title: Localization of human beta-defensin 3 mRNA in normal oral epithelium, leukoplakia, and lichen planus: an in situ hybridization study.
abstract: Human beta-defensin 3 (hBD-3), an antimicrobial peptide, is produced by various epithelial and some nonepithelial tissues. hBD-3 mRNA is widely expressed in oral tissues, including oral epithelium and the salivary glands. Although the localization of hBD-1 and hBD-2 has been well demonstrated in tissue sections, the localization pattern of hBD-3 has not yet been shown. In the present study, we investigated the expression pattern of hBD-3 mRNA by in situ hybridization using specific RNA probes; the signal for hBD-3 was detected in upper spinous and granular layers in normal oral epithelium. In cases of leukoplakia, a strong signal of hBD-3 mRNA was observed in the granular layer. In lichen planus, the signal was strongly detected in the spinous and suprabasal layers. The signals were stronger than those of either normal oral epithelium or leukoplakia. The results indicate that the localization pattern of hBD-3 is very similar to that of hBD-2. hBD-2 and hBD-3 may function together or compensate each other for expressional loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abiko
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusano
authors.forename: Mami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saitoh
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mizoguchi
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jinbu
authors.forename: Tadahide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaku
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004848:Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C422950:DEFB103A protein, human; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins; D004247:DNA