRNA expression levels of the beta-defensins, hBD-1, -2 and -3, in human keratinocytes during differentiation in vitro.


METHODS
Immortalized keratinocyte cell lines, HaCaT and PHK16-0b, were used in this study; in order to stimulate differentiation, the Ca(2+) concentration in the growth media was increased from 0.3 to 1.8 mM.


RESULTS
Four days after the increase, the expression levels of hBD-1 and -3 were increased in both cell lines, followed by an increase in the mRNA levels of the differentiation markers, involucrin and keratin 10. No increased expression of hBD-2 was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that keratinocyte differentiation may stimulate hBD-1 and -3 expression in stratified squamous epithelia.
Department of Oral Pathology, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan. yoshi-ab@hoku-iryo-u.ac.jp
Yoshihiro
Y
Abiko
Michiko
M
Nishimura
Kaoru
K
Kusano
Mami
M
Yamazaki
Toshiya
T
Arakawa
Taishin
T
Takuma
Tohru
T
Kaku
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; C422950:DEFB103A protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins; C032253:involucrin